The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-02-19
THE YOST MURDER TRIAL.
INTERFERING TESTIMONY OF THE
PRISONER AT the BAR.
Giving his Personal History from sGS Until
the Homicide Denying or Explaining the
Damaging Testimony Against Him.


Giving his Personal History from 1s6s Until
the Homicide Denying or Explaining the
Damaging Testimony Against Him.
JoHNsTowN, n. Y, Feb. 1s.-After the
dramatic scenes In court yesterday the number
OF ladies In attendance during the morning Sos
sion to-day was largely increased, and tho
crowd which in vain sought admission WIS
larger and more demonstratvc than at any time
previous. The prisoner looked somewhat paler
than usual, but took the stand promptly and
with no faltering In his step. His answers were
given In a distinct voice and usually without
hesitation His personal history from lSGs until
the homicide was first related, in response to
intcrroeatories OF the counsel, MIR. Smith. His
testimony was in substance as follows:
for four months In 1893 was engaged in the butcher
ny atner IN the shop and attending cnool whit rs I'M
cupaton nrs In the employ and afterwar a. equal
partner Of Mr.. Yosi The partnership continuing Until
my srfes, was ont Of reeulr emp9ynSnt he'll ing
cat the throats of y good many animals but have no
recollection OF making any experiments with snmals
put out the eyes II nimaia or raycd them alive. In
visited aces went 10 Albany 10 the inaus ura
tion of Gov Tdcn and to Syracuse to visit lady &C.
one gsnleman there was intoxicated once or twice
on New Years / have been in eompnny WITH ie%d
women somc, and gainbed for money few times The
yous TO the homicide. ! think We .recciec,ed to stop
S ~ oS %e On ,as nsh Q, ne a9ede Io
ost complained OF my iauus. but offered TO take me
correct them should have renewed the partnership
an average life.
MS FEELING TOWARD Yosr.
have NO recollection OF the conversation with Earl
D9n" u ~Hca TSs alleged to hsvs SAID .Ssa &C..
eonvcrsao with Michael Holland ABOUT my gambling.
against Iost he changed against me. Nv father had
not not talked With me about lambnng at that time be
POOL drank and smoked 10 ne cgloert sal9on lean
ocsSber Isl neS var In D's M has saooo H b
since that time He has treated oniy three diner
as TO INV rcers about We, IN ts. .0.' 1i rye
fs6tlcation / dent rreol,ect ,a,ing =" Andrea .rt
Tie that had taken away some trade from Ed Yost,
Cured to me as to ask ssmnons ITO to lend me I'VE
Ak ccmmaeS ths mo eeSSs OF 10 10 'S sa not
gualnted With it myself. | did not tell Boshart
never TAXED with the pr .oner Renson ABOUT any sil
ns eA's ,9 ,d ~ NY tru9f spa never made 1e
we're my CONVEX aOns With ms uo ther usually held 10
the farm ON sutdav night Shen ca led to sit up With
tne cofpse mat went TO oed atou, II o'clock the
nestsq 4 me lime lls caiea e ne nd q ,6e CONN
ance III removing H. o. inc diy previ.a US to thc muir
der was ironing wagon IN my fatncr's shop
q he faners that tafi puna showed me me raes
m 'D te Se es ba9n az slN,a e to Ut ny 10
might spoil tue tracks. didn't thinA they might DC
Smith was here interrogated at considerable
lenelh a. to the lius IN hs possession. and said
he didn't remember ever having seen the
smooth silver riece belonging ~ lost. lie con-
unued;
EXPLAINING MS ACTIONS.
never ovnc pistol tr,coil,c' airing pls'ol once
which ociongei ~ Thomas Lessi "a coIorel man.
s AM owned fcy",er ana nav. no reolastoa Of
w,nt out ,hc back door at usnt. though there Is no
obstacle % ne passase 20 m vent. lave u, snoet
lank nor how he cartri se- ana silver piece came
, Ne h eahA oS tne cenrtey | sept WIN io,t At
der. Il was about 1850 when went To- thc hank. The
standing invitation stayed Witn Yost Tie story Of
ny 'sing on my Knees aa being in that position over
has no basis Ia ny recoec ION. THINK mtsht have
wish Yost at his invitation after came H. The nisht
OF ne homicide went home at about half past
times. went 10 bed and slept until father called In
beer tut remember stumbling my sisters told me the
nuoer Of times didn't looS At The cody at the bank.
oeeSnse nae arepngnsace toward looking at the dead.
with because l was invited.
On redirect examination he said
My gambling was With friends and witnesses Of tho
prosecution when Yost preached the subject OF the
dissolution only made sudden angry reply. year
aversion to seeing the dead body my child
CONTRADICTORY TESTIMONY.
This closed the testimony OF the prisoner ex-
cept that he was recalled to testify M regard TO
the little box containing the silver IN his trunk.
lie and his sister had both testified that Fred.
had intrusted her with the keeping Of the pieces
on the occasion OF his going into the country to
thresh, because he forgot to leave them up
stairs in his trunk. Me prosecution developed
the fact that no box was found In the trunk up-
stairs. Fred. was recalled and said that he mad
another trunk down stairs. lie was standing
within few feet OF II when he gave the
coins to his sister. Mrs. Henry testified TO the
same. 1t will be remembered that her for
mer statement was that she the box
while STOPPING in his trunk In his
bedroom. This contradictory testimony was
the worst thing that appeared in the prisoners
statement. lie bore the ordeal firmly 20 the
end, DENYING or disavowing the recollection OF
all the damaging testimony against him. lie
was careful not to swear positively except where
II WAS necessary At least the expression, -
don't recollect," appeared from tue frequency
OF It's recurrence 10 be very convenient one.
Three witnesses were introduced by the de-
fence TO impeach Benson, but whatever the
legal weight OF their testimony, II was dis
armed Of its moral force by the cross examina-
ton. After a few more unimU ortant witnesses
were called the testimony was concluded at 40
i. VI. The number Of witnesses who have been
sworn In the case Is 105-sixty eight for the pros
ecution and thirty-eght for the defence Ly-
man Tremsin then announced 20 the court his
readiness to proceed in the summing up for the
defence. He occupied an hour and half In
delivering the Introductory portion Of his plea,
and then the court adjourned until y A. NJ. to-
morrow.