Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-12-17


be after me, don't know anything
about it,"
Moore, while under Mr.. Iilles' cross.
examination, had positively denied
making this remark to Eggleston.
| on ncross-examinntion the witness told
Mr.. Biggs that his conversation occurred
one afternoon last fall. The two detec-
tives, when they arrived at the summer.
house, called Moore out and the three
walked away together This witness
also saw William Gibbons at the fire,
working on top of the barn wall to pre-.
vent the spread of the flames.
GIBBONS HELPED WITH THE HOSE.
John Manlove is momber Of the
IhnniX company, and went ont with
the nose carriage the night the barn
was burned Gibbons was there and
helped in handling the hose.
WITNESSES FoR CHARACTER.
Mr.. IIilles said he had a great mum
Der OF witnesses as to the prisoners
previous good character He said the
rule Was, in proof of good character, to
limit the number of witnesses to six.
lie desired to know il this rule would
hold good where the other side proposed
TO attack character.
The court ruled that this would make
no change in the rule.
Ihe six witnesses were then called in
turn. John S. Miller said he had
known Gibbons 25 years, and his repu-
tation was as good as that of the gen.
eral run of men,"
William Kirkwood, grocer, sad Glib
bons' reputation for peace and good
behavior was good. lie had never
known anything else Of him.
EX-Levy Court Commissioner Thomas
Toy, with an acquaintance of 25 years.
SAD, ms character is good, for any
thing know of. never knew him to
wrong anybody"
The Rev. Father Kelley, pastor of ST.
Joseph's Catholic Church from 1869 to
1857, said he knew Gibbons we'll and
that his reputation was good.
Patllck Thornton of Riddles Banks
has also known Gibbons for 25 wears,
and considered his reputation good.
Daniel Clover has known Gibbons
since he was a boy and never heard any-
thing against his character.
With the statement that Gibbons was
apprehcnded in Philadelphia, but came
down here voluntarily, which Mr., Birgs
asserted to, the defence closed.
THE OTHER SIDE on CHARACTER.
In rebuttal the State called Harvey B.
Vandegrift. He said he knew Gibbons
reputation for peace and good order,
and did not consider it very good.
Crosse examine" said MIR. Biggs.
y will" rejoined Mr.. Hilles, grimly
"Alr. Vandegrifi, who did you ever
hear speak of Gibbons reputation 2"
"Several people,"
"Who are they, ! would like to know.
Name one of them"
"Well, | can give names, if neces-
sary."
Here Mr.. Biggs interposcd. He said
the witness was peace officer and il
might be against public policy to require
him to divulge his sources of informa-
ton.
Mr.. IIilles said Mr.. Vandegrift was
not public officer but private detec-
tive.
Judge Cullen asked the witness how
he arrived at a knowledge of Gibbons
reputation in the community in which
he lives.
Mr.. Vandegrift said he first got the
idea last May, when lie served war
rant on Gibbons for creating disorder
on n street car between middle depot
and Rising Sun.
Joseph Knox said Gibbons reputation
was not good.
Taylor lIipple said that Gibbons
threatened him once lie had generally
heard that his reputation was bad.
John Macklem said that Gibbons
reputation was not good.
This was also the testimony of Pierre
Gentieu, who SAID this was the verdict
Of common report.
William Casey said that common re-
port in the neighborhood pronounced
Gibbons reputation bad.
STILL coNTRADIcTING GIBBONS.
james llorty said that shortly after
the ire-from three days to two weeks
--hc had conversation with William
Gibbons, who gave him the following
version of how he went to the fire the
night the new barn" was burned:
"Gibbons said lie left home and went
to Eugene du Points corner and on to
the old barn, where he got drink of
water. Then he went across the cannon
house lot and sat on the fence awhile,
he didn't say how long. lie next got
up and walked towards Frank du Points
residence. When ip got near there lie
saw a light in the gable window of the
barn that looked like candle or n lam
tern, and then he ran ON TO the barn"
Mr.. Biggs asked the witness how he
came tocharge his memory With this CON
versatien.
"Well," responded Horiy, "thcre was
a tFnh1 Inu1 g.F ..,TI l. -.
about Gibbons being suspected Of this
crime, although didn't believe it VI tile
Tine. This is the reason why | asked
him about how he got to the fire, and
why remember so well Wha. he said"
pEr1NiNG poucmEnTg's JOURNEY.
Mr.. Biggs next brought forth Il large.
blue e.prn. plot Of the entire neghber-
hood of du Points Banks, which he
said included Barlow's mill, where
Philip Dougherty worked, and the
course Of the journey Philip took from
the mill to his home, the evening of the
fire, when he claimed to have met
William j. Gibbons coming along the |
road from Sterling's store, just before |
the fire was discovered. Francis q. du |
Pont was called and marked out on the |
plot the course that Philip had to take |
to go from the mill to his home.
The plot was offered in evidence.
Mr.. Biggs also started to examine
Mr.. du Pont as to the manner in which |
the burned barn was constructed, but |
Mr.. liilles objected To this, as the
eround hal already been gone over. !
The court sustained the objection.
Then the State closed, and the case
was ready for argument.
ARGUING THE Ltw.
Attorney general Biggs then addressed
the court with respect to the points of |
law uDon which lie desired the court Ia |