Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-09-23
NEWS By TELEGRAPH.
From All Quarters.
THE TRIAL OF BIRCHELL.
New Trunk Line From New
York to Chicago.
THREE HUNDRED HOUSES BURNED.
Congress to Adjourn About
October |.
CAUCUS OF TARIFF C0nFEREES.
Further Tests of Heavy
ArmOr Plate.
ON TRIAL FOR HIS LIFE.


The Hearing in the Case of BircheII,
the Murderer of Benvvell, Begun at
Woodstock, Ontario, Yesterdays
Strong Evidence Produced by the
Cro1Vn-Birchell's Letter to Colonel
Benwell.
WOODSTOCK, Ont, Sept. 22.-The trial
of Birchell for the murder of Benwell last
February began in the town hall this
morning. Birchell was dressed in a dark
suit, and seemed at ease. He pleaded mot
guilty." and a jury was empanelled in a
comparatively short time. Mr.. Osler, Q.
c., then addressed the jury at length He
reviewed the case and outlined the evil
dence that would be produced by the
crown. One of the strongest points he
made was in reading the following letter
from Birchell to Colonel Benwel of Chel.
tenham, England:
Please address Messrs. Birchen & Ben
well, box No. 413, Niagara Falls, Ontario,
Canada.
MY DEAR S1R-We arrived here after a
pleasant journey. Your son has inspected
all my books and all my business arrange
ments, and introduced him to people
who know me we'll. He suggested taking
other advice, so I, of. course, was perfectly
willing,and he consulted barrister in
London, Ontario, concerning the business,
with satisfactory results, and he has de-
cided to join me, as he found all that
he wished to be satisfactory. I think
we shall make a very good business to-
gether. The books show a very good
profit for last year. think the best way
is to place the money in our joint names
in the bank to the credit of our reserve fund.
We shall take the additional piece of land
that mentioned t. you, as we shall now
require it for produce. The best way to
send money is by bankers draft. Draft
for us should be drawn ON the Bank of
in London, and think the London and
Westminster also do business for them.
Letters of this kind should be issued and
registered. We are holding large sale
early in March and your son was some
what too anxious to share in tho
proceeds of the sale which I am quite
willing he should do, so we have
signed our deed of partnership and shall,
I am sure, never regret doing SO. Your
son is, think, writing you by this post.
Kindly excuse bad writing on my part, but
am rather in hurry to catch the mail
My letters are generally written by type
Wf1C6T, dS UIl6y dTt ~ uuCu IlOT6 l6H1Dl6
and clear of any doubt as to words. We
are having paper printed and this will be
ready in few days. 1 think you will be
pleased that your son has found things
satisfactory, and 1 quite agree that he did
the best thing in coming out to see the
business first l will send you weekly par
ticulars of all business done so that you
can see for yourself how things go on.
This will be satisfactory to you, think
Of course, with regard to the money, any
bank on New York would do for a draft
We have opened business account in our
joint names at the American bank here.
Your son will doubtless explain his views
in his letter.
With kindest regards, believe me, dear
sir, Sincerely yours,
j. r. BIRcHELL.
Mr.. Osler dwelt on the fact that there
was no firm, no sale, no business. The
most important feature was the reference
to the use of the typewriter. Evidently
Birchell meant to send typewriter let
ter signed in Benwell's name showing Col
onel Benwen that all was satisfactory and
that the money should be sent out. The
use of typewriter would obviate the
danger which would arise from the attempt
to initiate another's hand writing for a
whole letter The first witness called was
William Mcdonald, who spoke of himself
as retired farmer. He told how he had
acted for parties in England desiring to
place farm pupils with farmers in Canada
and how Birchell had come out in 1885
consigned to him. Birchell then went
| under the name of Somerset and was &C
| companied by his wife. He was placed by
| the witness with farmer named Wilcox
| but remained on the farmonly one night.
| He returned to town and boarded with
witness for time and subsequently found
| a boarding house elsewhere. He said tina
he did not come to Canada to work on 1
farm.
He admitted, under cross-examination
that he was agent at Woodstock for Ford
Rathbone & Co., who sent pupils to places
on farms, the farmer getting 1925 bonui
and the agent $35. Mcdonald said h
first knew Neville H. Pickthall when thu
latter came out as farm pupil five or 81!
| years ago and he saw him last on Sunda,,
in Woodstock. The names of the pupil
| placed by Mcdonald were given by him a
James Young, Hertlock .Woodhouse
Wheeler Long, Pardo E. Dudly and f. A
Somerset. The witness said Dudly wa
but stayed month only and $12
bonus was paid just the same, hal
going to Dudly who went to Detroit
| where he committed robbery ana ned I
| Niagara Falls. Mcdonald contradicte
himself good deal and was given a CRIT
| cial discrimination by Blackstock, cour
sci for the defence.
Douglass R. Policy was then called
the stand. He, it will be remembered,
the other young Englishman who wit
: Benwell accompanied Birchell and wife
Canada with view to entering agricu
, tural pursuits. Policy told the stor
which is so well known about how he N
gotiated with Birchell and agreed wit
him to come to Canada under certai
consideration and how the party arrived
America and proceeded to Buffalo. Il
| examination in chief was not conclude