The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-12
IEGAL rNgTELEIGENcH,
The Mary Mohrman N1urdcr-TrIal OF John
HaniOn-somethina startling.
Court Of Oyer and Termtner-Jttdges LudEoD and
Peirce.

Hanion-somethIna startling.
Court Of Oyer and Terrtiner-Judges LudEow and
Peirce.
This morning the argumentso OF counsel in this case
were to be resumed, Mr.. ONeill opening for the
Before Mr.. o'Neil arose to speak, Mr. Bre wster
said to the court that last night, for the first time,
he and his colleague learned that there was wit
who would prove that prior to Dunns acquaint-
snce with Hanlon the former had received a copy
OF the Police Gazette containing all the facts OF
Mary Mohrman's murder, and also learned that he
was informed that If he would testify he would be
pardoned. He felt 1t his duty To state this TO the
Mr.. O'Neill was put under oath and made the fol-
lowing afndavit:-Yesterday morning, before the
to him and gave him this information; he found the
witness who was to prove This fact in Dock street.
and thsn zen & apprlzea tne court OF the matter matter. The
p Il. Carroll, junior counsel for the prisoner,
also sworn and aid:-At the instance OF Mr. O'Neill
i went to barber shop In Dock street, below
Spruce, to find this man, and was directed to Water
street, and then to Spruce street wharf; found him
II he had time he would find other witnesses to the
same effect; lie brought one with him this morning;
think his name is Thomas Perce.
Mr.. Brewster was sworn, and said he had no
knowledge Of this information before he received it
from Mr.. ONeill.
The other gentlemen said the same.
Judge Ludlow said-UDder the oaths taken by the
prisoners counsei we cannot doubt the course we
ought to adopt in this case, and therefore allow
them TO examine the witness.
. Samuel Tate sworn-I am an oysterman III live at
No. 316 S. Front street; knew Michael Dunn, who
was examined in this case; L last seen him, sup
pose twelve or fourteen months ago; | seen him in
cell letter A, south side, second noor Moyamensing
Prison: had a conversation with him there.
Mr.. Brewster-State, if you know, whether Dunn
at that time had access to any newspapers, aud if
Answer-Yes, Sir, he had gave them to him
Philadelphia Inquirer, and different other papers.
Q.-Now what had the Police Gazette IN 1t
Mr.. Hagert / object; the best evidence OF the
contents Of the paper is the paper itself.
MI. ONeil Then we call upon the Commonwealth
Mr. Hagert 1t never was in our possession.
Judge Ludlow. The paper must be produced, or
its loss accounted for before secondary evidence OF
contents is admitted.
Objection sustained
q. Did you know If those papers OF which You have
spoken contained an account OF the murder OF Mary
Mohrman?.
Mr. ,Hagert@ This is still more Objectionable, be-
Judge Ludlow. Objection sustained
Question by Mr.. Brewster Did you IL, 49, or Ia
months ago converse with Michael Dunn upon the
subject OF the reported murder of Mary Mohrman?
Mr.. Hagert. That is also objected to; this wit
the other witnesses fer the Defense and these ques
tiOns should have been asked Dunn If he was 10 be
contradicted.
After further discussion the objection was with
drawn, and the witness answered,
Question-Did he know of her death at that time,
and the circumstances connected with it, as they
were made public?
he made a remark Checked by counseD; he knew;
this conversation was on the convict side of the
prison; was cutter OF leather at the prison;
was convicted OF larceny and served out my time;
worked in the cell nextto him aud talked with him
through the hole in the wall every day. and he asked
me If had any papers.
Cross-examned-I got out Of prison on that charge
on the 7th OF December last have been In since on
the charge of carrying concealed deadly weapons;
got out on that charge the 7th OF September; the
first charge was In for three years. not In for
safe blOwing that was not my first conviction; IN
1872 was convicted for burglary that the be-
ginning OF it, and September last the end OF IL
as far have got those were my only convictions;
! was not on the Esd OF October then convicted OF
forgery in this court and sentenced one year in
the penitentiary; l was in Moyamensing Prison
then; Francis Evans convicted with
me for burglary; do not krOw wfat became OF
Evans; he cut his way out OF prison and escaped
the house. No 3l6 South Front street. is tenanted,
and rent the third story back room; occupied 1t
two months; showed these papers to Dunn twelve
or fourteen months ago; John Dunn occupied the
cell in which gave the papers; John 1unn was the
man to whom showed these papers; that is the only
name knew him by, and he told me that his
name; l got these papers from prisoner named
Henry Smith, who was in the cell beneath me; we
traded out OF the window; he gave them tome.
judge, 16 months ago; put line from out OF my
window, and he tied them to It; made the line out
OF shoe threads; kept the papers in my CELL gene
rally in the pillow, and had them month or two
before giving them to Dunn; have not read one
tenth OF the report OF this trial
The other Witness Peirce, was called, but not
answering, officers we're cent out to bring him in
and during their absence the court adjourned.