The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-03-20
THE PISTORIUS CASE.
AN Ex-PRIEsT ON TRIAL FOR MURDER "A
SECOND TRIAL AFTER CONVICTION AND
SENTENCE TO DEATH

A
SENTENCE TO DEATH.
PHILADELPHIA, March 10. 1879
9lasius Pissorius, now undergoing his second trial
for the murder OF Isaac Jacquetc, WIS German Gath
Ole priest He Is man of scholastic aitainmcnts,
noted linguist left the faherand because OF the
vigorous and uncomfortable attacks which the iron
handed Bismarck adopted toward those OF the
priesthood, who, like this man now on
trial q murderer, advocated and represented
the doctrines OF the ulramontanisih Pstorius ID
said have been prominent the opposition Of the
German sons Of the Church to Bismarck, aud be 10
said to have emigratcd immediately aftor the at-
tempted ASSASSINATION OF the great Chancellor, upon
learning snat . special punishment was being pre-
pared sor him and MS fellow chvrchmeD on account
OF his spposit,os TO tho clans OFT s,Atesnau.
yARAERs' rEuD
The priest had brotisar who had engsatsd 70 this
country some years before. His name John
Pistorius, and and Is the tenant of the Scott
farm, us II Is known, on Stony Creek, IN Montgomery
county, short distance above Norristown, and not
many miles from Philadelphia. Alter making IN.
quiries and finding that he could obtain passionate
IN the Unied States tho priest Obtained PERMISSION
from his olerical chief and sailed Tor this country.
lie went 10 his brother's iarm and lived with
HIM aud ms family until, only low weeks alter his
ARRIVAL arrested Tor the killing ol Isaac JAG
Jo6n Pstorlus. Jdst now Jacquotte met his death is
tue question: settled by the court which Is now
Tor second time trying the case. and which will
decide other that Busius PstorIus Is the murderer
tns id upon the hst traIor that the killing
accidental hOnicide.
1t appears that Farmer Pisiorius and Farmcr
Jacqueils had old standing quarrel about tho
BOUNDARY line between the Two rms Aone declaring
that stony Creek The disputed line and The other
demanding more ground Pistorius neld that when
Jacaucues cows were driven 20 water at stony Crock
4 havl 2.Nuu DJu v.
maintained to the contrary aud persisted III using the
creek as q watering place Tor his stock there was
UGH bad feeling between these two ters OF The SOIL
Ono day, the oath Of July, 1875, Harry Muloch,
to water ~ STONY creek. Blasius .Pistorlous
Standing ON the opposite bank when he reached me
water course He mad pistol IN his hand, and, US
the boy approacned, the priest raised ana pointed
the weapon toward ann, ''only TO scare him." as no
aiterward declared. Tho lad ran away aud returned
with MS master. Jacquette, VINO ansrily demanded
what ristorius meant The latter pointed the pistol
aud said in reply, 81 shoot" Jacouctte ran across
the shallow stream, picked TWO stones, and
exclaimed 'If you shoot III bring you down of that
bahk." Jacquel,e then climbed up the steep bark,
dropping the stones Pistorius then lowered MS pls-
Jacquet,e approached within lew feet oi him.
WHAT next looK place Is differently told by different
witnesses rne Common eailh alleges that Ps,orius
dibeateiy shot the farmer while the accused Gains
that The weapon acciuently discharged IN a
scufle between the two men. Both John ana Baslus
Pist0r,us were arrested Tor the murder and
Jacqucte had OF the largest funerals ever known
II tho county. he was prominent man. German,
light among the Patrons Of Husoandry. There was
great public excitement and Indignation at the man.
OF his death and demand Tor the speedy trial oil
his murderer John PiStorius WAS tried and promptly
acquitted having share In tho crime, but Blaslus
PistOrius, the priest tried IN December, 1873,
~ Norr,stown ana on the 3lst Of that month
vic muruer 10 the first dcgree An application
Tor chenss OF venue on account OF the strong pubic
feeling against the prisoner, was denied ana on the
Sth May. 1875, ristorius was sentenced 70 die on
the scanoid.
