Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-09
FORGING THE CHAIN.
More Cifcumstantial Evidence Woven
About Holmes Anderson.
HE WANTED TO DRY HIS CLOTHING.
Details of the Gunsaulis Murder Brough
Out at tho Inquest.
WILL BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK

The inquest into the death of John Gun
saulis at West Liberty Falls Sunday night
was taken up again yesterday by Coroner
Heber Mcdowell. 1t will not be completed
until next Monday afternoon.
The chain of circumstantial evidence is
being wound closer about Holmes Ander.
son. At least the evidence was convincing
enough to justify the Coroner in again COM
mitting him to Jail. The greatest point
brought out was that the ground was wet
where the men lay in ambush, and also that
water was trickling down over the hillside
where the body OF the murde cred man was
found. 1t was also proven that, though it
had not rained Sunday night, Anderson s
clothes were wet and covered with mud,
and that he had called at a house
below the scene of the murder and
asked permission to dry his clothing.
The suicide theory was also punched in the
head. 1t was proven impossible for such a
wound to be self inflicted.
Description of the Suspect.
When the inquest opened only a small
crowd was present and about so witnesses.
The prisoner, Holmes Anderson, occupied a
chair little to the right of the Coroner. He
is man about 5 feet 10 inches high, with
broad shoulders and heavy chest. His
head is rather large and but sparsely settled
with iron grey hairs. which is brushed up over
the dome to cover the large clearing which ex-
lists there. His mustache is black and yery
heavy
F. Gunsaulis, the first witness, gave the age
of his brother as being 81. The last time he
saw him was on Robinson street, Allegheny, at
1:45 Sunday afternoon. His brother was going
to the Monongahela House to get l,25O from a
man.
Constable Piroth, Andrew Adamson. Mon.
trose Pollock and Charles Cronen, who found
the dead man, each told stories exactly the
same as has been published. They also said
the ground about the place was wet and soggy,
but when they arrived on the scene the mud
was frozen. They had found the man living on
his right side with the revolver clutched in his
right hand. His coat was also torn open.
DR.. j. Guy McCandlesS then submitted the
report of the post mortem, which showed the
ball had entered the back of the mans head
on the lett and then lodged in the skull over
the right temple. He said the man was other
wise in good condition save tor a confusion on
the back of his head
Fired at Very Short Range.
The hair was singed about the wound. and
the doctor believed the shot had been fired
within two feet of the mans head. If it had
been any closer the powder marks would have
been more distinct. He did not believe the
wound had been self-iniicted and Also said the
wound on the back of the head could not have
been made by person falling on the soft
ground in that locality.
Henry Smith, the father of the girl who was
to have married Gunsaulis, testified to all the
young mans relations with his family having
been the most harmonious. He also gave a de-
scription of the man who attacked GunsauIis
Mics Smith herself next took the stand and
told OF her lover having been at her home both
on Saturday and on Sunday. He came out
seven minutes of 10 o'clock. Some one went
down the road just as he came out,
and he waited for minute or two be-
fore starting. He left in the best Of spirits
and made arrangements to meet her at 1890
next day at Fourth avenue and Market street.
She had buttoned up his overcoat and had felt
the roll of money in his left vest pocket She
also identified the silver watch and revolver
found on the murdered man. She also claimed
to know ring and a scarf pin of hers that her
lover had been wearing.
Lizzie Anderson, in company with a number
of other girls, had seen Holmes Anderson on
Sunday evening going toward the falls between
Z and o'clock. He seemed to be drunk. but
the gIris tnougnt ne was only putting it on.
William 5. Allen, who removed the body tes-
titled to the abundance Of water and mud in
that locality.
Anderson Wanted to Dry His Clothes.
Mrs. Gertrude Weese, the most important
witness of all, was the last one called. She
lives near the Bell house below the scene of the
tragedy. Her story was told as follows:
About 10 o'clock Sunday night, or possibly a
few minutes later, heard man calling for
Joe Neville, who lives on the second floor of
our house. He did not get any answer. NV
husband opened the door and big man walked
in and asked permission to dry his clothes
by the fire. He said he was ali
wet. When the freight shown on him
1 recognized him as Holmes Anderson
knew him when we lived in Temperanceyille
but had never before seen him in West lib,
erty asked him why he did not 90 to his
boarding house and he said he lived over back
Of Beltzhoover. / told him he had better 90
there and he went out. 1t was not RAINING
Sunday night, but had commenced to freeze
On Thursday night Mr.. Moore, of Homestead.
brother-in-law of Anderson, was arrested or
suspicion. Anderson's revolver was found