The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-04
BILLINGS AT WASlIBURN'S.
DID HE ARRITE THERE BEFORE OR
AFTER THE SQUIRE CAME?
Opening New Batteries Upon the Prisoner-A
Question OF veracity In which there nre
Two Fours OF n Ktnd-Mrs washburn
Passing mn Orde nj n eady for sum ming Up.

BALLsToN, Oct. 3-Tho testimony in the
Billings murder trial Is all in ard the summing
up is to be begun tomorrow. Tho prosecution
In the Billings case opened n new trench to-day.
and unmasked formidable battery. Thcytricd
10 prove that Mr. Billings did not arrive at wash
burns house on the night OF tho murder until
after the Squire came home. The trench WINS
marked yesterday by the testimony Of the thrco
Fnnes. and to-day II was fully opened by tho
testimony Of tho boy. Thomas Virtue. 1t seems
to DO a question OF vcracity between the four
washburns and the three Finncs and the boy.
The Washburns swear that Mr.. Billings was in
their house and had been thore Mt least twenty
minutes when the Squire came home. His
horse had been standing at the hitching post
that length OF time. Isaac Washburn took him
home a. soon as he heard that his wife was shot
Tho Finnes swear that the boy Thomas vlr-
tue left their place on horseback two minutes
after Squire Washburn babe them good night
at the horse block. and the boy swcars no rode
direct to tho squire's house. There was neither
horse nor wagon ut the hitching post. Mrs.
Washburn told him that the Squire had Just got
home The Finnes swear that or minutes
after Virtue left Isaac dashed by with Mr.. Bill
lings In the wagon. II their testimony Is true.
The inference seems cear that all the Wash
burns are perjurers. and that Mr.. Billings did
not get to their house until after the Squire
came home. II tho washburn testimony is
true. 1t is fair TO infer that the Finnes and the
boy Virtue are perIurers
On the one hand. it is admitted that the Fnnes
have been bitter enemies to Mr.. Billings. and
on the other that the Washburns have been his
warm friends SO that whilo there is really
some Virtue In the testimony, there is appa-
rently great lack Of II.
Thomas Virtue is a bright boy OF is. with
blue eyes and ruddy complexion He has
broad Yankee twang. The boy makes fair
lrotting witness. but occasionally overreache
himself His testimony may be summarized as
follows:
have worked two year. Tor Mr. ,Fnne. got my
drove a COW up TO Mr. Hilton's about mile above the
lore came bach with the cow wen, over to lie barn.
10 see WHAT nc wa. u wa. - MINUTES pas,
S DOM 81 n The .@Ie ten wn S ss' Of IShp Ten
Sitting on the steps about ten minutes when heard the
down SSTs aSS NJ n me to 40 SnG I rS
the TS,s nsy w s Merf . g Iss
ispseTG wen! in Win him Snd came out and ran DOWN
out What was t9s matter back = finnes and found
from The time heard the sho, to he jim, hS. sos to
ths horse block had ecn there probably four or nve
there eight Or t. minus when Mr. finne asked me
s%P,SS VI wsa I 1 %S os Bsfg ssSg The saas
DE Rafne.. qg hSf.s When Mr. rinns came into nc
"na i9 me to sadie s s ssnm c9iSrsd S'f Sns
np. leaving the horse standing on going across the
.na io9k him By 'sc msns AM led hm IN Mr f I'm,
esasGi me- IS The iooi boosted me on 10 horse and
started Tor hemp.ens All ls must have taktn I'VE "
burns house stopped near lie ht,hins post and ha
wagon at the hchns ro.t Nr. wS,G6g, n cane to lie
s sSt sS I said eo 4SH ERow NI H Lar .
come said. Sic dead now, and shs said, ., 1.
Game out oi ii The south ' dor "'''' INV VIC
On cross-examinaton, Gen. Hughes made
seIvra g3rs 10 se. tYls IN 'Re BOY pu Tas
driven cows w 10 Hitons four times during
Gen Hughes-when did you drive the first
Master vlr,ue-I can't remember. Suddenly
li,n. Hushcs-When was III
Master Nrtue-On the ith 81 June.
