Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-19
Eddie Myers NOncnalanCe Causes a
Friend to Think the Prisoner
Believes Himself a Hero.
WEIGHT OF A DAYS TESTIMONY.
Goes to Show That the Prisoner and His
Aunt, the Victim, Frequently En-
gagged in QuarrelS.
A YOUNG LADY'S WOUNDED AFFECTIONS
Furnish the Basis for an Interesting Damage Suit 70
Breach Of Promise.

Public interest in the trial of James
Edward Myers for the murder of his aunt,
Margaret Douglass, at McKeesport last
May, was apparently greatly intensified
yesterday. The greater portion Of the space
back of the rail was closely packed with
humanity, which remained until it took the
position of the tower OF Pisa, except that the
inclination would go from one side to the
other at intervals as each leaning tower
shifted TO the other.
The district in which the murder was
committed was very largely represented.
and man who has Known the prisoner
from his youth up, and went to school with
him, hazarded the opinion that the cause of
his nOnehalenee was a moral obliquity that
probably made him feel himself hero.
The jury was silent and sad, though
its smile was resigned sweetness
as the members contemplated the
possibility, or rather probability, of spend
ing not only Than ksgiving Day, but also
All Saints and All Souls Days, on the
case, as the Commonwealth had some 60 wit
nesses to examine yesterday morning, and
it was supposed the defense might take as
much time as the prosecution.
The general demeanor of the prisoner was
the same as on Monday. He spent much of
the time reclining negligently on his elbow,
and occasionally smilingly commented
briefly on certain phases of the testimony
TO Detective Murphy, who has been work
ing the case in his interest. Some people
fancied that he weakened when David
Packer and Miss Jones testified, as their
stories, though only of the circumstantial
character, were quite damaging. but the
prisoner had evidently recovered his COM
pOsure long before court adjourned.
TESTIMONY OF A NEIGHBoR.
David Packer deposed that he lived
within 500 yards of the Douglass residence,
and saw Myers going in that direction, and
ten minutes later heard a shot in the d.
rection Of the house. As Mrs. Storm and
Mrs. Kirk testified to having seen the
prisoner driving in the same direction
short time before their stories were corrob-
orative of Packers.
Frank Packer swore that he found the
she'll OF 4 cartridge under the carpet in the
middle room OF the Doughlas house.
W. F. Brown swore the shell was of 3S
caliber and Smith & Wessou, but on cross
examination said that there were several
rIfes that would shoot that number of Smith
u Wesson cartridges.
When the name of Nellie Jones was
called the prisoners careless attitude was
changed, and it was evident that both he
and Nellie were considerably affected.
Some thought she acted as though afraid of
him, but she told her story coIra-
geously and it was damaging one.
A WITNESS TO FREQUENT QUARRELs.
Miss Jones said she had lived at various
times as a domestic with Miss Douglass, and
that during those times Miss Douglass and the
prisoner had frequent quarrels Once he
threw stone at his aunt, an
other occasion chair, and on a third had
kicked her. Their quarrels were usually re-
garding money matters. The aunt protesting
against Myers extravaganza in the matter OF
buying presents for various girls. One Sunday
night Miss Douglass stated to witness that her
nephew had shot at her; but this testimony
was ruled out being hearsay. They quarreled
about year ago when Myers told his aunt that
he would have her in the poorhouse ere long"
About noon on the day of the murder Nellie
said she was on her way to Mckeesport, and
while standing the hills looked toward the
Douglass house and saw Miss Douglass talking
10 tall manwhOm witness believed to be Myers.
Miss Douglass started rapidly through the
fence toward the back yard and witness saw
nothing more of the man.
considerable portion of the afternoon was
spent on cross-eXamination of Miss Jones' the
defense making all possible of the fact that
at the Coroner's inquest she refused to state
that the tall man she saw talking to Miss
Douglass was Eddie Myers. The part she is
made sustain is evidently trying one to her.
Quite number of other witnesses were
examined, and the weight of the testimony
was that the defendant had often quarreled
with amt