The New York herald., 1877-02-17
MOLLY MAGUIRE MURDER TRIAL

CONCLUSION OF THE EVIDENCE FOR THE PROS
ECUTIoN-oPENINa OF THE DEFENcE-A
TOUGH cHARAcTER SWORN TO FOR THE
CHIEF WITNESS, "KELLY THE BUM"
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
BLooMsBURG Pa, Feb. 16, 1877.
The dark record OF crimo by which the past career
Of "Kely the Bum" has been stained, and the tree.
dom with which he told his terrible story have all
along, since the opening of the Molly Maguirc trial,
inspired the prisoners and their counsel with confidence
that they could aside his crushing testimony by
establishing his incompetence a witness This has
hitherto been their dearest hope, but dashed
pieces this morning by = lengthy option read by
Judge Elweli, wherein he declares that Kelly not
rendered incompetent on the ground of his imprison-
mont and prccipitate pardon. His fearful story WILL
therefore, stand good against Hester, TulIy and Nc
Hugh his com panions IN crime aud tho prisoners at
the bar. unless IL be overthrown by some greater
force than the legal objection his competence
witness.
CONCLUSION OF THE TESTIMONY FOR THE PROSECUTION.
Ofncer Parr, who yesterday testified to having over
heard the confession Of Hester to Donohue prison
CELL stated to-day that (Par had shot two of the
Molly Magurcs and that the order eventually drove
him away from Tamaqua number OF persons were
examined Tor the prosecution, showing the movements
Of Hester tho time OF the Rea murder and upon
counsel for the Commonwealth obtaining permission
introduce
pcccd IRON Shamokin at later period othc proceed
ings they agreed to their side OF the case.
OPENING OF THE DEFENCE.
A. Rooney Wolverton then opened Tor tho defence
in vigorous speech OF over hours DURATION in the
OF which he predicted the powerful prejudice
that had aroused against the prisoners and
ccssty Tor tho jury to resist all such influences and
contne themselves solely to tho merits of the grave
issue at stake.
IMPORTANT TESTIMONY.
Al the afternoon session OF court II was stated that
tho important witness from Shamokin present
nnth hou 1pac cad on In nd Ho lie spuvu
Edward q. Harris. and swore that the morning of
Reas murder, while driving IRON Mount Carmel to
men ON the road, short distance from where the
tragedy took place. that Patrick Hester among
them. The witness did not recognize either OF the
others.
EVIDENCE PRISONER
Thomas B. Fielder, reporter for the Shenandoah
Herald. the first witness Tor the defence. He
stated that he had reported every Molly Maguire case
tried the regions His testimony SIMPLY CON
Bum as given al the preliminary hearing of Hester
Graham before Squire Reed in Pottsvc. last Novcm-
bcr. The next witness for tho defence was John Nc
Elise. Justice OF the Peace who bore testimony
the bad character OF Kelly the Bum, and said
ho was good specimen Of the most
DESPERATE MOLLY MAGURES
Benjamin Thomas who was fellow prisoner OF
Kellys testified having heard him say that Kcrr
squeang. but he kelly would squcal Jesus
CHRIS, himself IL no could only get out OF prison :; he
also heard him say that Hester was innocent OF the
Rea murder, but that the men who did II went 10
Hester's house that he might be suspected. This
witness also stated that Kelly told hin he would swear
the murder OF Rea on Hester.
The great effort OF the afternoon seemed TO bc TO
break down Kcily's character and his story OF how
the murder done. and to this end cloud Of w.t.
for the defence Will be produced before the trial