Gen. Hushcs-How do you know it was7
Master Vlrtuc-.Why. I've got it set down.
Gen. Hughes-well, let US see what you've
Master virtue-oh. it's in the bottom drawer
Of my Office,
Gen. Hqghes-so you have it all set DOWN.
Master Nirue-les. sir.
Gen. HuShes-Thats right; but II it's in the
bottom drawer Of your Office 1t doesn't do US
Master yir,ue-well. can't see as it does Just
The witness then swore positively to the pre-
cise words used IN his conversation with Mrs.
MeshoI W whlle he Was e hsr door On horse
burn Mrs. Mashhurn came TO the door. The
S Ttnes,s said; -, SUPPOSE y2u know Mrs hi,
has Iust come" The witness said: She's dead
now: Mrs. Washburn replied " Is she - and
went INTO inc mouse. Master ' lrtuc sMOIr 10 ISL
lively that not another word was said. lie WAS
notthe least excited and remembered the pre-
Gen. Hughes then read from the minutes Of
tho hrand Jury an extract from the testimony
al Thomas Virtue. The words used were the
Fame. with the exception Of the expression.
,,GeorEe hns Just come This was left out;
Master Virtue then acknowledged that he had
and Mrs, Flnne. and Messrs Moak. Ormsby. and
M9li h hays els2 talked E Mr. E vI,3 Ut
These gentlemen are friends 10 Mr.. Billings
Gen. Hughes-Dld | ask YOU If YOU had
SPOKEN t. these gentlemen
Gen. Hughcs-Then why is 1t you are SC
ANXIOUS 10 give their names ?
Master Virtue dnnocentlyl-Oh. ! wanted to
t,eii }9u so you Would know who the men are
A most dramatic scene followed MIR. Moak
called in loud voice: Mrs. Geo. Washburn'
The old lady took the stand.
wind before a storml-I want to ask you. under
the dreadful soemnity Of the oath that you have
taken To- tell the truth, the whole truth. and
nothing but the truth
Gen. Hughes Onterruptng)-If your Honor
judge Landon-I think IT entirely unneccs-
sary. The witness undoubtedly understands
Mr. Moak lin a blood -curdlinG tonel-Undei
the dreadful sOlemnity 81 your oath. | ask YOU
madnme. if Jesse Billings did not come int
your house on tho night q this terrible murder
after your husband came homsY
Mrs. Washhurn with a pale facel-He did not
mr. Mex SaSr lrEoaTinG IiEe 'tasfd1nmWnl'
not jesse Billings burst into the door belor,
you with loth hands raised. crying. What's t
pay who's shot? who's huuf' and did no
your husband tell him what had happened, nm,
did not Jesse Billings Jr wiring his hands AM
Shrek. on, conspiracy; Oh, conspiracy p
Tho court room was Us stlll rs death. Judgi
Bosnrt aft"rward said that he could hear th'
hearts of ladies beat within their bosoms. Mr.
Dlllings sat apparently unmoyed.
Mrs Wnshburn rcpli"d that nothing o. tn
kind had occurred and Mr.. Moak stepped for
ward nnl dropped the curtain upon the mos
dramatic act IN the Billings tragedy.
Chus. D. Iect and four boxes Of cartridge
took the stand. Mr. Lcct said that the cart
ridges came from Bridgeport this morning II
answer to u telegram sent last evening. Tn
package had lust been received and Ind not yc
been opened. He supposed the bullct wer
long Ais with fiat hcuds. The package wa
thcn opened, and the cartridges proved TO b.
different from thOsc sent for The object wa
70 show TINT fiat hoeled bullets with unmark o,
shells the Same size ms tho shell taken from
tho gun found in the we'll. were on tn
market The lead taken from Mrs. Billings heai
bad fiat heel The defence seemed juhi
liant over tho failure To send tho rich
cartril1sea from lrilraU1rt L.,