The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-07-21
THE EvERHART MURDER.


asking the court for continuance i'm the
case of Norton, on the ground that an inn
portant witness by the name of j. f.
Leckey was not present, After consider
able argument between counsel and the
examination of several witnesses as to the
importance of his testimony the Justice
granted a continuance until the 9th of
July, at which time Norton will have
hearing. Wilson was then brought into
court and the investigation began. He is
as years old, is five feet and seven inches
high, medium build, has a sallow COM
pleXion, small nose and wears a Jet black
wig. He lives in Townville, Crawford
County, and has wife and seven chill
dren, He was arrested by Sheriff Vince
lock, of Clarion County, assisted by the
detective. Norton is a man about 40 years
old, stands five feet and nine inches high,
has dark complexion, regular features
and has iron gray hair and moustache.
He claims to be detective and saws he
has been connected with different firms.
1t is said he did little detective work at
Jojo among the whisky men who were
selling without license. He was arrested
at O'clock on the morning of the 4th at
the residence of Mrs. Heisley at Leeper's
upper mill, near Tylersburg station. Will
son has for some time been engaged in
the magic lantern show business and at
the time of the murder was giving exhi-
btions in the neighborhood ofthe murder.
John EveThart was the first witness
sworn. Mr.. Everbart lives in Washing
ton township near Lickingville. On the
day of the murder he left home between
and s o'clock in the morning; did not
return until o'clock in the evening /;
found his mother-in-law with throat cut,
lying on the floor; afterwards found his
wife with her throat cut at the spring
house with her face lying in the water !;
said there was $500 in the house, together
with notes and securities amounting to
about 81, 300. He testified to the blood
stains on the doors, and his testimony
was about the same as given on previous
occasions. The oss-eXaminatian failed
to elicit anything new, only that Mrs. Ev
erhart was the custodian of all money
about the house, which she kept up stairs
on the kitchen loft in an old coffee pot
with some beans while q small amount
was secreted in the false back of a picture
in the adjoining room. The next witness
called was Mrs, Adeline Mahle, who lives
near Lickingville and about go or 20 rods
from the Everhart residence. She was at
the barn about noon the day ofthe murder,
and on returning 70 the house noticed a
man going into the gate of the Everhart
residence. He was walking with a cane
and wore light gray coat, not very long.
She learned of the murder about o'clock
that night; went to the house, and in her
opinion they had been murdered about
two hours. The crosS-eXamination failed
to shake her testimony, but she said she
could not identify the man only by the
color of his coat. +. S. Weeter was next
called. He lives in Venango county, one
half mile south of the Whitehall school
house; defendant came to his ploce on the
evening of the 8th of March in a buggy
said he had come from Lickingville; his
horse was quite warm and very muddy,
indicating that he had been driving fast.
The appearance of Wilson was nothing to
excite suspicion, but was cold and chilly.
Wilson showed that night in the White
hall school house. Mrs. Susan Weeter,
wife of S. +. Weeter, was next called to
the stand. She heard of the Lickingville
murder that same night after the rest had
all gone to the show; her husband told
her, but did not know where he got his
information; defendant asked for piece
of linen cloth and TO trade knives with her
son she made fun of the old knife, when
Wilson said he had another knife. Will
son went from there to Maple Hollow.
The cross-eXamination was not a very
pleasant one between the witness and
counsel. The latter was of the opinion
that witness memory had become
greatly impaired upon certain points,
while she objected to having so
many questions asked her. The
next witness examined was George
Shelter, who lives in Salem township,
Clarion county, about three miles north
east from Whitehall school house. He
saw the defendant on the Sth of March at
Eli Shelters house, which is about four
miles from s. +. Weeter's house; he was
travelling in a buggy; had poor horse
and was going very slow; saw him next
day going to Maple Hollow; gave an ex-
hibition at Salem on the 18th of March
four days after the murder and stayed all
night at Shelters; after supper were talk
ing when they heard a rustling noise at
the window which scared the ladies of the
house. Defendant remarked that such
things did not excite or scare him he put
on his boots and went out doors; was
gone 10 minutes. The defendant then
told story to the effect that himself and
partner were counting money one night
heard the same kind of noise they both
dropped to the ground and waited awhile,
when they discovered that it was only
their other partner who was to meet them.
Witness lives lG miles from Lickingville.
Mrs. Shelter, wife of the witness who Just
testified, took the stand next. Her test-
mony was simply confederation Of her
husbands, only that she thought he was
very nervous and could not get a square
look at his eyes. Mrs. Minerva Carter
was the next witness. She has been
widow for the past Is years and lives
above Oil City on the Clapp farm and is a
cousin 10 the defendant by marriage. Will
son came to her house either on the 9th or
10th of March, he was in an excited con-
dition and said that he had just come from
within two and half miles of where the
murder was committed; she noticed that
he had a bandage around one of his wrists
and that his face and neck were badly
scratched. On being asked how it hap
pened he said he fell out of the buggy.
He said he had made over $500 in the show
business; had stayed frequently at her
house, but was anxious 20 get away this
time. BY his anxious manner her suspic-
ion was aroused. She further testified
that a year ago from this time that the de-
fendant was staying at her house and ex-
hibited a large dirk knife, and asked her
what she thought of that. There was con-
siderable levity brought out on the cross
examination. Her religious proclivities
savored strongly of spiritualism, but she
denied that the spirits had anything to do
with the making of this story, or that she