New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-30
pITMAN's TERRIBLE CRIME.
HIS DAUGHTER TELLS HOW he KILLED
HER SITTER.
HE STABBED MS FAvoRiTE CHILD TO DhAin
AND HURT HER GR,sphorsEh IN
DOING IT. now MISS PREAM ONCE


THREW ~ DOWN STAIRS.
daughter testifying against her father, who
is ON trial for his ife,i and telling the story OF
her sisters death at the hands Of the father was
tile strange scene presented in the Court OF Gcn-
| eraIl SESSIONS yesterday before Recorder snytn.
| Francis W. Pitman, the prisoner is middle-agcd'
| and presents an appearance Of honesty ana re
spectability. He is well dressed In black proud
| cloth. His hair is carefully parted and hangs IA
| sleek masses low on his neck. bis chin Dearo
is neatly trimmed. stranger would take Nun
| for a mechanic of the better class. hs mouth
| has however. curves that indicate frmness that
might easily become cruelty, and bis eyes have
wandering look indicating the excltaointy
which the defence win try to prove Is the result
Of mental unsoundness
Sarah, or Sadie" Pitman, who was the nrst
witness called by Assistant DistrctAttorney
Fitzgerald after his associate, Mr. Dos Psssos' had
made the opening address to the jury, is orown-
eyed and brown-haired girl Of seventeen years
She gave her testimony clearly and simply she
answered all the questions promptly ana showed
little emotion in relating the story OF her sister
death She said that her sister Rachel, VINO
was two years older than herself was away from
home from July 23 to August 4. Her iatner
| continually urged the witness TO ask kacnei 10
come home, but Rachel refused. though the W.T.
ness did not tell her father Of the refusal
! TELLING THE STORY OF THE CRIME
As TO the occurrences of the evening OF August
4 at the home Of the family, No. 50 JacKson-so.'
the witness said: ~
was sewing Oh a dress about half past O'CLOCK ny
father asked whom lt for said IL was for hacne
He said: When win she TO try Il ont ssio'
Perhaps this evening" Then he went ous 70 'ne p's
and smoked his pipe Rachel came IN WINE nc "- ss
smoking there. Mr. Lewis came in with her Then my
father came into the room asked her whether sne was
going to stay at home She said that she old not Know
Rachel and the other room 70 Try On heF ofc'
Rachel took Oh her dress and was putting on ner
Father said something and she answered 90 hos 10
rnember lust what she said but Il something saucy
He began 10 strike with the leg Of pair CT eompssses
He struck her breast She ran toward tne door
NV grandmother who the ROOM interered ana one
Of the blows struck Rachel reached the nall ana
fell MY father left the Ny mother began 70
scream Father went down stairs but soon came back
with a policeman -, 1900. r,
is part of a long paI Of carpenters compasses.
One leg of the compasses is prOKen on. ino
other leg pointed piece 81 steei oI bood 81 the
Rec Recorder Smyth drew from the witness by
series of questions statement OF tne exafs PoS .
tions of the actors in the tragedy ana III sne WI
ncsses and marked the positions on a ulagraLss
which had been prepared under the drect1a
the manner in which the blows were struck.
r. c. E. Ecclesine, the lawyer for Truman,
crossexamined the witness Hef answ tbs defenee
She said that the compasses hao Deen aoou. ens .
house for years Her father used the
U was sif fond O% Of his daughter Rachel who was bis
favorite child He had objected seriously . 70 aSs
going out with Lewis; He had heard tnas , LAM
was married. Rachel was saucy ana lmpuoeh'
After Rachel left home her father scarcely slept
or ate. He walked the floor almost hnt sbc
lie told the witness to say to her sister that shs
would come home she could have ahyssnins shs
wanted Several questions were asked on t n
She told Of her father whipping Rachel, with
attain inst before she went away on July 30
Her father had heard that Rachel mao gone "
stable in Cherrv-st. to see LEWIS
TUE MrrRDERTD GIRLS LOVER TESTIFlEa
Franklin Lewis, the young man whose 90
ouantanceship with Rachel caused her fatner
d;snleasure was called to the witness-stand, IN
testimony as TO the occurrences OF AuguSfI ,; ov
rohorateA the statements of Sadie Truman
lis manner especially on cross.examnation, mad,
an unfavorable impression. he rsPeaoeu sl thar
every question that was put 20 nlm, anu .he y
unattractive as he is pale, thin, and mas dis
6guring sore on his right cheek He sad ina =,
he met Rachel Pitman &C tne Sunua 1ss7 FL
1r ne HdsI home With her and afterward went tt
the same church and walked home WIN n ~
after the service re v SODe and on nO the street
IIe cool, her to Manhattan Beach, Fort Lee
Prospect Park, and TO several OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
|
o-Are you married mani Ayes sir. -
n when and TO whom were you marredt AT
Feanora whaley in Brooklyn In 1887
o-Uave you any ehildrenf Ayes siri TWO.
o-Where do your wife and children livef ALL
Freeport L. l., with her parents we nave 0eeH ''p'
rated since December, 1880.
Odd you ever tell Pitman that you were mafrie'
mani A.-No, sir. - IA,
The witness said that he remained out VIII
Rachel as late or i o'clock, put 10 snsm "o,
to Mr. Fitzgerald he said that he had not Deei
nnduly intimate with her.
MISS FREAM's READY TONGUE.
aRebecca Thorbon Frean' the next witness
announced herself as she took her seat She II
toll strono-featured woman, with aggressive
manner and a pair of spectaeles half-c0ncealms
ewes of unusual sharpness. her tongue was -
ready as to oDvate tne sos yotor;stv as I'll,
canse Of connection in the De Witt Memorial ane
other churches by the frequency ana Length Q. S
remarks at religious meetings. She sald tnat sn'
became acquainted with Rachel Truman lou
wears ago through teaching Sunday-scnooi CHS I
next to the in which hachel was sSno MSs
Fream at No. % Cannon-st., ana snowsu ne
hruises on her arm and shoulders caused Dy
Leatin0 bv her father Miss freams account o
a Sisit nv Pitman to her ruoms later on the same
/, dav was dramatic She sald'
Rachel was sitting in the room Ptman looked
her Intensely. He said; want you 70 20 nome
SSa sa,a. ~ don't want to-" He said You're goin
bope She said can't go home" He said; :" fo'
are going home" She sad Il don't want TO CO.
He said You'll get troube-yuu End those who haroo
vonp 1 went into the other room. Suddenly Rache
cried out, he has pistol looked through .a
door ana saw him witd pistol 10 his han! pointed at 81
laughter I rushed at him, sezed his arm and eauRh
him about the waist He whlrled me about and points
tho pistol at her again caught hi
arm again. He whirled me about again. ou
chung 10 him. We struggled for several minutes an
knocked down some OF the furniture kept hold OF hi
,rm but he managed 10 get the pistol In hs pocket
said; You see, L haven't any pistol said bull
be must II
Va,a the door He grabbed my sleeve. and pushed hf
ba.aarst dawn the