Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-18
FROM A BEER WAGON.
That Toms Run Picnic Homicide,
and the Evidence of 1t.
WILLIAM DRAPER is ON TRIAL.
A Couple of Witnesses Testify to Quarrel
Before the Killing.
THE DEAD MANS BROTHER TELLS OF IT

William Draper was placed on trial be-
fore Judge Magee in the Criminal Court
yesterday for the murder of George Whalen
at a Knights of Labor picnic, held at Toms
Run, June "a, 1885, Whalen and num-
Der of others became involved in quarrel
over some beer, and shortly after Whalen
was shot and removed to the West Penn
Hospital, where he died in few days.
Draper escaped, but gave himself up at
Owensboro, Ky.
The morning session in the court was con-
sumed almost entirely in empanelling
jury. The case in the afternoon reached
the hearing of testimony. District Attorney
Porter represented the Commonwealth, and
Attorneys R. H. Johnston, R. s. Martin
and Henry Myers the defendant.
John Whalen, brother of the diseased,
was first called, and testified that he, in
company with his brother George, j. Nor
gan, George Austin, John Jones and Tom
Jones, drove from Mansfield to the picnic
in a large two-horse wagon. They had with
them three bottles of whisky and keg of
beer
THEY WERE BOUND TO DRINK.
The managers of the picnic refused to
allow them to have beer on the grounds, so
they took the wagon to a small grove near
by, where they drank the intoxicants.
Quite crowd gathered around the wagon.
John Whalen was helping the beer. His
brother came to get some, and was told to
await his turn. George Whalen then left.
Shortly afterward a shot was fired, and
Whalen came back to the wagon and said
he had been shot. A man was seen going
over the hill, and someone said: "There he
goes!" and pursued him.
Several shots were fred at the man who
was running on the hill, and these shots
were returned. All this happened about
1880 o'clock at night.
DR.. G. NJ. Waller, of Mansfield, testified
that on Saturday night, June "a, 1888,
Whalen was brought to his Office by num-
Der of men. Whalen was shot in the left
side, the ball taking downward course and
lodging in the right side. DR.. Waller
probed for the bullet, but the wound was so
deep that he considered the mans condition
critical. and had him removed to the West
Penn Hospital.
SURGEONS WERE UNAvAILING.
DR.. G. r. Griffith, of Mansfield, testified
that Whalen had been brought to his Office.
He bandaged the wound and told the men
accompanying Whalen to take him to
hospital. They refused, stating that they
would take him home.
DR.. G. NJ. Kelley, surgeon at the West
Penn Hospital, testified that Whalen had
been brought to the hospital; the wound was
severe and peritonitis set in. The ball was
probed for, and found to be of 80 caliber.
Soon after this the man died from the effects
of the wound.
Thomas Jones testified to the same. ac-
count as given by John Whslen. He had
been near the dance platform, heard a
quarrel about handkerchief, and then saw
tive men wrestling, one of whom he recog-
nized as Whalen. The men soon stopped,
and he went to the wagon. He heard the
shot and the remark, ''There he goes over
the hilli' He fred three shots at the fleeing
man, from British bulldog revolver.
DR.. Kelley was again placed on the stand,
and testified to giving the bullet to the
Coroner. The Coroner testified that he re-
ceived the bullet from DR.. Kelley and also
some apparel taken from the deceased
Whalen.
Court then adjourned until this morning,
when more testimony for the prosecution
will be taken