Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1888-02-09

it will be largely through his own testi-
mony and that of his wife Martha.
They themselves, more than anybody
else, drew the skeins tighter and placed
him in a more helpless position than
that in which he found himself on
Wednesday evening.
The trial went forward apace. The
prosecution rested its case in the after
noon, and the defence opened with an
attempt to establish an alibi. The
was committed, SO it is claimed
by the State, by Dunham on the morn
ing Of November 10th last, between 8
and 10 o'clock, and Dunham asserts
that he left the Handle farm shortly
before nine, and was seen driving in
light wagon, by witnesses between ten
and eleven o'clock, nearly five miles
from the scene of the murder. Allow
ing all possible latitude, then, those
who believe him guilty say it can be
seen that Durham could have had no
difficulty in traversing that distance
within the limits of time specified.
the spacious courtroom presented a
brighter appearance when the trial
resumed in the morning, due to the
presence of great number of women
in holiday attire.
Dunham, when brought into the
room by Constable Smith at half.past
8, was pale and nervous. Constable
Smith, when he went to the prison to
summon him, had found him writhing
on his pallet without coat or shoes,
and when he called to him to come
out Durham appeared dazed and did
not understand what he wanted of
him. He might have been free man
now had not three burglars from Phila-
delphia VanKirk, Hall and Splicer--
who were trying to liberate themselves
from the prison by means of saw,
key and button hook, been disarmed
during the night before they had ac-
complished their purpose. Had they
succeeded in escaping, Dunham, who
occupied cell on the same corridor,
could have escaped too.
Martha Dunham, Georges wife, was
the first important witness called by
the prosecution. Attorney Clymer,
for the defence, objected on the ground
that she is the prisoners wife. To
sustain his objections he examined Rev.
Samuel Wolford, of Pleasantville, who
deposed that he had performed mar
riage ceremony between the pair on
July II, 1886, and was corroborated by
Mrs. Dunham herself. She testified,
however, that when IA years old, in
March, 1880, she had been married to
Louis Eckert at Glassboro. Louis
Eckert, railroad hand, IS years of
age, took the witnesses stand and &C.
knowledged the marriage, stating that
he had lived with Martha only two
weeks Prosecutor Perry thereupon
called Martha 20 the stand, while
Attorney Clymer entered the objection
that she having been married to Eckert
while under age, could not legally be
called his wife, but was Dunham's
wife, and Prosecutor Clymer argued
that as che had never obtained a di-
vorce from Eckert she was not legally
Dunham's wife either. Judge Reed
admitted the testimony, objection
being filed by the defense, and then
Mrs. Dunham was placed upon the
stand as witness against her hus-
band.
She narrated the circumstances of
her visit to Clayton and Vineland the
week of the murder-corrobora by
the witnesses later-denying that any
serious i'll feeling existed between her
husband and her mother, Mrs. HANDLE.
Then there was u dramatic scene.
Dunham's bloody shirt, trousers, coat
and boots, found hidden under corn,
stalks in the field, were submitted to
her piece by piece for Identification,
and, with evident emotion op her part,
were pronounced to be his. Dressed
in black, with Grape veil draped
gracefully around her hat, and with
warm fiushes suffusing her cheeks, she
formed the centre of a picture that
would be long remembered.
''Did you ever see that before?" de-
manded Prosecutor Perry, holding up
q soiled garment. Eyes, 1 did. It's
Georges shirt" came the answer in "a
clear voice.
did you see George put that on the
last time he wore it?n "Yes, handed
it to him on Tuesday-the Tuesday /
went to Vineland."
Were those marks on it then?n
pursued Mr.. Perry, pointing to blood
stains. "They were not.n
The remainder of her testimony
mainly referred to the property pos
sessed by Mrs. HANDLE. After some
minor witnesses had been examined,
Farmer Wharton Dilkes, who had
borrowed Dunham's gun on Nov. 5th,
Il