The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-04-26


Some twenty-five witnesses were exam
ined, some of them at great length. We
append a summary of the more important
testimony ELECTED.
William M'Creery testified in substance
that the plot to rob and murder was form
ed IN the peuitentiary; that Buser and
Houser were informed in the penitentiary
OF the circumstances and unprotected con-
dltion OF Miss Paul by Philip Fulgart
that Fulgart told them that the old wo-
man had plenty of money, which, as she
lived by herself, in lone, unfre1uented
locality, could be easily got at, and that
the money would most likely be found an
the bed-Cin this connection, it should be
remembered that the beds in Miss PauPs
house were found cut open and the con-
tents scattered about, upon the discovery
OF the murder;) that in consideration of
the information given by Fulgart, Buser
promised Fulgart that he would devote
portion OF the money to be so obtained to
the procuring pardon for him /; that both
Buser and Houser gave him (M'Creery)
to understand that they would rob, and if
need be murder, Miss Paul for her money
after they got out of the penitenhary.-
This testimony, considered apart from its
bearing on this case, possesses a deep and
alarming significance. SIT is, indeed, if
true, a startling thought, and one which
should excite public attention." said his
Honor in his charge to the jury, "that the
place provided and maintained by the
State for the punishment and reformation
of felons, may from defective construc-
ten, or any other cause, become a place
.ere crime IS concocted"
David M'Kelvy and William M'Creery
| testified that Buser and Houser were dis
charged from the penitentiary on the same
day, on or about the 18th May, 1865.
Miss Agnes Dimond, Mrs Mary Hide
| brand, Mrs. Anna Cobaugh, William A.
| Stewart and Jacob Gifin testified, some of
them SO positively as not to admit the ex-
istence of a doubt on the subject, to seeing
Houser In the Immediate vicinity of Miss
PauPs on or about the 25th Of May. He
was at the time moving about in strange
and mysterious manner, the witnesses said,
making inquiries concerning the Widop
Paul, Ono widow Paul lived in the neigh
borhood,) asking where she resided,
| whether she was at home, and whether
she lived by herself or not.
Mrs. Elizabeth Graham testified that
Buser and Houser came to board at
house where she was staying, kept by
Mrs. Miller, in Allegheny city, about the
28th or 29th of May, where they remained
till the 9th of June; that on the latter
day, they went away together, carrying
with them a tin box containing instru-
ments for cupping and leeching (the pris-
oners sometimes followed the profession of
cuppers and leechers) and black carpet
bag.
Mrs. Susan Preall and Mrs. Sarah Paul
testified that on the day before the muir
der, a man, whom they both Identified as
Houser, came to each of their houses, in
the near neighborhood of tie scene of the
tragedy that he carried in his hand
tin box, and gave out that he was cup
per and leecher; that he inquired con-
cerning Miss Paul, asking particularly if
she was living by herself at that time.
James r. Cooper testified that on the
afternoon of the day of the murder, he
met two men answering the description of
the prisoners near Summerhill one of
| them carried a black carpet-bag in his
hand; they were going in the direction of
Polly PauPs.
Mary Stiboliski testified that she was
| hunting her fathers COWS on the evening
of the murder, close by Polly Paups resi-
dence; that she then and there heard
cries of distress, and that she saw two men
running toward the barn.
Mrs. Graham testified that on the 9th
or 10th of June, Buser and Houser re-
| turned to their boarding house in Allo-
gheny city, when Houser's feet were sore
| and swollen, as though he had walked
long distance, while his general demeanor
| was that of distressed, heartsick man /;
that in conversation she overheard soon
after between Buser and Houser, at the
| boarding house, the latter asked the for
| mer for his "share of the money" which
| the former refused to allow, saying ''it
might get them into trouble" to touch the
money just then.
John S. Johnston testified that in a
| conversation he had with Buser about the
5th of June, in Allegheny city, he under
stood from him that he and Houser were
"going up the railroad, towards the noun
tain ;" that before they left they had no
money Of account, but that after they re-
turned from their ex pedition, Buser Of
| fered to buy house from him for 81 600,
and pay $500 down.
Several witnesses were called to prove
that Polly Paul sold cattle, butter, lum-
Der, &C., that she was economical, and
that she must have been possessed of con-
siderable pecuniary means at the time oi
her death and the record of the admin
istrator on her estate was given in evi-
dence to show that the sum of $39 go was
i Il IL ~ ~,