The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1885-06-06
..BUzz- pEARRE CONVICTED.
Mrs. KirkIand's Testimony as to
the Assault.
A Synopsis of the Evidence with
the remarks of the Pros
ecution and Defense.

George A. Pearre, of Cumberland,
and student at the Maryland
University Law School, for assault
with felonious intent upon Mrs.
Estelle M. Kirkland, at the Albion
Hotel, Cathedral and Richmond
streets, March II, 1885, was begun
yesterday in the Criminal Court
before Judge VIM. A. Stewart and
the jury selected on Monday The
courtroom was densely crowded,
many of those present being fash
ionably-dressed young men, with a
plentiful sprinkling of more exper-
fenced men about town. Among
the visitors was the venerable ex-
Judge Peter w. Grain, elected to
the bench of St. Mary's, Charles
and Prince Georges counties in
1881, and afterwards member Of
the Court of Appeals The ira
verser sat near his council, Hon.
William Pinkney Whyte and w.
Hollingsworth Whyte He took
an active interest in the proceed
ings and frequently suggested ques-
tons on the cross-examination.
His brothers, George A. Pearre,
of St. Joseph. Mo, and VIM.
Pearre, Of Cumberland, were pres
ent, The State finished its testi-
mony in chief about 4 O'Clock P. NJ.
and the defense opened, examin-
ing several witnesses, including
Geo Heasley, the elevator and
bell-boy at the Albion, who was
the messenger employed by Mr..
Pearre to carry notes to Mrs. Kirk.
land. The defense is that Pearre' 5
act was improper, but not criminal,
as he supposed he had an afirma-
tive reply to his advances
Mr. Edgar H. Cans, who, with
Mr.. Charles G. Kerr, States attor-
ney, represents the prosecution,
made the opening statement inn
mediately, on the call of the court
He sketched the case as the State
expected to present it, and said he
would ask for conviction on the
first count Of the indictment, charg-
ing assault with felonious intent.
The other two counts are for felon-
ious intent and for common assault.
The penalty for the offense charged
in the first count is Imprisonment
in the penitentiary for from two to
ten years.
The first witness called by the
State was Richard Frazier carpen-
ter and builder, who introduced a
plat prepared by him, showing the
plan of the fifth or mansard story
of the Albion Hotel Mrs. Kirk
lands two rooms fronted upon Ca
thedral street. One was used as a
chamber and the other as a parlor,
where she entertained her visitors.
The partitions separating these two
rooms from those adjoining were
nine-inch brick walls, the hotel be-
ing series of what were originally
separate dwellings,. Mr.. Pearre's
room adjoined Mrs. Kirkland S
apartments on one side and Mr..
Stockton Loney occupied the
room on the other side. The thick
ness of the walls was pointed out
by the State to account for the out
cries of Mrs. Kirkland not being
heard in the other rooms.
twas quarter to eleven o'clock
when Mrs. Kirkland, the prosecu-
ting witness, came into court es-
corted by Chief Judge George w.
Lindsay, of the Orphans Court.
She is slightly above the medium
height, and has dark eyes and hair.
Her fine figure appeared to advan-
tage in close-htting suit of dark
green wooden cloth, and she wore
bonnet of the same material,
trimmed with velvet and green
feathers. A heavy black veil hid
her face from the view of the crowd.
Mrs. Kirkland's agitation was pain
full to witness, her breath coming
with spasmodic efforts as Judge
Lindsay almost bore her forward
Bring Mrs. Kirkland immedi-
ately in front of the jury" sug-
gested Mr.. Cans, $50 that she can
be heard more easily"
81 went to the Albion in Sep
TENDER last, began Mrs. Kirkland,
in a voice tremulous with emotion.
my father, Mr.. Chas. Towson,
died over three years ago, and l
am separated from my husband
| have no other male relatives. |
do not know when Mr.. Pearre
came to the Albion. In January
last | went on visit to Philadel-
phia and to Cecil and Hartford
counties. was away six weeks. "
odd you know Mr.. Pearre p
asked Mr.. Cans.
81 was introduced to him in the
elevator by Mr.. VIM. ]. Ford. "
"Did you have any conversation
with him?"
II only remember twice, and al
together the time would not amount
to half an hour. Once was in the
breakfast-room. Istopped to warm
at the register with Mrs. Campbell,
and he stopped and we had few
words of conversation. The Sc
cond time was on Christmas-Eve.
l heard knock at my door, and
on opening it | saw Mr.. Pearre
with two ladies. | looked surpris-
ed, and one of the ladies said,
Don't be angry, and they offered
me some candy l said I did not
want any candy. They again said,
Don't be angry and offered the
candy again. | took some and ex-
cused myself and shut the door.
| had no other communication with
him. When | came back from my
visit on Saturday, March ID, |
reached the hotel about one o'clock
in the afternoon. Mr.. Pearre was