The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-11
BAKERS PISTOL IN COURT.
ANOTHER EEMiRKIBLE SCENE IN THE
HOLLIsTERTILLE TRI.IL
rr,,ns to Prove that Pretty Fanny Van Cor
der Made Bakers Revolver Harmless the
Ntaht Heforr the ~ asked Robbcry-A Juror
or whom the Prosecution Disapproves.

Of whom the prosecution DtsapprOves.
Uor.L1srERviLLE, Pa, Fob. 10-Tho trial
NJ squire +. b. Hollister. Justice Of the Peace.
and brother oi the historian; Geo. Burns. IIol-
Us,rrs brothcr-in- VIM. Meyers. son Of ro-
.u,,tnhlc parents In this town and Fannie van
Gorier. tho pretty daughter OF farmer living
n,lr horc all charged with conspiracy to rob
r n. Baker. continues to attract absorbing In
t,rrst IN this section. Tho peculiar nature OF
Nrallcgcd conspiracy by which 1t Is charged |
NHt Hollistcr knew that Baker had received q
large sum Of money. and probably had 1t in his
house. that Ioistor and the two other men set |
ureto barn near Bakers residence that when |
Baker ran out to the frc. Iollistcr. with Burns \
nnl Meyers. entered Bakers house masked. |
through the connivance Of Fannie van Gorder. /
who WAS visiting Baker ut tho time that they !
beat Mrs. Bascr terribly that she is
vt an invalid. and also beat her !
lido son into insensibility. and then
taat they ransackcd the house. but did not find
uc ncy-al those accusations have combined
+ make the case dramatic at every point.
4. Fanny Van Gorder isn't acquitted"
said one Of the counsel yesterday. 1t won't be
the fault Of one Of tho jurors He foil in love
w,h the fair defendant the morning he was
called to the box" The Juror mentioned is Il
young man with mild features and blond
moustachc. When he appeared on the stand
sorye as juror. he saw Miss Van Gordcr for
the first time. His clothing was slouchily
arranged his flannel shirt was collarlcss. his
hair was unkempt and two or three days
growth OF sandy beard covered his face. Will
liam Myers looked Mt him searchingly. The
Young Jurors eyes were fastened on Fanny Van
uordcr He'll do" whispered Myers to Coun-
sellor Wilson. The Juror was accepted. When
he took his sent with the jury on Friday morn
Ing he was dressed with care. His face was
smoothly shavcn. his hair nicely combed. his
shir, was white and spotcss. and surmounted
by q collar and nccktic. Since then the inter-
,us have becn short In which his light blue
eyes havc not rested on the pretty face OF Fanny
Van Gordcr. Two jurors sit in front OF him,
AMI sometimes they obstruct his view Then
b, leans over and looks around one OF them or
pe.rs between their heads at the fair defendant.
Whom Court met at 10 O'Clock this morning
IT,. room was like an leo house. The Judge
sl.e-,ed on tho bench. counsel rubbed their
hands and stamped their feet. and the Jurors
retained their wrappers. After little.
Judge Waller adjourned court for twenty
minutes and ordered two cons,ablcs 10 put up
mother stove The Court and bar retired 10
U'-mall bns Office. In few moments the con-
stable, anuouutsd 10 the Judge that another
A,oye would not heat the room before noon
Jul-" Waller returned to the bench. Il Will
uut Aod court in room in tho condition OF
,hs one" he exclaimed. Court IL adjourned
nntll > o'clock this afternoon" Tho constabes
marched the jury ont. and the Sheriff took his
prisoners back TO Jail. This session OF cour,
bus Effected the rampant Court House feeling
IL the county to an extent that alarms the poll
u'iaus. who have fostered and led it ever since
tAr rial was begun.
Tie prisoner. Myers. has carried himsclfwi;h
fnNtUaraut and even tnuuty air Mas an
Jlrlcr has apparently considered the pro-
eecdngs as something that did not amount 10
isroat deal Only Squire Hollster and Burma
have looked and acted as though their situation
Ra- me of great moment Uo,listcr hHs him
,r.f suggested nearly nil the plans ana mnttcr
Of th' discrimination Of witnesses. Myors
o.. prompted questions where hims'lt aud
lHuuy were concerned. He Hnd she sat side by
sI'. Dutll to-day. their attentions 10 one an
JutrulNc been constant Tho girl $ counsel WAS
tIn-truiuel last night to request her 70 discon-
lu-lay. ior the first time. Myers manifested
aaAly; he Was nervous ana pae. GeorSe
T. iru7'1 wife sat ~ her HUSBAND anu Wcpl
lr4r.y al ihn afternoon, and, with the care
a.ru witc ol Squire Holli-ter. won sympathy.
