Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-06
A MODEL GRAND JURY
In Only Five Weeks 1t Disposes Of
Just 542 Cases and Quits.
IRWINS DOUBLE MURDER TROUBLE
Major Slagle's Case Ignored and a Num-
Der of Other Notable Ones.
THAT WIDE OHIO CONNECTING BRIDGE

The grand jury adjourned yesterday, after
having been in session five weeks. Five
hundred and forty-two bills were disposed
of, true bills having been returned in 3S4
cases. When the Jurors made their pre-
4. sentiment in court Judge Magee made
short speech complimenting them on their
work, which, he said, had been very we'll
done Assistant District Attorney Hay
maker also complimented the jurors, stating
that this jury had disposed of more cases
than any preceding grand jury for long
time.
The foreman, Graham Scott, vas presented
with handsome gold-headed ebony cane,
and the clerk, Charles Erb, with gold pen
and holder. The presentations were made
by ex-senator Lee, Of Hutton, a member of
the jury.
Among the true bills returned yesterday
was one against James Irwin for murder.
Irwin was inspector of gas line and ordered
the gas turned on in the main at Harrison City.
Conclusion, but no explosion, followed, and two
men who were at work in the ditch were killed.
One of them, William Rogan, died in this city,
and Irwin was held for his death. He is also
charged with murder in Westmoreland county,
where the other man died.
4 true bill was returned against Joon Sauers
for arson. Sauers lives at Beck's Run, and one
day, it is alleged, set his own house on fire. He
afterward turned in and helped extinguish the
fire. He had formerly been in Dixmont, and
his attorney Mark Schmidt will take steps to
have him acquitted on the ground of insanity
and recommitted to Dixmont
The other true bills were Dude Clare John
Sullivan, Edward Kilrain, Robert Richa Fdson,
Edgar Campbell, entering building with in
tent to commit a felony; William Faust Ed
ward Henley, Ludwig Zehfus, Richard Kest-
ner.Albert Price, George Spith, Joseph Walza,
stolen goods; Mary Edwards, larceny from the
person; Michael Dula pointing and discharging
firearms; Martin Dugan, Mary Maloy, aggra-
yated assault and battery; James Fallon, A.
WilhelmIna Fielder and Jennie Hazen, keep
ing disorderly houses.
The bill against Major John S. Slagle, Of Al
legheny, Tor assault and battery on Elmer
Bryan, was ignored. THE DISPATCH ignored
this vindictive prosecution originally. Infor-
nation grew out of the fact that Major Slagle
who is an elder in the Arch Street Pres sbyterian
Church, compelled Bryan to stop distributing
tracts in front of the church last Sunday
Slagle, it is stated, having pushed Bryan into
the gutter. Bryan, who was fined SIS and costs
for disorderly conduct in connection with the
affair, yesterday appealed to court from Mayor
Pearson's decision. Upon the petition pre-
sented by w: d: Moore, Bryan's attorney,
Judge Magee fixed II o'clock this morning for
a hearing.
The bill against Mrs Annie Simon for big
amy was also ignored. Mrs. Simon, it was al
legged, was married to V. Simon while her first
husband, from whom she has never been di-
vorced, is still living. Her attorney took the
ground that as the second marriage was per-
formed in Philadelphia and was innocently
done, this county had no jurisdiction over the
case, and the bill was ignored.
The following bills were also ignored: Michae.
Kelly Charles Dolan, ]. O'Br1en. unlawful as
sembly; Thomas Rowland, conspiracy; George
Brolks, assault; Michael Keenan,, keeping a dis
orderly house.