The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-03-05
THE ALLEN MURDER.
Full Details Of thu Trial now In Progress at
Geneva.

In the Allen murder trial, Judge Wilson 81
with Judge Kelluln to-day. The remaining tw'
iurors were obtained by quarter past ten.
"A soon as the Jury was fully empanclled, Mr.
Van Buren,, for the defense, moved to exclude
the plaintiffs witnesses from the court room dur
ing the trial. After time at "sparring,' en-
gagged In by Msssrs Hopkins and Barry for sh'
prosecution and Messrs. Van Buren, and May
bouru for the defense, and consultation By The
Judges, a conclusion was reached. The couf
ordered the witnesses upon both sides to leave
the room and remain out until used.
At half past 10 the case was opened to the jury
on part OF the prosecution by J. lvor Montgom
cry. Mr. Montgomery commenced by speaking
Of the history Of murder Ind robbery, It's effects
upon society and the state when allowed to 70
unpunished. He spoke in fitting terms Of the
duty OF the prosecution In seeing that justice is
done aud Injustice omitted; that it would be
their duty to simply arrive at the Facts alone. ii
possibIe and leave the result in the hards Of the
Jury. He told the jury that the highest duty of
an American citizen toward his neigbb0r
and which should be performed witt the greatest
earefulness, Is that Of sitting iu Judgment upon
aques.ion Involving his life or liberty. lie said
II is 3 law Of our human nature that no man can
inlure biz friends witheAt inlprlng himself, nor
wrong another without degrading himsvH. II
the two dofeudants were found not guilty, it
would rejoice their friends as well as themselves
while II they should be convicted, 1t would sor
row them; that If defendants were properly
proven guilty, the jury should say so according
70 their oaths and inaict the seyeTest penalty of
the law.
Then Mr.. Montgomery detailed an account OF
Mr.. Allen and his family in his lifetime; told the
jury that Mr.. Allen was killed, without warming,
at his own home, which WAS but or E rods from
that Of the speaker.
cannot give full account OF the facts con
Dected with the murder, which he announced
the prosecution expected to show, but will an
nounce the evidence rs It develops, but will state
the most important part, as follows
About half past IL Sunday morning, Hiram
p Allen WAS shot In the bed.room OF his house.
Mrs. Allen would swear that the fret che heard
was her husband jumping from the bed and Say
ing, Yta',o here, are your and Immediately a
scut1e followed; noise; shot, then . short
pause; then three or four more Shots when al
leu fell on the floor. The men ran out, one
tumblng over stand In the sitting room in his
dight cap WAS found In the house like one
seen on the head OF defendant Thomas the exc
ming before the murder. a piece Of candle was
also found, which will be identified rs piece
which was given by u merchant In Sandwich to
little sister OF one Of the deesdants to use In
lantern some time before the murder. Then the
defendants had each confessed the crime 10 par
ties In Chicago, a little at time; all OF which
would be shown by tho testimony.
Mr. Montgomcrys opening occupied about
two and half hours, and WAS concluded about !
half past two o'clock. There was one thing |
stated by him which created u profound sensa
ton In the court room, viz: As Libbic Allen |
came down stairs at the time Of the murder, she
cav man in tho hall. He stopped in view of
her aud turned toward the sitting room door and
ssid, "Havc you got him? If you have why
don't you come alongr She spoke to him, say. |
ing, rs that you Ar. smlthY Who IL ny What's |
The matter" At this tho man looked up at her |
and she saw HE face. The two men then went
out doors aud she saw them no more After.
wards, at Sycamore she saw and heard the voices
Of several prisoners and among them she recog.
nised, beyond any reasonable doubt, the tvics Of
defendant William 1hontas. At mention OF his |
name, Thomas turned deadly pale. showed won.
derIul anxiety and appeared very nervous, while
the eyes of every one In the court room were
rivited upon him, plat OF the house wac also
explained to the jury.
The defense Was opened By Mr.. SLell. He
stated that they would show the defendants had
90 connection with the murder, that they were
not there and would prove dlbis on each OF them.
He an oounced that they would prove that each
Of the detectives who were put upon the defend
ants In Chicago, arc not TO be believed under
oath. ltwould also appear that the deceased
was killed for revenge and not for robbery. Mr.
Smell spoke bout half all hour.
TuB TESTIMONY.
The frat Witness ior the prosecution was
Mrs. Jane Allen, widow Of the deceased, who tcs
tilted. In substance, AS follows:
My name Ia Jane Allen. Am wife OF Hiram
Allen, now deceased. Have lived In Sandwich,
Dehab county, lllnois nine years, and In that
county 80 years. Mr.. Allen was farmer In the
early part OF his life. and afterwards kept gro.
Gerry In Sandwich three years, which he subse
quently sold. Mr.. Allen was Sc or 81 wears old
at the time OF his death. We have had two chill
aren; The eldest died. Our youngest is our
daughter Libbic, who lived with us at the time
Of her fathers death Dir. Allen wss killed Feb.
ruary Is, 1879, At that time our family consisted
OF Mr.. Allen, our daughter Llbbie, woman
named Mrs. Mary Nichols and myself Mrs
Nichols had worked for US two years before; was
then washing at our house. Lbbie slept up
stairs over the siitiBg room; Mrs. Nichols, up
stairs over my room; while Mr. Allen and slept
In bedroom down stairs, cas-. Of the hall and
north OF the sitting room. Ours was a small
ROOM not room at end Of bed to allow any one
to pass. Two coors opened INTO bed room, one
either Side Of the he'd. which .winu a.rninst I'LL