The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-02-23

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@. Was the party on the road to Leisure S
farm A. Yes, sir ......
Q. How do you know that it was the 18th
of November? A. Because made note OF
it the same night
q. Have you that memor andum with
you? A. Yes, sir exhibiting a book some
twelve inches by ive.)
Q. What book is this? l kept my boar
ders' accounts in it.
@. You knew Hester at that time? A.
Yes, sir kept public house.
The memorandum in question reads as
follows:
November Is, 1868, Weigh Scales house.
Patrick Hester and three more men came
to my house in two bugges, and told me
that they wanted to see John Runkel to get
lime"
oss-examination by Colonel Freeze
Q. Were you in bed when the party ca lied ?
A. believe so.
@. Did you look at the clock? A. Yes,
sir.
@. What time was it? A. Between the
hours ofeleven and twelve.
O. Who came in first A. Hester, think.
How was he dressed? A. In white shirt
spot ted with blood.
@. Was that all tlaughter) A. He had
dark clothes, and high crowned hat.
@. Who were the men with Hester? A.
They were strangers to me.
| l. q. When was your attention attracted to
the memorandum? A. About two weeks or
50 ago, and since that memorandum was
made there never was scratch to it,
The memorandum was offered in evidence
by the commonwealth and admitted, al
though the defense objected to it.
At the afternoon session William Leisure
was recalled and testified that one of the
men who stopped at his house told him that
he and his companions hsd been to ball at
Shamokn and got little full as soon as
one of the four men said, "We're going to
Sunbury,' another said, ave live at Sny-
dertown."
| f. w. Bridge sworn.-I live in Shamokin
and have for fourteen or fifteen months; |
am acquainted with Patrick Hester and with
his handwriting .....
@. Look at that envelope ard tell us in
whose handwriting the address is? "A. 1t is
in Hester's handwriting, as is the letter, to
the best of my knowledge
"Have you any questions to ask ?" inquir-
ed Mr.. Hughes of the other side.
| UHopI N, that lattar onl WALL all ,,n,, -
was the answer.
The letter was handed over and was the
occasion for great deal of caucusing among
the defendants and their counsel. Mr.. Ryon
broke the ice by asking, "Mr Bridge, what
has been your business since you went to
Shamokin" A. Coal and iron police officer
and district land agent tor the Philadelphia
and Reading railroad company.
@. Were you acquainted with Hester be-
fore you went to Shamokin? \. No, sir.
Q. Have you seen him write his name Of
ten? a. Yes, sir.
q. Did you ever see him write anything
but his name? A. [ saw him fill in an or
der once, and have some other little spec-
mems of his handwriting.
Q. When did you first see this envelope?
A. About two weeks ago with Cap
tain Linden also saw it here, but at no
other time.
Michael Schilhornly corroborated the tes-
timony of Mr.. Bridge as to Hester's hand
writing. ......
Cross-examined by Mr.. Ryon, witness tes-
tilted live in Reading now, but lived in
Mount Carmel and knew Hester there, and
also knew him in Llewellyn, and also knew
his handwriting
Q. When did you first see this letter? A.
On the 25th of November, 1868; 1t was
picked up from the floor of Mr.. Silliman's
store and Mr.. Sillman handed it to me he
did not tell me who picked up the letter and
| did not ask him.
Mr.. Hughes-Q.Whcse name is on the en-.
velope? A. Hugh McKeown, Locust Gap.
Q. Did you ever know him A. Yes he
lived at Locust Gap.
Mr., Ryon-Q. You gave that letter to Mar
shal Heiser. A. Yes, sir.
q, Was the post Office kept in the same
bnilding where the letter was found? A.
No, sir.
81 now PROPOSE" said Mr.. Hughes, "to
read this letter"
Mr.. Hughes read as follows
LAsALLE, November 90, 1868.
'My Dear children, wife and mother: |
take up my pen to write those few lines no.
ping that they may find We all in good
health as the departure of this leaves me at
present thanks Be to god for his kind mer
cy to us all. left Sunbury on thursday
morning and landed at two O'clock on Fri.
day knight at Lssalle. i felt lonesome on
the way. Alick Laferty came as far as
Almira and then went back and told me he
was going to Wilkesbarre. write to me as
soon as you get this letter and BE sure that
you send me the whole Particulars concern.
ing that affair or was there a search after
me or have they any suspicion that came
this route in case there is a suspicion will
not stop here. | feel uneasy until hea,
from you so write immediately aud let mf
know all the particulars also want Won Ma,
ria to let Inc know did your mother do wbat
she said when was leaveing there do not tel
me lie or will find it out hereafter anC
yon will suffer.
have no more to say at Present But got
bless ye and take care of yourselves.
Il Direct your letter to Patrick Mellidy La
sale Po office Lasalle County Illinoise.
John Boyle and family sends their low,
and Best Respects to ye all in regard to hi
leg it is the same as when my mother lief
they would write Before this But Expecte,
that his leg would come Better Every othe
day
There is no signature to the letter, but th
handwriting has been identified as Hester
The envelope containing the above letter
, directed as fellows
"Mr. Hugh McKeown
Locust Gap, Mount Carmel
20 office Northumberland Co
; Parma.
The Lasalle post Office stamp gives Nc
vember q as date aud the postage STAN