The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-25
CATECHIZING WASHBURN.
WAS BfLLINGS .fT ms HOUSE WIEN
TIE EITlL SUOT WIS EIKED2

THE FATAL SUIT VAS EfKEDY
The 'Sauirs's Bener In the Correctne. OF hi.
watch Sustained by his wife and Son 80
How Issse Pared under Moaks Questions
More Of the Strange Man without "a Hat
BALLsToN. Sept. 2i.--rhe jury in the Bill
fngs ease went 10 barber shop this morning
and were shaved in sections. The boards Of the
honest farmers were like .tubblo and The rasp.
ing could he heard on the sidewalk The pris-
oncr came into court at the ringing OF ,he bell.
followed 10y tho only Deputy Sheriff in uniform
in Bdston. lie sucnt the day in reading news
papers. watching the witnesses. and twirlinR
his shcll-handlcd penknife on his counsers
table. The court room was well filled with per
sons DESTROYS OF hearing the cross examination
OF Squire WashLurn. Mr.. Moak took an hour
IN reading extracts from the SQure's tcsti-
mony taken before the Coroner and Grand
jury and asking him IL lie had sworn to such
extracts. Except in a few minor details he
swore that the extracts were correct. For in
stance. he thought he heard II groan" in tho
hall Of Mr.. Billngs's house. instead OF
"groans." and he did not rccolcct that he
sworc that he met Mr.. and Mrs. Fnne at the
horse block. In his testimony before the Grand
Jury ho did not tell Mr.. Billings that his wife
was sick" but that she was shot" He did
not believe that he was talking 10 the Fnncs
more that five minutes. and he thought he
reached home from two to three minutes after.
ward. He looked at his watch. and IT was two
minutes after 9. This part Of the crOss-cXani-
nation was enlivened by several intellectual
scrmmages between counsel. and the specta-
tors were highly entertained. The constablcs
frequently pounded the floor with their ball
Cubs in attempts to preserve order.
SURE washburn swore that he met Mr.. Bill
lings about o'clock on the afternoon OF the
murder coming from schuylcrville. and Mr..
Billings said he wanted 10 see him that evening
MI Billings had been at his tWashhurn'sl
house on the previous Sunday afternoon.
Twenty minutes were spent in questioning the
Squire concerning articles on the Curtis sian
dor suit that appeared in Saratoga and Gl"ns
Falls newspapers. The defence repeatedly pro-
tested. but were overruled. Finally. Gen.
Hughes said: Your Honor. we are taking OK.
ecp!lI,26n ns to ihis ruling all thr9ngh" 81,
60 understand t. Take an exception every time
II YOU wish It,"
teristic legal breeze. and Gen. Hughes drew out
the particulars of Squire Washhurns first
meeting with Mr.. Billings after tho death OF the
wife. II was about rs follows
went into my house. and Mr. Billings arose. saying
Good evening. Justice. I've been waiting sonc lime
nSms-and wan, you to ,ci me VINO holds lie mort
.riy" looked At my watch and lid not answer lin
was W. minute, asT , ;"d to my wiis , IN Low
y. H,n NJ. MI, Bnfl Sysrws9ri T. 9ud sad
went out ! heard him through the gate, and alter
ward call for Ike. and they drove oil
Mr.. Moak-In your testimony before the Cor
oner did you not swear that Mr.. Billings. when
you came into your house that night used the
Words. I've been waiting to see you" leaving
yut the words some time :"
Squire washburn-,Ycs, / think. did
Mr.. Moak paused. Gen. Hughes said:
That's all. Uncle George" and the old gentle.
man fshed up his felt hat. and left the stand
with commendnnle alacriy.
Mrs. George Washburn. a quiet looking old
lady in a Paisley shawl. gave her story to Gen.
