The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-17
A COURT THUNDERSTRUCK.
THE fSTONISHING IERDICT IN THE
CiSEy IN HOLLIS TERTILLE.


Hoyr,pALE, Pa. Feb. 1G-Thc Holistcr-
yuo sked burglary casc ended tonight in
ay,rli.l tint has created great excitement The
trial was begun on Thursday. 9th inst E.B.
Hons'r. d Justice Of the Peace George Burns.
lis hrailrr-in-law; William A. Myers. an edu-
Gated Eal respectable young man. and Fannie
Van GUrlcr. tho beautiful sixteen -year-old
daushter ~ q well-to-dO farmer. all Of Hollis
tcr.'. were arrnigncd under an indictment
i,r hlr-lary. Tho crime was porpetrated at
Holiistrrviile on the night Of Nov. 3, 1878. The
barn oi G.. VI. West was discovered to be on fire
ut midnight. T. II Baker. merchant OF the
village, ran to the fire. Immediately afterward
nmlsk man entered his house knocked down
Mrs Baker and her siX-ycur-old boy. and robbed
The house OF q pockctbo1k containing $780,
Baker hal received - 700 that day by assigning
mort age he held against +. II. Hollistcr to
nnothr. person. IIc did not keep the money
IN his house, hut sent il away by friend
i was at once suspected that tho fre had boon
siarto O. call Baker out " his house BY per-
sons who knew Of the payment OF the money,
but wrre ignorant Of the fact that It had been
sent uway. Baker suspected Squire llollstor
and his brother-in-law George Burns Mrs
Hlkor -lid that she recognized the person that
Hiru Aer as George Burns because Of tho
peculiar color Of his cycs. On this Burns was
arrested and lodged in Jail ut Honosialc.
Detectives from Scranton took charge Of the
ease. They learned from two men. named
Stanton and Bailey. that William 4. Myers had
tried TO get them to hoiu thcm commit burg
larry IN Hol.istervlc in October last. Myers
had told them that he knew that over e. 600 was
10 be paid to u man in that place. and that it
woull not bc paid hy tho party owing IL until
Arrangements had been made 10 steal It back
Stanton and Bailey declined to 80 into the Job
Myers had told thom that he had n girl living
In the house Of the man who was to receive
the money! who would help in the work. Fanny
Van Gurlcr lived occasionally in the house OF
u. II. Baker. On the sth of November she came
e. the house. and was the one who aroused
Baker on the might Of the fire. After the fre
and robbery. it came out that Myers had been
IN coming from the direction Of Vests barn
few minutes before the alarm was given
My,r. and Miss Van Gorder were arrested
few weeks aiterward. Squire Hollistcr was ar
ro-ted ou charge Of having planned the whole
crime The four We're presented to the Court
week p'iore last. and indicted for conspiracy
Arson. burglary. and robbery.
Tho Indictment for burglary was taken up
FIRST The prisoners wcre defended by ex-
Judge lleury Wilson. the Hon. W. II. Dimmick
q. : puri.. and Homer Greene. They moved
iora rhanga of venue on the ground that an
article Do THE SuN Swing the details OF anoiher
trlgl iu HolIstrrvllle had preludicsd public
opinion AGAINST sgm@oi The defendants; The
Waller. II. VI. Sccly. and q. o. Smith 10 assist
nistrc, Attorney Mumtord in the PROSECUTION.
The th-ory Of the prosecution was that Squire
HpAA-'rr had planned 10 pay the money TO
Bakrt ,l late in the day thNl IL could not be de-
a urn nv Myers snG and Mss Van GorPer GSSaSPrS to
have Cue fire started and the house OF Baker
ro0,ti. Myers was charged with being the in-
cond.hi h'rh Van G9tdsr WIN having givcn
ue altr'H o. Bgkcr and his vile ami with try
me- g. 'f ihs inter put oi The houSe T. the IRE.
hnd linrr- w.'h having committed tho burglary.
ls-aui 1na robbery
:e.sf h . asfl ii Rim 'sriaS @2Reg ii r afa j, i
pay t.' i-it. ana set several days for doing 50.
en- 81 % procure the money; IL wa shown
leut r.-e-lilg Tie robbery subsequent TO
WAl b .t .ud tNl'1 failed to pay Baker ga DAYS
81 DIS "n tgoiuiW"uii TNylus thai no hai not
81" -"i i." money. lue po~ i've testimony
N,-. Baker as o. u"r recognition Dt Burns
Hs i..'n eNid nee ,ron-nt out Hgaihsi
,h' .ra- Myers hAi mad. o. them iu O to-
l-f a.i t.. test .n iY o. witness VINO sworc
-" Myers como from IN" direction oi
N.-ts .'rn shortly before the fire. made ny
ilrl l..i t.a points ul ti' case agains, him, II
Tl Vat Ny y %.n, NIL. qnd r,.i a 1ad i
rie- - 70 T. Bakers next day. She
~ eit on the night OF the robbery
retired q, her room at 81. o'clock. 4
iii,ie .' rH y o'clock Sh" aroused Baker and
hi- wife. Size Was Or, ssed as she. was when
slawrft uI. g. x g. hfi. even u hor switch.
I4Aor -"orr that he d.i net know ANYTHING OF
nelr.. rli nn hour after ii occurred. lie met
ltLu, Van Gnrler going across lots toward the
Hre, -.. said nothirg about 1t.
reas'1 a i.'.s,.r dolayal ihg uayn,ept was be-
caa,. l. e'u.I not arrange '' other judements so
q t' -te the Baker MORTGAGE the frs, lien on
nv VA lint he was in Stranton tho night
oi IL robbery which was not denied by the
pro, 1.' IN. who arruod that that was the most
Suspicious 'ir .umstancc against him. A brother.