Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-10-20

TESTIMONY BEFoRE THE COGoNEE's jury.
\ telegram from Ithaca, OctJber II. says:
The cOrOneT's inquest into the manner Of NJ. NJ.
Leggett's death Is ended, ana the verdict
simply declares that he was a student at Cor
nell University, and that he was accidentally
killed by falling over q cliff. There l., con
traTY TO expectation. no censure OF ANYTHING or
anybody, not the slightest intimstion OF blame.
Charles h. Lee and Charles W. Wsson. the fell
low-students, who also fell OF the ciif. ana who
were so badly in ured that they are unable TO
leave their beds, were examined in their rooms.
Lee swore that he a student Of the class OF
&c, and was concerned in the init alton Of Leg
gett into the kappa-Alph Society on the
night of the fatality. The me mbers met that
night Tor the cerelIOny m a neid near the
rayine, which is about thirty feet deep. Leg
gett was led there blindfOldsd. Il was rather
dark, and they were met by SIX or seven other
members Of the society. He and Was)n
helped LeEgett over a fence, so that they
would be out Of the way Of possible stragglers.
Lid To ms DEATH.
After getting over the fence sol melody else TOOK
hold of Leggett's arm-, aud led him. lie saws
that he next saw Was0n standing, having hold
of Leggett, who was then leaning against a
tree. Then he saw them Suddenly slip of tbs
bank. He continued II was entirely Ignorant
that there was a precpice there; was greatly
surprised 20 see them disappear, and i'm ginef
they must have slipped down a bank. the idea
of precipice never struck me; my natural i'm
pulse was TO help them, and acting upon il 4
ran OF moved diagJnally OF the cliff; was inIti-
ated into this society about three weeks ago, aud
enjoyed it very much; the Initiation had not
commenced with Leggett; we were simply stand
the time under the arms By two strong fellows,
and felt perfectly safe; they took me over TO ugh
places but did not stumble"
THE FATAL FALL.
Wason's testimony agreed with that of Lee.
He was more Intimate friend OF Leggett. ami
had immediate charge Of him while he was
blindfOlded. As TO the accident itself, wasOn
says: 81 stood him against the tree, or rather
he leaned against H. He was leaning against
the tree, and l stood about foot from hun, or
within reaching distance. In about three or
four minutes 1 saw his body mcliniug 10 one
side, as though his feet were slipping and he
was going TO fall. He was on the right side OF
the tree, or rather on the south side. 1 thought
he was merely falling 20 the ground. not down
the precipice. / moved forward 70 steady him,
and in so doing stepped on what 1 thought was
limb. believe now IT was root of the tree.
IL caused me TO slip, and fell over the brink.
In attempting TO save him, fell myself. was
not conscious while falling, bat as sDon as l
struck | tried TO cry out, but couldn't. / rolled
over two three times and heard two distinct
thuds, and knew that somebody else hal fallen
with me.
All the witnesses were reticent as % the
method Of initiation or as TO why they took
Leggett 10 that particular spot Farther on in
wason's testimony he said: :. was blindfOlded
when I was initiated have assisted at three
limitations; man on each side locks arms with
the candidate and holds him from falling;
they probably thought was strong enough to
hold Lcggett, and did not put two or three more
to guard him; the ceremonies Of initiating INTO
our society are very impressive, 81 least they
were in my case; L was very tired AMI gate
hungry after going through; 1 heard Leggett
say. ssOh, dOn't," or something that sounded
like il; be was carried upon gate; my object
in standing him up by the tree was merely to
rest him; had no thought Of the guilt, at the
ton from the road; had been there In similar
circumstances before"
HAzING EXPEDITION.
Henry NOrthrup, another student, who was
pres Mt at the fatal initiation, was asked
whether a bottle of whisky was taken along.
"Yos," be replied, cit is customary TO take a
bottle along on the limitations to have IL at
hand in case Of accident. IL is our habit 10 lead
candidates all the time, 80 that they may not be
in danger of being hurt. never knew OF any
The verdict is the absorbing topic in the vii
lage to night, and general Comment Is decidedly
gniayorsbe to the jury: who are Scesseu Ths
students were out on hsZing eKpediton, there
is no doubt; and while nobody snpPoses that
their victim The sccident is believed 70 have
been the result of gross recklessness. Inc pa
rents OF wsson, who Is from Cleveland, have
arrived. Neither be nor Lee Is In condition 70
be moved.
sIThe wife of Pere Hyacinthe on Saturday
gave birth to q son.
~The suppression of Chinese emigration
still agitstes the minds Of the Caiifornians
~Ned Buntine was fined twenty dollars
and trimmings at Louisville, for cruelty to a
ex-senator Thurman feels sure OF his re-elee-
ton by democratic majority Of 10 on Joint ballot
in the C.-sn legislature.
ga large number of co!ored families are
about to emigrate from Eas. tennessee 70 La
The 18th day Of October Is St crispInss
osy, me great festiyalday of the numerous body
~ The money order clerk in the Atlanta most
unknown.
@The IvsuhOe paper mills. at Pater.,n. Y.
j.. have stopped, and l25 hands are throwa oss
Of employ ment.