The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-27

The Evidence 10 tne
Defendant aud the Habits Of the Deceased
r,,,,,,.,,.e fs.o,y,. About ihe Court House.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 26, 1885,
sr,o ,r,a, a. young Twiichel for the murder OF ms
oo,her law. which was resumed in the Court OF
Over and Terniner stil continues 10 DC me All
.beorhlnc topic OF conversation IN pubic circles
and comment in public places.
A. the assembling Of The court this morning Mr.
p,at, resumed his opening address. He SAID that
me prisoner had been already nearly broken down
NV the weight OF accusation and trouble that had
naen m, mon him. but ne believed better day
would soon dawn for him. The defence had en-
aaayored 10 form chain or crcumstantlal evidence
,vitbont a link unbroken. These facts were: First,
me fact proven that Mrs. Hill had been murdered,
winch fact the defence admitted; second, the
bringing into court OF the bloody clothes;
thira the poker which the prosecution Gained
was the instrument used in the Killing OF Mrs. Hill;
fourth the missing money; hfth the conspiracy TO
Gel possesson OF the house ana to keep it; sixth,
The evidence of Joseph Gilbert; seventh the distress
Of the defendant; eighth that no other person but
The defendant could have been in the house at The
lime Of the murder. The murder they admitted 10
ne a fact they would show that the wounds
on the head and skull OF the deceased,
ana which had been described by the Coro
Bcr's physician, coGld not have been made
with an instrumen. such as the poker. Notwth.
standing the fact that lie vigilance of the detectives
had been brought into reqaisition by the Common
wealth they had been unable 10 find single dollar,
10 penny, OF the missing money to the GUS
iody Of the defendant; but on the contrary all the
money belonging 10 Mrs. Hill had been found in her
room, where it properly belonged, with her iewelry
and watch. Ia regard 10 the deed Of the house,
which the prosecution had labored so hard to make
daiHning argument against the prisoners inno-
eence testimony would be offered which would
EIta had Alt na.tn r.I
10 her friends thai she had purchased
The Pine street property specially for the
purpose Of giving il to her children, and that every
hing in the house with the exception Of the piano
had been bought for anu given to the defendants
wife, and that the piano WAS to have been given to
her as soon as she had learned how to play on H. IL
an unpleasant task said the counsel, In ccnclu-
sion, 10 attack the character OF any citizen, but
N the attack. Be referred 10 Joseph Gil
bert, the real estate broker, whose testimony
witnesses whose veracity could not be questioned
would lie shown 10 be unworthy OF credit, and even
70 so far TO prove that bis word could not be be.
Ieved under oath. The defence would moreover
show that there were other persons in the Pine
Twitcneli Having laid down ali these points,
which they would establish as fact they hoped the
Jury would patiently bear with tnem and nolwlth-
given, especially 10 every person accused OF crime
against whom the evidence was only circumsiantal,
they would leave the case IN their hands, confident
that they would nete ont 10 the prisoner tina. 'cven
handed usticen which was Ole due OF every innocent
James i. McNec sworn-l am carpenter; this
mode large model Of q house exhibited OF the
house on the northeast corner of Tenth ana Pine
streets was made by me at the direction OF the
sci OF defence; while constructing II visited the
house frequently. Cine witness here described the
various apartments Of the house, their dimensions,
their relation one 10 the other, the positions or
The stair cases the height Of the fence about the
yardnve feet nine inches, adding twenty inches for
The ornamental railmg-the positions OF the ash bar
reis against the fence and the distance from the
second story windows 10 the grOund)
Py counsel for the dcfence-Those boards notice
IN the photograph Of the building are not repre-
scented in the model, for the simple that they
only temporarily placed on the fence 10 prevent
people looking over into the yard after the murder
mad been Known.
Q. Then person could easily look over the fence
lie steps OF the door and every thing IN The
ward If the boards were not there's A. Certainly,
sir.
q. And person could then, without much aim
Guilty. get over the fence rom the steps. A. do
not See why il should be very difficult
Richard skinner sworn-I have resided in Glouces-
Ter county, y. j., Tor thirty years: have knownthe
defendant rom his boyhood; know others VINO
q. What is his Character for kindness and gentle.
ness Of dispositioDs
Counsel for prosecution-i object.
Tie oourt-Ihe witness must state oniy what lie
can say 70 the general character OF the defendant.
Counsel for deience-What was his character for
peace and good order:
Ntness-Good
q. what was his character for honestly
District AttOrney-l object.
counsel for delence-The prosecution has endea-
Tie defendant in the preparation OF felony. The
question, link, L. therefore, very proper one.
RGf 09qIls ylssis ;a Sa sS";S ;,a; o,o,r,o.
OF observing his character; he boarded with me for
ayear and oyer; and iiyed in my neigEborhood for
over twelve years
CrosscxamIned--I am related TO the defendants
father, who married neice Of mines The prisoner l.
not son OF tina; niece: about three or five yeaaas ago
Twtchel ceased 70 i've IA my neighbors.,od: have
not visited him since then, although he mas yisited
me have often conyersed s.pce he LEFT the plare
with several persons about his character and occu
cfa