The Wilmington daily Republican., 1891-12-11
THIRD EDITION.
NEARING THE END.
The Argument in the Gibbons Case
Finished.

uOU1t nsIE illllbS LIS u
ment for the defense in the case OF the
state vs. Gibbons. Il
Be reviewed the testimony produced
by the State and by the defence, and IL
/ claimed that an alibi had been clearlyll
prcyen. He dwelt particularly upon
he evidence given by Gibbons sister,
Pand contended that while it might,
have been biased all she said nboutll
the time her brother was in the houselt
and when he left 1t, was absolutely true,
and that he could not have reached /
the barn in time to fire 1t.
He claimed that 1t was impossible |
for the State to shake her testimony
ard therefore 1t must be taken by tho
jury as given,
In speaking OF the testimony of
Philip Dougherty, he said that he
would admit that he never saw Wit
ness worse ratified.
He had seen witnesses who kne W
to much and he had seen others
: who did not know enough, but in the
case OF this witness he knew what had
happened, and that was enough. He
did not know when he was born, or
how old ho was but he did know that
he had met Gibbons Just as tho fire
was breaking out.
In regard to sweeny's testimony. he
said that the deputy attorney general
had attempted TO show that it was not
possible for man working at Harlan
a. HOllingsworth's to have reached the
banks In the time no claimed, but he
asserted that 1t was possible for any
one to do so, and invited ths mem bers
of the jury to try 1t themselves.
In reviewing tho testimony of
the DuPonts he said that the only
thing they knew was the fact that the
barn was burned, aud that when they
found 1t was on tire they hurried to
the yard, at tho risk OF their own lives
prevent an explosion.
Some of the witnesses had testified
that they saw Gibbons working to
keep tho flames from spreading aud
then said they saw him standing Oh
the ground Dragging. II did this oil
Il set fire to this barn"
Mr.. Hilles contended that instead OF
Gibbons setting tiro to the barn, h,
was on The ground working and dll
every thing in his power to prevent tn,
IRE from spreading to the house. In
fact he WAS So much afraid that II
would reach the house that no warned
Mrs, DUPONT that they had better ge
the things out, Tor fear they would bt
burned.
He criticised Ramsey's defectly,
memory, and said that while he at
tempted to toll exactly what was said
To him. his was unable to toll whether
this was said one year ago or five
years ago. Ho has beon married Nv
years, but was unable to say whethe
be talked to Gibbons before he wa
married or Afterwards.
After going over the testimony o
). each of the other witnesses. SIR. hl1o.
turned his attention TO Thomas II
Lynch, tho deiOctive, and said: DE-.
"While hava \ voice to speak /
this court OF any other court / shal
always speak against detectives 0Yi
dence"
man bloodhound among men, an
Said that he would not believe hin
or any other detective under oath q
any other way.
These remarks were received wit
applause by the largo number I
spectators present, which was checke
by the Court With warming that II
was repeated the room would b
cleared
AIr. Hilles continuing said that jim
my Moore was the greatest liar thu
ever went on witness stand.
called him a rum soaked bum, and u
the Jury had to do WA to look at h
bioated face to SEQ how unWortt
IN ho was OF beliof,
Moore only repeated story thi
was invented for him by his frien,
DELFNlAfV bOAl4 llD Ntt
manner while on the stand. Shove
that he was not telling the truth all
this fact was borne out by the test
moHy OF EgglinsOn Therefore Moo
Ia outof the Ease and hs felt certai
the Jury would not consider his ey
d9nco under tho conditions that it vi
given. Even II Gibbons did say TIL
he set fire TO the barn that was /
proof that he did 1t. 1t had het
shown that at the time, hs was drum
and drunken man is llabls to s,
anything.
Mr. HilIes said he had heard Of m,
about to die making . confession
crime, but no had never heard uf q I'M
situated ~ Gibbons was, making snt
confession. II he did and tho pa
pie had believed 1t. he would ha
been thrown into the tire, and lie d
served IL. Gibbons Is accused ot St
ting fire to the barn with the INTENT,
OF blowing up tile Iui lis I'm He HaKl,
Yard, and he could not believe tn
such depth OF Wicksdness could c
ist IN any human heart. The blown
up of the mills Ia that yard INFANT 1
destI urtiOn of his home, and /
death OF his Iuoblier and slater
II such had been the case tho peoI
would have lynched him and only al
ed just In so doing. That barn "
not fired by Gibbons but by sums o
who had no hons In the vicinity to
destroyed, and no mother or sister
bO killed. IL had been urged by /
Attorney General that the detsctiY
wero not inspired by the hope OF
large IeMard, but it must he RENE
bered that the only respectabls dst,
tive agency, as far as any OF them c
be respectable withdrew from the ct
nfter having it few months and u.
II was taken up by tLis HOW one.
These now men may not have be
influenced by the promise OF
ward but IT cannot l4 denied Il
they were seeking fur lame, and
this inan is convicted, II Wi hs bi
oned all over the country that
crime was fastened upon him by
Wilkinson agency. II Is urged agar
Gibbons that hs got drunk, and SO
did, unfortunately Ior himself
mother and his sister, sttll ifsvrry [
Is hung that gets drunk ON Br1nt
wine or Christiana Banks, there wo
not be a man left there.
In conclusion lie said he wo
leave tho case With the jury with
firm belle that the. VIII say that
State has not proven ueyund reasa
bio doubt that the crime was cI
mitted by the accused, aud lie tn,
fore confidently believed they WO
render a yerdtGtof acqufttal,
Mr.. iilles then quoted mum