Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-20
James E. Myers Counsel Say They
Will Prove That Their Client
Was Not Near the Scene
WHEN HIS AUNT WAS MURDERED.
Mortgages Made BY the Missing A. c.
Jarrett Being Investigated BY
Master in Equity.
A RECEIVER FOR AN EXPRESS COMPANY
Vsrdcts Rendered Gases Pending, and New Suits En-.
tered in the Courts.

The trial of James Edward Myers for the
murder of his aunt, Margaret Douglass, in
Mcheesport, moved along rapidly yesterday,
reaching before 3 o'clock the point where
John S. Robb addressed the jury on the
position of the defense. The interest was
maintained and the space back of the rail was
packed with ISLANDERS, many of them women.
Frank Cooley was the first witness. He
testified that on the night of the murder he
was at the Douglass house and there saw
two revolvers OF different sizes. One of these
revOlvers was given to a man named Coon
by a man named Vankirk. The revolver
thus given was larger than the one that has
been placed in evidence The examination
of this witness was then stopped.
James A. Mcclure testified that Edward
Myers told him about o'clock Oh the day
Of the killing, that when he went home with
the first load of posts, his aunt came out OF
the kitchen and fell dead as she walked into
the yard.
THE CARTRIDGES FITTED.
Frank Packard was recalled and stated
that he was at the Douglass house on the
night of the murder. Vankirk had a re-
Yolver in his hands and was comparing the
shell found by the witness with a cartridge
of the pistol, and heard him say that the
shell would fit the pistol. The pistol Van
kirk had was of 32-caliber. Upon cross
examination the witness said there was no
secrecy at the time the cartridges were COM
pared.
a. B. Campbell, insurance agent of Nc
Keesport, was one of three persons who bought
u lots from Miss Douglass and Mr.. Myers
Forty of these lots belonged to Myers. The
property was worth from 81 800 to s., 900 per
acre sold in lots. The partition was an am
icable one as between the defendant and
Miss Douglass, and was so stated BY both.
Hugh Lindsey, 13-year-old boy, said he
saw the defendant unloading some feed at
the barn at Miss Douglass house the after
noon of the murder. The witness asked the
defendant at that time what doctor he
should get, and Myers told him to find DR..
Campbell or any other one whom he could
secure.
Mrs. Rovston testified that on the day of
the murder she returned to McKeesport
from Pittsburg on the 1906 train. She did
not know what time she arrived at McKees-
port, but from there she rode in the wagon
with Myers TO her home about quarter of
a mile IRON the Douglass house, and got
home at 2:2O o'clock
FIXING THE TIME.
Mrs. Tyson, the mother of the former
witness, testified that it was lao o'clock
when her daughter, Mrs. Royston, came
home. The wagon from which her daughter
alighted the witness stated, was driven in the
direction of the Douglass house.
Nellie Birkholdt was again called to the stand
and examined as to the time she saw Myers on
that afternoon. She said 1t was 1:3O O'Clock by
the timepiece at kennedy's house. At that
time Myers was driving toward home She
spoke to him and lie replied naturally and
pleasantly
Attorney John S. Robb opened the case for
the defense. In his speech to the Jury he spoke
of the absence of any direct testimony on the
part of the prosecution and said that their
case, # il was case at all, was merely a cir
Cumstautial case; that no malice had been
shown, no reconciliation to commit murder;
that the ball did not strike part of the body
that was vita! part, but almost miraculOusly
took an upward course, which resulted fatally
The testimony OF Nellie Jones that she saw a
man. whom she took for Mr. Myers, and Miss
Douglass on the hillside the day of the murder
NJ. Robb said he would prove to be untrue.
Nr Bobb stated that he would prove that
Myers was not about the Douglass place at the
time or near 1t when the murder was COM
mIUed.
j. & /. /. r. r., testified that he took a trip
from MCkeespOrt to the Douglass house in a
wagon. Inc time taken was 80 minutes. The
return trip was made in So minutes.
The case was then continued until this morn
ing owing to the fact that the witnesses for the
defense we're not present