Hughes about as follows:
was scwin- atmy table the night II the murder
Mydaushier Phoebe and my son Isaac were writing at
s~hteG and asked me Wat umS Il Was iool ed At the
elo.k IL vas - Ei.ht or ten minutes ni'rward
billing. stood outside lie asked u lie Justice wasn.
leone in lie ,aid he wanted summons Tor souic one
ms a, h , Maa ny ,S@ '" nun me SSe
she alwwaNs cane home ai o'clock and wound HI.
lesuisr about that and hnaily came in aud sat down
AT this point Mr.. Moak accused Gen. Hughes
oil putting suggestive Questions To the witness
and thcre WINS u lively s,uahble. The Judge
shut on the legal equilibrists. and the witness
BEFORE Mr. Billings in he said he would 90 down
AM ySS I.F u. . J' , ana cd m could give hT
T. did So He and Isaac got 10 aisng about the storm
ling, .ad he hat been " IN he back lots and found ihc
NJ n s 1.f nun, rSs t"~n "'Si sngaa WINK
Mr. washburn cane in Nj Bilhng. said. Good even
burn madc no reilly ne told mo Tia, Mr,
ns esS SA9 Me- MINI mf to ,o@e dSTn Askf what oT amt
I, ana ,aia, .w1ai' ~ we har!i, Iow, Ny Gus
char aid Mr. billing, rushed OUT Of lie hoSs;' %,
DOR S Sn famn '9M , o e YI a SsS Mr. Guy ii Is
s ApoFi ha way down met I'm Sons
tnd he turned around aud drove me to Mr. Billings
Mt. Moak made a persistent cross-examina-
zion. but the quiet old lady remained M placid
a. summer SEA. The Coroner's and Grand
jury records were overhauled. but the wit
ness was not phaSel,
=. Mr, Moek first questioned her closely as to
M time she looked at the clock her object and
the incidents that brought it TO her mind. She
sweryed not particle Then she WAS examined
; a. TO .,e amount OF sewlng she had done Re-
house and Mr. Washburn's arrival. Every
plat, seam, stitch, and butonhole Of the unin-
lshci oNcrcOat was Overhauled and She was
frequently sked how she came to remember so
closely. She answered all the questions
least Hurried. Tho lamp on tho table melted
Mr.. Moak's particular attention. Its size.
shape wick, depth Of oil, size and color Of
shade and similar queries were showcred upon
the witness 50 fast llat the prisoner repeatedly
smiled. Then Mr.. Mogs Jumped 70 the Sunday
tered that Mr.. Billings called al their house
that day. She saw him IN church at Bacon Hill
He did, not enter the church with Mrs. Curtis
and did not occupy the same pew.
Mr., Moak- Madam, did you not testify before
M Coroner that YOU did not look at clock or Il
Mrs. Mnshhurn-NO, sir.
=, Nj; M9ek-Did you say before the Coroner
tltN Nii. D4llllEN Whh III your uluSt from Hllftn
g. twenty minutes that night before your hus-
band "nme I'm
Mrs. Washburn--I think it was at least twenty
ullnutes.
Mr. Moak-Why do you think so?
=, Mrs. Nashburn- Because ! have tried 10 do
thr same work since aud 1t took me twenty
minutes.
Mr., Moak How do you remember what work
you did before Mr.. Billings came?
Mrs. WHshburn- Something was said by my
daughter TINT called my attention to il.
Hero Mr. MOak asked Il question that would
luvp done credit to Nm NJ iEuita II rs "A
long aud abstruse that Gen. Hughes tried TO
have II broken into sections. the same as the
story Of tho House that Jack Built"
The witness testified that Mr.. Billings came
g. her house ten or fifteen minutes ON the
Thursday after the murder. and talked about
In daughters reported engagement to Shrr-
man, anu nothing more. Her testimony before
the GRIND Jury was then ovcrhsulcd, but APP
Barrnty without practical results and sho was
dismissed.
Hiss Phebe Nashburn. an attractive school
mistress, took the stand. She corrohorated her
mother testimony. aud bore a long and weary
crosS-'SamiLa'loh apparently without trip
ping, 81" ASKED her motrcr the time on the
night 81 tho murder. nhd her mother snid S:}O