Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1891-11-19
KESTER MURDER CASE.
Three Men Are Sent to Jail
Charged With the Crime.
STRONG EVIDENCE is PRESENTED
WHICH WILL LIKELY CON
yICT THE PRISONERS.

Joseph Eveland and Henry anC
Amanda Higgins, the three persons who
were arrested at Hazleton last week or
the charge of numbering the Kestel
brothers, were given a hearing befor,
Squire German on Friday morning
The prosecutors failed to produce enough
evidence to necessitate the binding OF
the parties over, but on the statement OF
Chief Hampton, of the Coal and Iror
Police, that he had not yet had time tc
look after his witnesses the Justice de,
cided to discharge the defendants or
their own recognizance to appear before
him on Monday. At the time set apart
for the hearing on that day all the par.
ties interested in the case were present
in the Justices office. The Coal and
Iron Police had been working steadily
on the case and from what evidence they
obtained they found that another man
had been associated with those already
IN custody. He is a person named James
Gallagher.
George III. Troutman represented the
defendents, and Abner Smith conducted
the prosecution.
The first witness called was William
kishbach, who testified that he saw
three strange men on the night of the
murder going along the road in the
direction of the Kester farm. AS one
OF these was lame he thought it was
Eveland but said he could not positively
identify him. He didn't recognize either
OF the other defendents as any of the
party he saw.
Mr.. Kishbach's wife was called and
she corroborated her husbands story,
except that she stated she was sure Eve
land was the lame man they both seen
on that night.
She said she knew Mrs. Higgins well
and on the day the Kesters were buried
called at her house. There Mrs. Higgins
told her that the men whom she believed
to be the murderers had been stopping
at her home but had gone away. She
thought one of the men might be Eve
land but wouldn't like to swear to it.
Hiram Lindner, being sworn, said
that on the morning of the murder he
discovered four men in his barn. He
thought one of them walked lame but
didn't recognize any of the defendents
as being in the party.
Mrs. Lentz was the next witness and
said that on the same morning two
strange men called at her house and
asked for lunch and that after she had
given it to them two others Joined them
and helped them eat it. She thought
one of the men was Higgins
Adam Hoffman was next sworn. He
said he got to the Kester house shortly |.
after the dead men had been discovered |
and described how piece of cherry
bark had been found in fracture in one |
Of the mems heads. On noticing this he |
hunted on the outside of the house and |
found cherry club which he turned |
over to the coroner.
Nicholas Stegner, the next witness |
stated that one dav he stopped at |
Higgins house for drink, and while |
,he latter was down the cellar getting it |
for him, he saw behind the bar stout |
cherry club, which he picked up and |
He thought it was about 26 |
inches long and 3 to 81 thick, and that
near one end was large knot. He was |
positive IL was the same weapon that |
was found by Hoffman.
Captain Simpson was then called and
old about the club found outside the
<ester house. His description tailed
With that of Stegner.
DIR. f. Brundage was the next person
worn. He said he was one of the first
o enter the Kester home after the mur-
Ter, going in with a lantern about 8 or 10
o'clock. John Kester he found lying on
he floor with bullet hole in his fore
ead. He had evidently dropped down
ead when he was shot. Before disturb
ng him the doctor made minute notes
t the exact conditions, and he has these
otes preserved. In another room he
ound VIM. Kester lying with his hands
led. AS an expert the doctor testified
hat on the right side of Williams head
ias wound about Al inches long, crush
lg the skull into the brain. The right ,
lde of the face was smashed in and the
aws were broken. The victims cloth
lg indicated no struggle and DR.. Brun-
age presumes that the man was stunned
rst by blow and then had his face
rushed in by the heel of boot. The {
low that caused his death came from S
ehind. The doctor conducted the post |
lortem and thinks that if the wound 1
as made with a club it was flat and had |
o knob or knot on it, 8
This closed the testimony, the defen-
ents having no witnesses present to tell :
nything of their whereabouts at the .
me the murder was committed. As no ,,
vidence was produced against Mrs. !
liggins her counsel demanded her dis !,
large, which was granted The other /,
lree prisoners were held by the Justice
nd committed to the county Jail to
wait trial. They were taken to Wilkes {
ARE.
Appeals to Your Intelligence. S