Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-09-27

murder case yesterday brought out some
facts that tell against Birchall, but nothing
sensational was developed. Residents near
the scene of tine crime disclosed some inter
esting points.
WOODSTOCK, ONT, September 26.-More
testimony was given to-day in the Birchall
murder trial, several witnesses testiiying to
having seen the prisoner at the Eastwood
station. George Hay, brakeman on the
Grand Trunk Railway, testified that he was
on the afternoon train from Eastwood
to Hamilton. He swore positively that he
saw Birchall get on at Eastwood, and that
he saw him last on that run at Niagara
Falls. He knew the prisoner well, having
seen him in Woodstock in the winter OF
1888, where he was known as Lord Somerset.
He had seen i'm with Dudley.
The prisoner got off the train at Hamil-
ton, and when he came back he had ticket
for Niagara Falls. Witness saw the pris-
oner again on February 21. when he got on
the train at Suspension Bridge, on the
American side, and got off on the Canadian
side.
SHOOTING IN THE SWAMP.
After two other witnesses had been e1-
amined, Mr.. Osler, for the Crown, an
nounced that this was all the evidence
against the prisoner, and the court ad-
journed until 2 P. NJ, when the evidence
for the defense was entered upon.
The first witness was John Roob,
whose house is half mile from the
spot in which Benwell's body was found.
In the evening of the 18th, about 6 o'clock,
be heard two shots fired, one quickly after
the other, in the swamp. He had been told
by hunters frequently that if they were lost
in the swamp they would give notice by
firing, and he would give signal to show
the road. Watching, he saw one man come
out, another following him. They went
west.
Cross-examined by Mr.. Osler, witness
said it was dusk when he saw the men
leaving the swamp. There was no interval
between the time of the shots and the mems
departure. Mrs. Schultz, who lives oppo-
site him, came to his place that evening
and she and witness mentioned having
heard shots. Mrs. Schultz being called,
confirmed the statement.
MET TWO STRANGERS.
John Fredenburg, who lives one mile
from the place where the body was found,
said that on Monday, February II. he was
teaming logs for Mr.. Kipp on Gov
ernor's road and overlook two young men
going east. They were strangers, and asked
him if they could ride with him. He car
ried them about a mile and turned off the
road opposite Derry's place. After getting
off they continued their way east along
Governors road. The men wore overcoats,
and did not have mustaches. Neither Of
them was the prisoner.
James Atkinson, Drumbo hotel keeper,
said that early on the morning of the Goth
two men came to his place and called him
up. He gave them crackers, cheese and
beer. One was Robert Colwell, the other
was named Baker. They were rather the
worse for drink. Mr.. Oliver, a farmer
residing near Princeton, stated that Tues
day, the 18th, about 3 o'clock in the morn
ing, two men awakened him by rapping on
his door. They said they were going to
Princeton to buy horses and had missed the
way.
BUGGY TRACKS.
Samuel Straub, whose father keeps
hotel at Princeton, stated that on Thursday,
before the body was found at II A. M,
Baker and Colwell drove to his house. Wit
ness and three other men who had been I'M
paneled on the Coroner's jury went up to
see the spot where Benwell's body was found
the day alter its discovery. On the road
near the swamp he saw the track of
buggy that had stopped there, and saw foot
tracks OF two men about in the swamp.
Deeeased's boot would not make a
mark to correspond with any of these.
Cross-examined, witness said be had made
no mention about these tracks at the Cor
oner's inquest: which attached importance
to them till thinking of them later.
James Oliver, bartender of Woodstock,
stated that on seeing the body at Princeton
during the evidence he thought he recog-
nized in it a man whom he had seen about
the North American Hotel. Woodstock,
selling polish, but be had believed that this
mans mustache was of light color.
NOT POSITIVE.
John Mckay, the proprietor OF the hotel
mentioned, stated that he, too, had held the
same view at the time OF the inquest, but
was now not so positive on the point. George
Fowler, of Brumbo, also saw the body Of the
deceased and believed he recognized him as
this peddler. Next the counsel tor the de-
tense brought up three witnesses who were
thoroughly familiar with the swamp in
which the body had been found. They all
testified that there is no such trail as has
been re erred to in the former evidence as
leading from the second concession to the
place of the finding of the body.