The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-03
CHARLEY ROSS.
Important Revelations at the
Trial Of WeeterVelt.
THE PRISONERS STATEMENT READ
Superintendent Walling on
the Stand.
PHILADELPHIA. Sent. . 1879

PHILADELPHIA, Sept q 1875.
The interview with Mrs. Mosher published in the
HERALD, created a sensation in court this morningi
Before the opening of proceedings the room was
crowded. and all who fortunate enough TO have
HERALD the centres Of groups Of eager listeners
the story of her statement was read aloud. Judge
Elcock, District Attorney Hagert, the prisoners
sell Messrs Ford and Brown and all others interested
in the trial read the story and all seemed to believe it.
Mr. Hagert being asked his opinion, said, 81 believe it
is true" and of the prisoners counsel ad-
mtted its commences District Attorney Sheppard
sits absorbed in writing all day beside Mr. Hager his
assistant who conducts the case and the two to
be slowly weaving web about the prisoner. Tho evil
dence to-day is given full below 1t will be found
important and interesting. The prisoners statement,
long it is, listened to with breathless interest
PROCEEDINGS
The Court opened at ten o'clock a. NJ, and the jury
called at a quarter past ten
The court crowded than on any
former day The jurors looked somewhat fatgued,
Of them suffering with debility Mrs Westcr
welt was in her usual place. sitting beside her husband
evincing deep anxiety.
WITNESS
The first witness called Mr.. r. W. Leslie OF the
Public Ledger. Mr.. Hagert Deputy District Attorney
said that he proposed to show by this witness that
the spring of this year. which statement has never here
tofore been made public. The witness was examined as
folows:-
Q. Were you present at a statement made by defend
ant Westervelt9 A. / was.
Q Where that statement made. A At the Gen.
trail station, Fifth and Chestnut streets.
Q. WhenP A. cannot remember; some time in the
spring of 1875
Q Who were PRESENT. A. Captain Woods, Captain
Helms, Mr. Ross and Mr. Lewis, and later in the even.
ing Mr.. Alexander T. Scott
@ Under what circumstances did you como thereP
A. Mr.. McReay requested me to report to Mr.. Ross at
tho Central station.
Q Was Mr.. westervelt there and was he in CUSTODY
A. could not say
% Who questioned him when these declarations were
nader
A All question ed him. Q. Were those statements
published? A. believe not
The statements were then produced and handed to
Mr. Leslie for Identification. Mr. Leslie identified two
statements, Photographic and the copy (iteraD,
and pronounced them to be correct The witness in
to interrogatories stated that the copy was
perfect transmission from his short hand notes and
waaewritten at the Ledger Office The statement was
then offered in evidence Strenuousy objected to by
defendants counsel
Mr.. Leslie was set aside temporarily and
CAPTAIN HELMS
placed on the stand
Q Were you present when this statement was made
by the prisoners A. portion of it.
Q Previous to the prisoner making this statement,
was there any promises held out threats usedH A.
None; told him bench warrant had been issued
he was pleased to say whatever he liked or nothing
When did this occurp A. think it occurred on the
twelfth of April after the bill of indictment had been
found.
@ Was he under arrest7 A. Mr. westervelt was
under arrest that time and within an hour after his
arrival
Captain Helms then stated that the prisoner came to
the Central station about and reported to him.
Q What was said by the prisoner to you at that
timer He said he sent by Superintendent Waling
to report to me; this statement was made April l3
1875, in the afternoon
Mr.. Leslie was recalled. Here the statement was
read by Mr. Leslie so as his part was concerned
Mr. A 7. Scott who stcnographed portion Of the
took the stand and read and testified to his
part
The purpose OF the presentation OF this paper by tho
prosecution is to show the close intimacy between the
parties accessory TO the abduction and the prisoner
giving details of their with and among each
other at various points This paper is strong point in
the prosecution Throughout the entire paper Is
noticed avoidance Of the slightest knowledge of the
Ross case With the exception of few sentences and
those of moment, reference is seldom made to
points In the which the qzestoners desired to
be enlightened. This avoidance, together with the
close intimacy that existed among them, decidedly
prejudged the case in many minds The assertion that
he asked any questions with regard to the fate OF
the child will not bear scrutiny.
During the reading of the latter portion Of the state
men wherein he said that he had objection 10 the
taking of Mosher and Douglass accdenty but did not
want to "give Mosher away" Mrs westervelt became
much agtated and shed tears 1t had evidently pro-
duced strong impression upon her.
STATEMENT wEsTERvELr.
The following is the statement:-To the best Of my
knowledge, was In Philadelphia on the 25th OF juno,
the day before the letter OF that was taken from
here to New York to be posted; told Mosher and
Douglass about that time that they we're suspected;
learned il from Gil Mosheris wife; don't know how long
they had been in New York when ! told them; Gil
Mosher's wife also said the officers after Gil and
Bill for getting away with silks &c, and then told me
that the officers were after them for this other ong
told Mosher and Douglass all that she said Weserve de-
tailed his movements in New York with Mosher and
Douglass After his knowledge that they suspected
for this offence they visited taverns and Douglass went
TO fortune teer's to see If Bill had letter there
Weservet wrote letter, dictated TO him by Douglass
which was sent to Bill Mosher in Philadelphia that
was tho day Mrs Mosher asked him to 60 TO Philadel
phia to MosherS sister, 10 find out whether the
house here had been watched and TO put Persona in
the New YORK HERALD under the head OF Napoleon"
inform them II II all right but didn't put 1t in,
and went back TO New York that afternoon Mrs. Mo-
sher didn't go back with me that afternoon because
she could not get ready she told about the house
being watched didn't see Mosher from the time came
back until my sister came on; she stayed with two
months Mosher and Douglass came TO my house
shortly after and stayed there Mosher did not stay
at my house night they stayed few hours each
time they came went with Mosher and Douglass, on
the Goth of September excursion to Rondou and
came back on the I'D; neither Mosher nor Douglass
spent any part of any night in my rooms never asked
them where they lived.