Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-08
HIS WIFE GAVE HIM A ROPE-A FELLOW PRIS
ONER'S DAMAGING TESTIMONY.

HIS WIFE GAVE HIM RoPE-A FELLOW PRIS.
ONER'S DAMAGING TESTIMONY.
Janitor Titus was very nervous at his trial in
Belvidere, n. j., yesterday His face was pale
and he was feverish and unsteady. Sheriff Van
Camper testified To an effort made to break jail
about a month ago. He found place in the
wall of the corridor where prisoners had picked
the bricks loose. He found the instrument
used-a heavy iron spike. Titus said q prisoner
named Master worked at the bricks. He re-
moved Titus to another cell, and found that
the lock on Titus cell door had been tempered
with and would not work properly. In a hole
rope, made from cloth floor mat, which Mrs.
Titus had given the prisoner. The sheriff pro-
duced the mat-rope, key and spike, aud also
short sash-roPe which he found in Titus hip
pocket last Wednesday afternoon after the
court adjourned. The rope had a moose in one
end. The key shown was brass door key with
Edward Fuller testified that he was an inmate
OF the county Jail in the month Of August on
ness and other prisoners agreed to break Jail.
The key shown, he said, was used in tampering
with the lock. The key would not work. The
bolt ON the door Of Titus cell was TO be cut or
and Titus was TO release the other prisoners. At
another tipe they met in Titus cell and agreed
TO make united rush at the jailer, strike him
in the stomach, and, after disabling him, make
their escape. Titus said he would cut of his
moustache with u casekniie. He would travel
nights and sleep in tree tops during the day
time. He said that If he succeeded in escaping
he would kill any one with the casekniie who
aLte10pteu I'd fecupkufE MIN 10 Try 10 OflHK MN
back u jail. They were all ready TO spring on
the jailer, when Titus said, "Lets weaken" and
the plan was given up and they returned to
their cells. When Titus was told that the stu.
dent, Mead, was In town he said TO the witness,
"If he comes here he will not get out alive, as
shall kill him."
The state closed the direct testimony by Offer
ing in evidence the sworn stale lnent made by
THUS at the coroners inquest, the ropes, Key,
pictures of the institute bull uings and maps Of
the institute grounds.
TESTIMONY FOR THE DEFENSE
In opening Tor the defense Judge Shipman
claimed that the defense would prove that 1t
was utterly impossible that the defendant
could be guilty AS charged in the indictment
They would prove that no rape was com mitted,
as the state claims, ana that the dead girl had
no character to lose at the time she was killed
HAD freQLented houses Of prostitution, and that
Student Mead had manufactured out of whole
cloth some of Ills testimony.
Mrs. Rebecca Titus, the prisoners mother,
anu Nettie Titus, his wife, testified that Titus
was i'll with liver complaint the night OF the
murder. Mrs. Nettie Titus testified that when
she went into Titus bedroom and told him that
not better dress and go up there?" She am
swered mo. You stay in bed and get a good
Sleep" and Titus went back 10 bed. Thomas b,
had talked TO him about the reward OF 81 900,
claiming that at least q part of IL ought TO be
his. Joshua Curtis testified to the same effect.
Ralph Titus, the prisoners father-in-iaw, testi.
fed that Mead had told him that when he en-
tered the basement OF the Institute on the night
of the murdersW lliam Drake and his nephew
were there with Titus.
William III. Drake testified that he and Nell
son Drake. his nephew, were in the furnace
room ten minutes before Mead came In Mr.
Drake also testified that before Mead entered
he saw another student standing in the door
way of the furnace-room, but he did not know
his name.