The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-10-08

In order to clearly understand the force
Of the testimony given upon the trial and
the subsequent result, 1t is important to
bear in mind the physical peculiarities,
dress and general appearance of each Of
the three prisoners.
Short was small man Of not more
than Ave feet six inches In height slend-
er, weighing scarcely 100 pounds, with
bright, fiery red hair and side whiskers,
and, at the time of the murder. wore
white felt hat and an old light blue army
overcoat
Ryan was fully six feet in height, of
robust franc, with black hair and mus.
tache, dress, d In dark clothes and wore
a dark Derby hat.
Grey was heavy, broad-shouldered
man, of medium height, weighing fully
800 pounds, with full black beard
reaching nearly to his waist.
Butas the evidence sequently show
ed that he had not fired the first shot 1t
Is unnecessary to describe his appear
snce more minutely. aa
Certainly 1t is difficult to imagine two
men more unlike than Short and Ryan,
or less liable to be mistaken for each
other even by strangers much less than
by their acquaintance. There is no
possibility here for case Of mistaken
identity.
Short and Ryan were tried together
with their consent--Grey having asked
for and obtained separate trial-and
each was defended by scparite counsel.
After the preliminary proof relating to
the post.mortem examination, the cause
of death and the Identification of the
deceased as the person named in the in
dictment, the Commonwealth called as its
first witness, woman, Mary Brown.
She bore bad reputation, but nobody
J questioned her integrity or purpose tc
tell, reluctantly, it is true, the whole
truth. The prisoners were all her friends,
and were constant visitors to the drink.
ing-saloon of which she was the prophet
ress. She was woman of powerful
physique, almost masculine frame, grea
force of character, and more than ordi
nary intelligence.
From her testimony IL appeared tina
q colored woman with whom she hat
some dispute, had hit her on the heat
with o stone and ran, and the three pris
oners coming up at the moment started
: with her up the street in pursuit of tn
fugstive.
Although the night was dark ther
was snow on the ground, and gas lam
{ near by gave sufficient light to enabl
! one to recognize a person with cas-
L some feet away After running about on
II hundred yards the pursuers came to tn
e corner f an allsy and stopped under th
% gas lamp. being challenged by the d,
Is ceased, who was in uniform, in compan
n with one of his squad. She swore thr
l. when the Corporal cried "halt," Sbor
l. whom she had known intimately fc
T. years. replied, go to -" and Will
D. standing at her side. 80 that their elbow
lie were touching both being Immediate
L. under the gas light, he pulled out a pi
Y tol, pointed it at the deceased, who WI
'e four or five feet from him, and fired, IN
u then ran down the alley, the decease
y pursuing him. She heard four or fi'
ID more shots fred. ami the deceased r
er turned wounded. and Short disappeare'
H. While the shots were being fred, 81
ID saw both Ryan and Gray standing at
be corner some feet away from her, ar
n- after they had separated and she wei
T. home. It was also proved that this all,
d, was bounded ON either side by his
n fences. difficult to climb, and led dow
IN to stream of watr ffty feet wide, M
'ir three or four feet deep. No trace
ce footsteps were found in the snow exec
es those of one man leading down into Il
'fe stream, and il was evident that the pc
lc- son who had fed had not climbed eth
in fence, but bad Naded through the siren
ss- aud disappeared on the other side.
'ie The next witness was the soldier W
''e stood close by the deceased when t
mt first shot was fred, aud who. not kno
ing either of the prisoners, described t
l." person who had fred and ran down {
an alley as the man with the red hair NJ
ite side whiskers. dressed in light bl
on army overeoat and white felt hat, a
We upon being directed to look at the thI
m prisoners, Immediately identified Sh'
en as the man whom he had seen do
IN shooting.
ny The testimony of these witnesses "
De- in no wise shaken upon cross-examiI
tion.
OF Then the sworn ante-mortem sta
nd meRt Of the deceased, taken by Mag
a trate, was read 20 the jury. He said Il
'es he had known Short personally or sol
IN time, but had never had any dificu
ed with him. He FULLY identified him as
Rn man who had fred the first shot, a
ut, then ran down the alley, firing one 81
Dg after ano ber until be fired the last a
ties fatal shot almost in the faos of the I
he ceased. He also fully described
te' clothing worn by Short as it had be
I'VE escribed by the WITNESSES
ch These were all the witnesses to the
is currence, except the prisoners themselv
he aud. of course, they must not be heal
The case against Short seemed to be
*. conclusively made out as though SCI
let Of witnesses had sworn they had St
cts him do the shooting. Neither the judi
on the jury, nor the spectators entertain
'o- the slightest doubt Of his guilt, and VIII
OF the Commonwealth. at this point, olos
In its case, it seemed as though the ia
ity rope was alre dy around his neck a
ar escape impossible.
sht Ryan heaved sigh of rshef which v
So audible throughout the whole Co