A SECOND TRIAL
Since that time Supreme Court has ordered that
the accused shall receive trial In this city,
moved from the infueLces which popular prejudice
are alleged cxerled in Montgomery county, and
II this second triai which began yesterday In
Philadelphia AZ mentioned IN the HERALD VI to-day.
The prisoner is stodt built with severe. deter
mined lace. He has large, s.rong; ra.ner sensual
features and gtterng gray eyes He refused TO with
OF manslaughtsr." "No, he said, al an Innocent
man aud will stand my trial though II results In
Tho boy Harry MULCH, one OF the first witnesses
for the Commonwealth. He was positive that when
JacQuette walked up the bank OF the stream Piss
torius pointed the pistol at him. Jacquetto threw up
his lett hand 10 ward It off, when pistorius thew Tho
hand containing the weapon out OF his reach,
aud then bringing 1t around and down
fired deliberately /; Jacquetle he says, did
produced ana read the ante.mortem statement OF
Isaac Jacquette; this document not produced by
Mr. Gotwaiiz, the then District Attorney oil Mont
gomeTy county. on the previous trial, and the de-
lcnce did not know OF It's existence until the argu-
ment Tor new trial was made in It Jacquete, alter
stones and went TO MIN ana attempted TO tako the
pistol out OF his hand be gave whIrl anu shot me
right under my hand, and TELL"
STORY DETAIL.
The most circumstantial story OF the murder was
that OF William Pollock WAC testified this afternoon.
He said that he lived the 24th OF July, 1875, on
scott farm, occupied by Isaac Jacquete. Wtncss
testIhed further that on tho morning OF July ~ he
was tDrcshing oats, and shortly before noon, wh-n
putting the horses IN the stable, heard voice calling
'sIsaac Jacquctie Jacqustte SAID, ''What 10 the
ter heres ana boy Psiorius driven
threatened
said, "What in tho namc OF s the reason can't
10, my cows be watered on my land2n rau from the
stable toward the creek ana saw Jacqustte and Pts
torus almost opposite each other and Pistorius said
my back, and then stopped aud picked up some
stones, when Pistorius pointed the pistol at him;
Jacqustts walked along the creek a short DIS
walked up tho bank, and when ho aid Pistorius
dropped the pistol TO his side; Jacquettc walked TO
the pistol upon tne Ioimsr Jacquse grabbed Tor the
pistol with his loft hsnd, and u was turned round
from It's FIRST position and almost instantly the shot
he tell, III am shot" Jacluelte was in his shirt
sleeves, ana defendant was In summer dress.
he tried to get out OF the walet, rising TO
hall sitting posture, ana he said, William, come
help me out; no has killed mc;' drew MIN
oil the water with Maggie Chandler and Hurry
Boiler. whom sent for doctor and help; he rested
ON NV arm and he said .srhc sun ~ hot got me my
hat which started to do. leaving the deceased rest
ing upon one arm; when within lew feet Of Pisto-
nearly at whose feet the nat lay he pointed the
pistol at and said sDont touch the hat ~ Jacquco
called oui "I'm gomez went to him, putting my
hat over his lace and then asked Pstorius 10 help me
TO place the wounded In the shade and Pstorius
sad, ''He may lay there aud DIE" motioncd TO HIM
TO put his pistol his pocket, aud he sad al shoot
nore;' his brother John soon after appeared and
asked Blasius what lie had DONE and the latter an
swercd German, 81 shot him ~ John SAID It was
ril Jacquctte hearing John Is voice. SAID John
wnat you have done;' Jobu replied, "You ought TO
have been shot long ago." about mat time the scip
came, ana one OF the number, man named Ernest.
had shotgun said TO him. ''Iake charge OF that
Dutchman, aud II he attempts to escape blow his
bra ms out !" Jacquotte taken off put
TO bed, from which he never arose. Witness then
testified how he he pod undress the deceased,
identified the snIrt produced us the worn by
deceased that day. had Basus about bis brotner's
place; never spoke TO him.