Evening journal., 1891-02-06
MCPHERSON ARSON CASE.
THE COURT AND Mr.. sMMoNS
HAVE SOME ARGUMENTS.

The County Court resumed its session
yesterday afternoon at so o'clock, when
the case OF win am Mcpherson. charged
with arson, was continued. Detective
William I Jones testified that he had
been employed by the George w. Bush
and Sons Company to detect those who
had set the place on Gre In order to
watch the property he had hidden in
several places in the yard, the last Of
which was ia house opposite the black
smith shop, where he could have a good
view Of the movements of the prisoner
He stated that on December 10
he had seen Mcpherson leave the black
smiths shop and 60 towards the shed.
After entering it smoke arose and the
prisoner returned to the forge. Again
he left his snop and went towards the
shed and again there was a smoke. The
witness was severely cross examined by
Mr.. Emmons as TO the possibility of him
seeing the prisoner from the position he
had been concealed in.
Mt Emmons also stroye to impeach his
testimony by endeavoriug to show that
the witness had given different version
OF the affair to James p Ratlidpe sub
sequent to the burning. This Mr.. Jones
stoutly denied Mr. Emmons asked
Did you say to E. G. Bradford, i think
| know the man who set fire to the
DUPONT barns :" The question was
disailowed Mr.. Emmons and the wit
ness had sharp recrimination fer some
time when the court said it was impos. |
sible for human nature to remember the |
exact time of an occurrence.
Clarence Dillon was examined and |
stated that he had done some detective /
work for the firm of George w. Bush and |
Sons Company Mcpherson had been |
taken into his secret In the beginning |
bnt was not after he had fallen under /
suspicion. Mr. Davis submitted draw |
ing OF the yard and asked that il be- |
taken In eviGsnce out Mr.. Emmons OBJ
jeeted on the ground that it was fancy
drawing" and did not reflect the true
picture OF the yard. The drawing was
not admitted
The grand jury came into court. pre
sented it's report and was formally dis
charged. The grand jury reported tina
at the May term, 1890, twenty one bills
were submitted, of which one was
ignored and true bills found in the re-
malnoer At the September term forty.
four bills were submitted, of which six
were ignored and true bills found in
thirty eight. At the November term
twenty eight bills were submitted II
which two were ignored and true bills
found in tWenty-six cases. at the
present term true bills wer1 found in the
forty eight submitted, making total Of
14l cases submitted, of which nine
were ignored and trae bills fonnd in 1872
eases. They recommended that a simpler
and prompter method be found for the
trial and disposition of TRIVIAL cases
On July John Pugh, a member Of the
grand iagy, died. and at the Septem her
session o resolution Of sympathy was
October 30, 1890, the grand Jury made a
visit OF inspection 70 New Castle iail aud
to the county almshouse at Farnhurst
The sheriff's house was found in excel. ]
lent condition, the prison was crowded
but clean, neat and wholesome. and the
prisoners healthy and well cared for. AS
the prison building wSs Inadequate for
the number of inmates, they recon-
mendec that q new prison of suitable
capacity bebuilt The almshouse was
found in an admirable condition. and
desire evidently manifested by Superip-
tendent Guthrie TO have the inmates
well cared for, the house clean aud an
ideal home provided for the unfortunates
dependent on the eonny for care and
maintenance.
The trial of Mcpherson wasthen resumed
and Detective Vandegrift examined, As
he knew nothing about this FIRE his testi
mony was immaterial
This morning Mr. Bscon applied that
an order be made postponing the wbip-
ping Of Patrick Stanley, sentenced on
yesterday in order that an application be
made to t 10 Governor to have that pun
ishment remitted. Justice Comegvs re-
fused to make the order. Henry G.
Turner asked to have the case against
Harry A. Spoerl postponed until Monday.
The request was granted.
Ia the MCPHERSON case Walter D. Bush
was examined az 10 changes made in the
shed since the time the fres were at !
tempted to be lighted. A long argument
here arose between Mr.. Emmons and /
Judge Comegys concerning point which !
the former tried TO prove BY cross ex
amining the Witness Mr.. Emmons |
gained his point after much difficulty
The examination was characterized bv
sharp arguments between Mr.. Emmons
and the judge.
John Il. Turner was the next witness.
he examined the place where Mr. Jones
was concealed before at and after Mr.
Jones had gone there. Il was possible for 9
q person IN the detectives position to see
a person enter the she'd. Thomas 9
Tally, Charles w. Eorn and GEORGE
White gayessimillar testimony The state
here rested.
Mr. Emmons here moved that the in
DO quashed on the ground that \
It was improper, iDasmuch as It charged
the prisoner wi b an attempt to set on
FIRE, etc which amounted only to an IN
tention The court did not agree with | n
him and his motion was not admitted.
Mr.. Emmons then addressed the c
jury, and said he would prove g
among other things, that
the prisoner was q man of the very best p
possible character who could have had a
no possible motive for committing the c
deed. He also thought they could dis
credit the only positive testimony put
by the state. They would also
show that six or eight Of the fires could
not have been lighted by him. a
Walter d. Bush was examined and y
stated that Mcpherson had always been o
an honest efficient and trusted workman. b
Charles 7. Guyer the stenographer, \
who made O shorthand report Of Mr.
Jones's testimony before the Municipal
Court vas called. The state objected on
the ground that this was not proper tes- .
timony. The court held that the witness
might refresh his memory from his notes
notes.
Emanuel aooding, c0iored, who was r.
McPherson's helper OF the bIacksmiths
ahOpr aua4afnoI - A. I