Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-07
ON TRIAL FOR HIS LIFE.
First Days Proceedings in the AbbOtt-Gar-
rison Murder Case.

First Days PrQceedlnRH IN the ADooIsSSaFs
rison Murder Case.
Edward Abbott, Is years old, was placed on
trial before Judge Slsgle in the Criminal Court
yesterday for the murder of Thomas NJ. Garri-
son at Hastings station, on the Panhandle
Railroad on Sunday, October q, 1889.
The story of the murder in brief is that on
the day mentioned Garriso1. with two brothers.
was standing at Hastings statioi, when Ed
ward Abbott and James Wells came along
been drinking and were more or less
drunk. A quarrel ensued, during which
Thomas N. Garrison was struck in the face
with bottle. and from the effects of the in
juries inflicted died three days later. The
Coroner's Jury returned a verdict against
Abbott, and also criminated DR.. New
conner, the physician in attendance, for
alleged criminal negligence in the
ignored the bill against DR.. Newcomer. The
prosecution is represented by R. s. Martin,
ESQ. and Ex-Attorney Porter, and the defense
by Major Montooth and General Murray, Esqs.
Dr. L. J. Husler testified that Garrison's
death was caused by hemoTrhage from the fall,
and said on crOss-examination that had the
artery been properly ligatured in the first place
Garrison's life might possibly have been saved.
DR.. Newcomer testified that the night follow
ing the injury he had been called to attend
Garrison and did not go, but sent some of
Monsells solution to apply so as to stop the
how of blood. The next day he called and
found the patient very weak, and
found cash extending from his eye
to the end of the jaw. There was
hemorrhage at the time, but the witness
thought death was caused by loss Of blood. On
cross-eXamination DR.. Newcomer said he
thought deceased might have lived bad he
taken proper care of himself. In reply TO a
question by Major Montooth, the witness ad-
miUted that there is danger of death in case a
facial artery is cut but did not reply to the
question as to why he did not go to see the de-
ceased sooner.
James Wells deposed that he was drunk on
the afternoon of the row and did not know
whether he was present when Garrison was
hurt Witness had been knocked down by the
deceased, Tom Garrison, without provocation,
and on arising went up the railway followed bV
the crowd. He could not recollect anything
else. On cross-eXamInaflOn Wells said they
got beer al a club in Bridgeville and Abbott got
a bottle of whisky which they also imbibed.
DR.. Robert L Walker testifi ed that death re-
suited primarily from the wound and seconda-
rily from hemorrhage. DR.. Walker said proper
treatment would have saved Garrison's life
He the doctor, assisted at the pustmortem and
found a piece of glass in the wound. He did
not think the use of Monselrs solution proper
treatment, and knew Of no case of the severing
of the facial artery causing death.
DR.. S. R. KiddOO testified that he had been
called to consult with Dr. Newcomer and found
the wound clotted with blood and thought il
best not TO disturb it.
Thomas RoIey testified that the prisoner told
him be had thrown the bottle and that he had
first been hit by Garrison,
Susan Garrison, a sister of the deceased,
testified that when he came home she dressed
the wound and her brother said it was no use
to send for the doctor, as he was going to
die On Tuesday The wound began
to bleed afresh and she used alum
and water to stop IT,: Her brother
subsequently gained strength and got our Of
bed and walked about and finally lay down on
the foot of the bed without pillow under his
head and started the bleeding afresh. She de-
MED that she had told AbbOtt's father that
her brother had told her he was as much to
blame as the prisoner. and did not want
him punished.
The rest of the Commonwealth testimony
was unimpOrtant
The defense frst put George W. Abbott
father of the prisoner, on the stand. He said
Miss Susan had told him at PRAYER meeting at
Fawcett's church. what she denied in her testi-
mony.
Robert Boyle testified that the defendant's
character was good, and after hearing Boyle
court adjourned