Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-31

When the Lee murder trial opened yes
terday morning W. W. Price, q contractor,
was placed on the stand. Five days before
the shooting Lee had told him Of his money
dealings with hatcher and said if the latter
did not pay he would do him up.
William Roseburg, of the Bank of Pitts
burg, said Lee told hatcher he would make
him leave the town.
William Turner, an engineer, heard Lee say
to hatcher: 'rn TX you; now, mind that"
This was a week before the shooting.
Thomas Mosely, patrol wagon policeman,
testified that on the day before the shooting
Lee came to the station. He said: Il shouldn't
be surprised il you needed this wagon for me
or some one else before long; it don't take
hundred years TO get even with some people.
Maybe the wagon will need me sometime" On
redirect examination the witness said Lee
talked in firm, coherent manner.
After the noon recess Thomas NJ. Marshall
tie friendship between hatcher and Lee, say
ing the latter had mortgaged his house 60 help
the former.
ALL LAID TO WHISKY.
lie said that they would show that Lee had
been drinking heavily before the shooting. was
treated for excessive drinking after the shoot
ing and that whisky was responsible for the
murder.
Nora German, who lived at Lees house. was
the first witness for the defense. She testified
that Mrs. Lee went to Dayton August IL. Lee
commenced to drink as soon as she left. He
put alcohol in root beer and three spoonsful in
q glass of beer. Wednesday. THURSDAY and
FRIDAY be was very drunk. Friday afternoon
he brought his horse into the house and
offered the animal beer. On cross-examina-
tion she said be had only drank once, lew
weeks before, and was not a drinking man. A
dozen bottles of beer lasted from Tuesday TO
Saturday.
Alexander wingert, painter, who lived at
Lees house, testified to his drinking almost
continually.
Patrick O'Brien, another painter, also had a
shop near Lees. He had known him to be
drinking man for number of years on the
morning of the shooting Lee came into witness
shop. He talked in silly manner; said he was
going to heaven, and was altogether foolish.
On another occasion Lee rode on horseback up
to the door Of witness shop aud would have
ridden in the doorway had not witness good
humoredly stopped him
THE MESSENGER ON HAND.
John Cannon. a messenger boy was recalled,
and said he had not heard anybody say "0h,
don't" in Natchers Office. He was standing in
front of the Office when the shots were fred.
Lawrence Sloan, a contractor, testified to
meeting Lee on the street week before the
shooting Lee was drunk at the time: Inc
witness was asked what he thought OF Lees
mental condition at the time, and the question
was objected to. He said Lee mumbled in his
talk, his ewes were bloodshot and he had the
general appearance of a drunken man.
II. H. Bengough, of the City Treasurer's Of
fee testified that on the morning of the shoot
ing Lee went TO see him in the Office. While
witness was talking to some gentlemen Lee in
terrupted them. He considered Lees remark
foolish. Lee was drunk at the time, but not
George Slayer. one of Lees employees, testi-
fed to seeing Lee drinking the Tuesday before
the shooting. and again on Wednesday morn
ing some hours before the tragedy. Both
times he was drunk. On crossexamination
witness said Lee was pretty full" nearly all the
time
A PRIESTS TESTIMONY.
Father Thomas Corcoran, of ST. Agnes
Church. said be had known Lee for four years,
and in that time saw him drunk very often.
The witness said on one Sunday evening last
June he saw Lee go into church. He did not
stagger but from his general appearance the
witness thought he was drunk. The priest Of
the church was delivering sermon on prayer,
when Lee interrupted him and said: Doctor,
can man be drunk and pray at the same
timer
The priest said Lee called upon him on the
Monday before the shooting. He was drunk
and talked incoherently. He told the witness
of how Mr. hatcher owed him money, and that
certain notes had gone to protest because
hatcher had failed 10 meet them. He was de-
spondent because his credit had been affected
byit The witness advised him to pay the
notes and institute legal proceedings to re-
cover on them. AT that time Lee showed very
strongly the effects of a protracted spree.
DR.. Chessrown, the jail physician, testified to
prescribing for Lee when he was placed in jail.
His condition was bad and showed the effects
of along spree. His condition was brought on
by excessive drinking. To the question: Are
not mans perceptions at times most keen
when his nervous system is affected?' the doc
tor answered ives"
Thomas Marshall, Jr., called the attention of
Judge White to the action of Attorneys Porter
and Burleigh, alleging they were smiling" at
the jurymen during the trial. Judge White