Tuv main point against squire Holilster Il
lh" fact alleged hy the prosecution that he hAd
i' money 10 pny Bakers claim weeks hcInrt
be- li Iuy IT, and that his delay in paying the
o. i,. y was caus 'd by the nOn-cOmplrtion o
gr plaus fcr recovering it 10y robbery. I,
Slow that he had tho money. tho prosecution
ON saturday introduced tho testimony OF OiiNei
u lMnneli. a money lender OF Hone sdal'
lunurU -woro that he met 'Sqnirc H9l!stcr OF
a,llm,if inr,onicd to let j. J. Curtis have
SOM fnpfiHy for him. lie seemed grnatly dls
nito!niei when fsaid couldn't pay that ! VA,
t. 1iuia..h the money. Next DAY GUIDED t'
d. Curtis have the money. ! gave check io
j. II. .Hoilistar gave me- Voluntarily 500 fo
l,'-.n. Curtis have the money
In hi- testimony on Thursday Mr.. Bake
swore that when Fanny Van G9rder returno,
BsSrr wns assaulted. she was sent 10 the hote
aocraE glass Of liquor for his wife. Charles
OF ill., fire At his fathers barn no saw Fannl
Na4 Cor lar on the bridge. with glass IN he
haai. Win Myers left tho crowd and loino'
h.. ana the two walked up the hill together.
G.nrg. Andrews Ol HONlsterNllle, witness
n n.,ut noon to-day. He sought out T. j.
Baa'r and WIS seen to give b i'm revolver Ill
81 -omrihin; 10 Baker which greatly excte'
tttt - !lfi-nau. Baker took tho revolver an
hatt'n'l with it To- the on 'c OF his counsel.
When court mot this afternoon baker was th'
witness called. As hn took the stan
Funny Van Gordrr WAS to all appearances IN
m0-l uuiutrro osicl person ln tho room. although
l., testified tor "A f.w minutes to the fact in re
g.r4 ~ tUr poisoning OF his milk. and carried
= ln4.slPSahle lmpressi12n 1i tnGt Fanny Fanny va va
No.vrr in the month OF August, september
Otnhar. and November lnst. Mr. Baker (
N,.ri ex-Dstlict Attorney Smith. Instant
i ANY Van Gorder was apparently the MOI
rl- . listener Ia the court and her lace 1ushc
d"'pIy Tho witness answered mat he dl
have such a revolver and had il now. He prc
du 'rd il in court. The color all lett Fanny Va
G 1rl"r'- laer and for moment II was lnlchs'
. "a
u'.'ut pnttern. The witness said that "a
chambers We're all loHisd. 90 Discharge u,
SAID the counsel. Baker pointed 1t toward q
ocidng AMI pulled tho trigger s!N times. III
ouly result WAS loud click each time. IN
counsel for theA 70 noe were greatly amused
Now tell what You have to BAY about the II
VolNrr' said the counsel.
Tho witness said that NJ To few weeks ~
h. invariably hlrpt with MS pistol under b
lII.iN Iie had fired 1t on frequently Hnl ncy.
Know it tl miss fire, When Fanny Van, Cord
WDr.ad AT his house or came thcro 10 help h
VIZ she frequently made tho beds, She kne
tiat he kept the pistol under ms pillow AT
tnc lJhJory ne bought "A new revolver. which
l,n ia tho house with his wife. lie carried Il
Old one with him to tho store 10 protect nim9r
IL had had no occasion to fire II on SIM
IT, !, bh,ry. Whom no loft homo last week
attend this trpl a brother Of his CAM, on tro
Su-l johanna County 10 attend to the liO'l llste
yin, siorr during his absence Tho w.l4n
To-. tu. revolver now in court Tor the use oi ~
hr,thrr. George Andrews had come 20 hi
aiounoon and handed him the pistol sayll
tI.l Baker's brother had discovered that ,
Woud not 70 on, On Investigation
ipauI that the end Of the hamip
winch strikes tho cartridge had brcn ~,
on about iho slAt'nth Of an irgh, renderli