The New York herald., 1877-02-18
MOLLY MAGUIRE MURDER TRIAL
THE BLOOD OF ALEXANDER REA CRYING FOR
Observation-Disclosures OF THE PRIs-
oNERs-TEsTIMoNY FOR THE DEFENCE
PROVING AN ALIBI
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. !

BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
BLooNsBURG, Pa, Feb. II. 1877.
Another peaceful Saturday night has settled down
ON this quiet country town, and the Court House,
which has been the theatre OF tho stirring scenes in
which three interested for life or death,
once silent anticipation Of the solemn Sabbath.
1t has been an exciting week. The details OF the
murder or Alexander Rea have been again aud again
recalled and the old story Of mans inhumanty 10
man demonstrated by many cold-blooded tale or
treachery. TIE climax OF the great Molly Mcguire
drama is evidently drawing near AS it approaches the
public interest in the proceedings grows greater and
The efforts OF the both sides of this great
criminal trial to be redovblcd, that they are
nghting the inch by inch with all tho ability aud
strategy which they can command The prisoners
very much atgued from the acrco ordeal through
which they have been passing. Hester seems Jaded
and III at ease The stock OF good humor that was his
the opening has evidently abandoned him, and his
eye wandes iurrvely from The witnesses to the bench
and lpgcrs there If he would read his fate in the
prompt decisions every knotty point have thus tar
been gwen with remarkable readiness and supported
by ample authority.
ruE CHIEF INTEREST HESTER.
II Is matter generally commented upon by those
in attendance that the prisoners McHugh and Tuily
are entirely lost sight oi by the counsel for the de-
Ience and that their sole efforts are concentrated on
behalf Patrick Hester TIN, is accounted tor by the
fact that Hester Is charged with originating the plot
and IL is bccved that his fate will determine tbat Of
A SORRY cmAnAcrKa ron wirsgss.
The character OF Kelly the Bum" formed the
tar ct against which the testimony OF bost oi w.t.
ncsscs Tor the defence ievciled this morning.
witness named Dennis Mcl.oughiin that he
would believe Kelly under oath Peter Luby aud
several other witnesses affirmed that key's general
character OF the worst kind John Cannon sworc
that Kelly asked bim II he would take false oath
to n man from being hanged, aud upon the wit
answering he would not kciy said he, Kelly,
would swear any damn thing to clear man." and
number oil others sworc 10 similar statements.
SWEARING FOR FATHERS LIFE.
Helen Hester, daughter Of the prominent prisoner,
seems modest, agreeable GIRL and appeared TO
approach stand with fear and trembling.
She sworo that her father was at homo the Friday
before Rea murdered and detailed his
Another daughter OF the prisoner corroborated her
sisters statement
PROVING AN ALfB.
Luke Richardson was called TO prove that late the
evening OF the 10th OF OCTOBER 1868, the night when
was said The ROBBERY and murder planned. Hester
was IN Ashland, drinking along with number Of
friends Patrick Fancy, OF Big Nine Run, also
To meeting Hester III Ashland late the night pre-
ceedina the murder and that he asleep a chair
al Captain McIaughlin's saloon as late eleven
O'Clock This witness was subjected TO searching
cross-exanl nation, but so far his story
shaken
1t is probable the trial will be finished before
next Wednesday as the defence will call large
OF witnesses.