New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-06
THE PARSON VICTORIOUS.
PROSECUTORS OF THE REV. A. c. DILL WILL
PROBABLY co TO PRISON.

Torey, chei assayer OF the United states Assay once
New-iork, and Clarkson d. Moffett, Justice of the
Peace in Stirling, ~ j., who weTo indicted by the
Grand Jury OF Morris County for rotous conduct and
whose trial off to-day in the Court of Oyer and
Terminer in this place. found not guilty Of the
charge. The nine other men who WEIR indicted for the
same offence were adudged guilty. The men were ndct
ed for White Cap outrage the Rev. Arthur Cush
ing DILL pastor Of the Presbyterian Church Of Stirling,
which committed the night of July last, and
also for conspiracy to defame and Willy the name Of
the minister. nolle pros was entered yesterday
by Prosecuting Attorney W. W. Cutler on the indct
ment for conspiracy and that is the last that will be
heard Of It,
The tried before Judge Chds who pre-
sided Judge Harden and Judge Wilson, associates.
The room packed during the trial and the gallery
filed with women, most OF them connected with
the Stirling church, and all deeply interested In the
proceedings. Mr.. Dill and all the accused men were
present The lawyers for the State were the Prose
cutting Attorney and J. B. Dill. the Rev. Mr. DIPS
brother. Mr. Torrey's attorneys Werts & Young
blood, OF Morristown. These were on trial
H. G.. Torrcy GARRISON B. Mofett, Gray TOrTcy, Fred
erick Taft, Frank Mofctt James Travis Anthony
Schumacher, Frederick Mo,fett. Honard Thomas,
Abraham Cooper aid John Ferris. Tie case was
called at 80. After the jury had been impannelled
the prosecution opened its case by calling Miss Catha
rine Boyle, the in whose house Mr.. Dill lives.
to the wltness-stand.
Miss Boyle said that on the evening 81 July a. be-
tween IL and IL o'clock, she heard voices outside her
house and looking through window, she saw crowd
Of talking to Mr. Dill She heard threats OF shoot
ing the minister, and then Mr.. Dill came up on tho
stoop and unlocked the front door She heard him say
What harm have 7 ever done to any man,
woman or child in this town." She said num-
Der OF voices called Mr.. Dill names which she
did not dare TO repeat She heard them say that they
had come 10 tar and feather Mr.. Dill man then
said he wanted 10 speak to the minister The man
walked up the path and when he got near the porch
made dash for the minister who quickly slipped In
side the house and boed the door. She heard sew
era pistol front Of the house. and after every
thing quiet she went out on the porch and rang
dinner-bell, hoping to fnghten the White Caps.
John Ferris who had turned States evidence, said
that he met Abraham Cooper on the afternoon OF
July A. Cooper told him to come to Moffets barn that
night and help drive Dill out Of town. He went to
tht barn about p. and found all the indicted men
there. Frederick Moffet had large horse pistol All
but the elder Torrey and Justice Mofet started for
Drs home at about IL O'Clock. The party decided
on the road that H. Gray Torrey should do the elk-
ing When they reached the house Mr. Torrey went
up to the door and asked Miss Boyle II Mr.. Pill
in. She asked who 1t was that wanted 10 see him, and
Torrey said august Walker who not
with the party. Miss Boyle said the minister was
out and she did not know when he would be in. The
men went ont to the gate and hid in the grass.
In about ten minutes Mr. Dill along and every
body stood up. TOrrey, who had pistol In his hand.
commanded the minister to halt. Mr. Dill, who also
carried revolver in his right hand, stopped and said
"Im ready for you.' He then backed into the gate.
One Of the said: 4" Halt, or we will fire. Mr..
Dill did not stop backing until he got to the porch.
Torrey then said We have to tar and feather
you. We will give you week to get ont OF town.
II you don't go then will make 1t hot for you day
and night"
The witness then corroborated the statements OF Miss
Boyle in regard tounocking the door Mr.. DIPS Ques-
ton, "What harm have done?' the vile names the
minister called by men in the party and the rush
Of Frank Mofett for Mr.. Dill.
In reply 10 question TO whether the dis
guised Ferris said he and Travis had handkerchiefs
over their faces. He could not say about the rest.
lie said that Torrey SCHUMACHER and Frank and Fred
erick Mofet fired off their pistols In the air after Mr..
Dill had entered the house. As the party walked
they met Clarence COuts who asked Ferris what the
matter was. The witness answered: Nothing much >
Frank Mofett then told Couts that If he gave them
away they would string him up.
On the cIoss-examinaton by Mr. Werts the fact was
brought ont that the witness had talked the
with Mr. Dill and that Mr. DILL the lawyer, present
when the witness had made the affidavit embodying the
testimony Just given. James b. Dill had promised to
get him something to do, he war cut OF work. but
had offered him money to come to the court to tell
his story When asked for what purpose the party
went to Mr. DIPS house the evening Of July 4. he
answered that they talked of arrng and eathcring the
minister but the witness did not any tar or feathers
He did not anybody lay hands on Dill, neither
did any one shoot at the minister
The question "Wha did they go to the house for7'
was again put and the TO tell him to
get out Of town. The witness was asked If the party
went up to Miss Boye's house on peaceful ard lawful
GRAND. The witness said he did, bet Couldn't answer
for the rest lie didn't know what the men
had for wanting to drive Mr. Dill out OF town. They
gave no reason that night.
Mr.. Dill was then called. He corroborated the
test noGy Of the previous WitneS S On o0ss neA,
the day of July 4, until O'Clock p m, when he went
to the house of blacksmith named william Compton,
where he stayed until II p. m. He said he was cx-
pecting trouble that night and carried loaded
revolver in his right hand all the way home. When
said:
Pm ready for YOU, and was the first to speak.
Clarence Cous. who was the next witness.
oborated Ferriss testimony in regard to his part in
The state rested its case and Mr.: werts asked the
Judge to discharge IL hat To sey 9d b MS Sd
The Judge said he would have to let the jury declare
then Fd nSt s' Nsnevsa was the first witness for the
defence He testified that Mr.. Dill told him that on
the night Of July he walked home with q pistol In
his hand and went into his house untouched ana I'M
versation with Mr.. Dill
Jeremiah Bakef sud ne was NJ the fresoS uiian
Church In stirling sunday. July D, and after hearing
Mr. DIPS account % the trouble the night before sold
10 the minister " BY your own account you were the
aggressor. You would better leave town"
This closed the case The charges to the jury were
quickly made and after the Judge Chllds summed
up the case. The Jury out about half an hour
and returned the verdict Of not guilty for H. g. Torey
and C. b. MOffctt ard declared the rest guilty OF The
charge OF riotous conduct A sentence Of two years
In State Prison may be inflicted.
CONSERVATIVE CHURCH IN HOBOKEy.
St rau's Episcopal Church. in Hoboken yesterda, was