Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-15
rFRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT


and two for him. A vigorous attempt was
made to preserve the sessions secrecy.
rFRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT
MCKEEsPoRT, March 14.-To-day was
the most exciting one in the now famous
Mansell trial. 1t opened with fight
between the defense and the official
stenographer. Its ending was even more
dramatic. Policemen were guarding the
committee room and officers were hunting
for newspaper correspondents on charge
of house breaking. In the excitement the
representative of one newspaper was ar
rested on suspicion, and a McKeesport
editor offered to put up his whole establish
ment to defend him.
The committee went into secret session at
1880 o'clock, and will probably continue
until daylight. The committee is divided.
Five OF them favor q verdict of guilty, and
two are standing out for DR.. Mansell.
On the outside all was excitement, and
anxiously for verdict. Beside this, an
immense crowd was congregated about the
church, and they declare they will stay there
until verdict is given ont.
A PLEA IN REBUTTAL.
The morning session OF the celebrated case
was opened to-day in the presence of the u.s.
ual large crowd. After prayer by the
Rev. j. c. Gourley. DR.. Wright gave his
rebuttal plea. He said: ''This brother pub
lished certain rumors against persons who
are present at to-day's trial. 1t is in evil
dence that they were injured both in char
acter and business"
"That's not in the testimony" interrupted
DR.. Wheeler.
"It is there" responded the counsel for
the prosecution. ''By the testimony of your
own witnesses Mr.. Coursin was DETAINED.
Beside this, it was proven that DR.. Mansell
said ne had taken legal advice, and could
send certain preachers to the penitentiary.
How, then, in the face of these facts, can
the defense continue to claim the trial is a
persecution, and that ring is fighting
Mansell?"
He then referred to the fact that DR..
Wheeler had classed certain preachers as
tricksters, ringsters and rogues. "There
may possibly be a ring in the conference,
for all 1 know" he added, laughingly.
For that matter the honorable Chairman
may be a member of the ring"
The laugh expected did not follow this
sally, but instead. voice from the audience
rung out:
"Yes, and you are the tool of the ringp'
The doctor however, paid no attention to
this, but continued. "The defendant has
told bare-faced lie, and no one wants a man
of that character in the conference. Should
Mansell be declared free, it will be sad day.
The present time is too liberal. Under the
present way of explaining everything. even
adultery becomes less sinful, and is classed
as mistake of love. Gambling loses its vice
under the names of dealing in longs and
shorts, and a lie Is only mistake. 1 now
submit the case"
STILL AS THE GRAVE.
At the close of his argument the room was
wonderfully still, and although DR.. Wheeler
looked troubled the plucky little parson
looked as pleasant as if returning from an
opera.
Then came speech from DR.. Wheeler,
followed BY another storm. He suggested
that the witnesses should have their testi-
mony read to them, as there was a great
chance for possible change while in the
hands of the stenographer. 1t brought the
stenographer, the Rev. j. F. Hill, to his
feet like flash.
"That's an insnuation I won't stand" he
exclaimed. 81 leave it to you, DIR. Wheeler,
as man and a brother, that you made a
misleading statement"
DR.. Wheeler promptly apologized, but it
was decided to read the testimony. The
morning session then closed, and most of the
afternoon session was taken up in reading
the testimony. But few of the witnesses
made any objections.
At 4.30 o'clock the case was given to the
Jury. They adjourned until after supper.
They reconvened at o'clock in secret
session and then began a seance which
ended in having your staff correspondent
chased by gang of policemen and in the
arrest of another correspondent on sus-
picIon.
AS soon it was decided to have a secret
session and shut out the reporters some of
the reverend doctors, remembering what
dismal fail ures previous secret church
sessions had been, they became alarmed.
PRECAUTIONS FOR SECRECY.
They then wanted to know whether the re-
porter was in town who caught the Danks
trial through a register. As soon as it was
learned that he was they took every precau-
tion to preserve secrecy. Henry DeLong
was delegated to look a ter the newspaper
men, and he was ably seconded BY Mr..
and number OF other members of
the church.
When the reporters asked about
The meeting in the evening the
gentlemen named emphatically denied that
The committee was in the church. In the
meantime, however. your correspondent mad
iropped into a dark corner, and. when the |
,ther reporters retired, Mr.. De Long and |
he others congratulated themselves on how |
hey had beaten the reporters. They laughed |
,ver the fact that the committee was meet |
hey had been overheard their faces were |
ong enough to eat oats out of churn.
Then the reporters found a window, and |
" hanging to the sill managed to catch |
ome Of the proceedings. They discovered
window in the back, opening into kitchen
n the rear of the committee ROOM Your
crawled through this and un-
ockpd door leading into the alley. The
eporters were then admitted, and uD to $50
leard all that was going on. At that time
nly your correspondent was in the room,
nd the outside door was locked.
Something aroused suspicion. and the
MEMBERS OF the jury burst open the door,
ust in time to see the reporter take leap
nto the mud, and by the vigorous use of
lis legs he escaped. Then the officers and
he men on watch began the chase. They
id not get their game, but on their way
aught another correspondent, and arrested
i'm on suspicion. He was taken before the
ommittee.
AN OFFER OF ASSISTANCE.
Just then james L. Devinney, of the
IcKeesport News, appeared and offered to
ack the arrested correspondent for all he
ras worth. As they had no evidence
gainst him, he was released, but not before
ne of the brethren took occasion to tell him
!, Ego and sin no more"
The real work done by the committee was
uiet. In a general way they were going
II over the testimony. Two OF the com-
littee was much in favor of Mr.. Mans ellis
de OF the case. As soon as they would