Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-02-27


that he and Annie had fuss and he had
hurt her. In fact, the witness never saw
or spoke TO Smith at tho TINA OF the
murder or since the sad affair. whea the
bloo3-stained clothes were produced in
court and handed to the prisoner he en-
phatieally denied that he had worn them
OF the morning of the murder. He
stated that the white pants belonged to
his deceased brother Richard, and that
he never wore them OF all. AS for the
shirt, he recognized 1t as being one of
his, but protested that he did not wear it
q. the time of the tragedy.
The prosecution will put Leconey
| through O sever, and searching cross-
examination tomorrow and make de-
termined effort to break down his testi-
mony.
The states lawyers subjected Chalkley
Leconey in the Camden court house on
Thursday, to cross-eXsmination, tremen-
dous by scorching, and one that left deep
doubt in the great crowd of spectators
relative to the question Of the man'a al
legged innocence. There were many
points in the crosB-examination which
could as easily have been construed as
evidence Of innocence as of guilt. There
were many more which the accused man
could not satisfactorily explain, and
which initiated against the supposition
OF his innocence. At the most critical
ntages OF the oro6s-examinstion the pris-
onef eyasiyely answered the burning
questions of the prosecution with such
meaningless eIpressions as II don't
recollect, 81 can't say" May be did, 1"
and perhaps it's tfus.n The impres-
sion that Chalkley Lsconey left upon the
spectators at the close OF the pro6eou-
toms examination, which consumed the
days proceedings, was not like that at
tho finish OF the examination In chief.
There were several circumstances which
| greatly altered the character OF this inn
preston. The prisoner betrayed in the
state's ross-sxnnipation not a little ner-
vousness, and did not preserve that 8 err
eotyped GOODNESS which has characterized
his actions during the trial. Under the
strategic and raspiDg interrogations Of
ex-Pro ecutor Il. y. Jenkins the accused
man became annoyed and made curt, half
indignant replies. Frequently Leconey
half rose from his chair, and, humping
on the court railing, answered in loud
voice. Daring such scenes Mrs. James
Leconey, the mother OF the murdered
4
steadily for several minutes. Chalklsy's
brother James seemed also much affected
on these occasions, and would shake his
head in anger.
| Ex-Prosecutor Jenkins opened the
cross examination by sharply question
ing the prisoner as to whether the state,
at the time OF the mans arr at, had not
| cautioned him not to make any Htetemgn Mt
OF the tragedy unless he so desired. Upon
/ Leconey's denial that any such ciroum-
stance had taken place Mr.. jenkins
\ quietly informed him the state had eyi.
dence to show that it had. This led up
to one of the most important TEXTURES OF
the crose- examination, namely, the dis.
cussion of the garments that Chalkley
wore on the morning of the murder. The
prisoner apparently fell into the prose.
cution's trap when he stated that he had
worn o pair OF leather boots to the citron
patch. His interroRator then mentioned
the names OF two persona who had testi-
ned that he (Leconey) told them at the
time of the tragedy That he had worn
rubber boots. When asked whether he
had made such statements the prisoner
replied that he eonld not say whether he
did or did not. 10 the explanation of
the various labors that the accused nan
and Murray are alleged to have per
formed on that morning, Leconey whs
asked whether he did really tell Juror
Shane that Murray did nearly oil the
work preparatory to going to the citron
field while the witness sat on the kitchen
porch pulling on his boots. 10 this
question the suspect responded that ha
did not recolleet. Mr.. jenkins then
Piled his witness with Undergraduates
concerning the reception Of the sad news
in tho citr0n field. II WAS elioited from
tho witness that he did not remember
having answered the story of young
Layery by saying; $50 eboiy has been
there aud murdered the girl" Leconey
gave as reason for fRying this, if ia
really did, because Lavery told him TINT
Annie was on the floor covered with
blood.
The story Of the prisoner atoppin1 to
rest his painiDe back before entering the
house TO see the body OF the murdered
girl was then discussed, and Lecg ney
denied that he hsd gone mp stairs 10 see
II any money he'd been stolen before he
Eaw his dead niece. This feature of his
cross.exsminbtion was contradiction of
what Chaiklcy's intimate friand William
Lavery had testified. After receiving
apparently evastye replies from the ptis-
oner regarding the stolen money and the
blood-stained clothes, the accused man
was questioned regarding hig strange
disappearance II m the farm or Tuesday,
the day after the murder. Iaconey said
he had gone to Merehsntyille to tele-
graph to his brother James, ut Waverly,
Ohio, and then went to the drug store to
see IL he could get soma preparation to
get the blood sta n from the Kitchen floor.
He denied that he went to the apothe.
cary's to procure something to take the
Btstn6 out OF the garments. II was also
elected from tbs witness that he vent to
his washerWomnn that day, but merely
70 tell her to come and do some washing
ut the farm on Thursday.
Mr.. Jenkins naxt questioned his wit
ness concerning tho alleged restrictions
which the latter placed ON the spsech OF
Murray and Billy Smith. Leconey denied
emphaticaly that he had been guilty of
Huoh actions, and ssiG that he did not
recoilsct making any statements in VIII ch
Ia called Murray truth telling boy
who tells but enc story, and I'll stake my
life on what he 6lSgn
Ren6stionel Inciian in the cross.
examination occurred when Leooney
N@ofs tbat lie had ptSer uttered an un-
! Kind word to the d1ld girl. Upon tiig
Lawyer JenEins hunded the prisoner d
letter end asked ltm to read II aloud.
4he latter reiuaec, ard he Was then ques,
tloEea whether II was Annie'a hand
writing. The address Oh the letter, which
wss deted a. Meant Holly, was aCAaIk.
ley Leeoney, Mocrestown, New Jeraey.n
Although the cnatonts OF the letter were
NOT read, it is ktoTn that it ia signed by