The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-02-07
THE MCPHERSON CASE.
BEFORE THE COURT YESTERDAY
AFTERNOON.
Nearing Testimony For the Defense.
Spencer Greenwood Pleads Guilty
60 Larceny and Is
Sentenced.

Yesterday afternoons session of
court convened ut $50 o'clock, with all
the judges present.
Tho case OF Mcpherson, charged
with arson was resumed, and Eman-
uel Gooding, colored, who was on the
staEd when court took the noon recess
was recalled, for continuation of re-
direct examination. Mr.. Emmons
tried to show by this witness that the
necused was OF unsound mind III some
respecss, but made signal failure in
this respect.
Charles q. Guyer then took the
stand for the purpose of testifying to
the testimony given by Officer Jones
at tho preliminary hearing before
Judge Bali in tho Municipal Court.
There was, however, but little of the
testimony that he could remember,
unless he read from his notes, which
the court decided he could not do.
Horny Scott, colored, testified that
he knew OF one OF the fires, but could
not tell which one. He was at the
blacksmith shop getting Mcpherson to
tix the brake on his wagon.
Ha was there at least half an hour
md McPhorson was with him all the
time. As he drove away he saw the
fire and called TO Mr.. Cam, but did
not stop himself.
AODcIb bIOWl WIS SWDTn anu tpSLl-
fled that he Is horse-shoer by trade
and had examined the shop and sur
roundlngs In Bushs yard four days
after MCPHERSON was arrest ted. He
described what he saw and also said
that hn went up In the room occupied
by MIR. Jones, and had very poor
view OF the shed. He could not see
any one for moro than three steps
from the blacksmith shop.
The witness also said that he did not
see any one waive a handkerchief at
the entrance to the shed, although he
was watching closely.
Emanuel Gooding was recalled, and
testified that Mr.. Emmons waived u
handkerchief on the day referred to
by the previous witness. This testi-
mony was corroborated by Frank Nj.
Sevcfr.
Games I, Rutlidge testified that he
knows Oiiicer Jones, and that on the
night Of the arrest he said to the wit
ness that he had seen McPherson 20
down TO the shed and set fire to some
waste, which he throw in the place.
Jones also snid to the witness that
he knew MCPHERSON had started the
fires and did not intend to let up on
him. He told the witness not to 20
McPhersons bail unless he wanted to
lose his money.
John Stodhait testified that he is
employed as an assistant foreman In
the paper mnchine department of tho
Pusey & Jones Company. Cotton
waste is very intiamablo and subject
to spontaneous combustion. The firm
with which he is employed has sheet
iron tanks built, in which all greasy
cotton waste Is thrown.
The Chief Justice said this was n fact
a
1t was not necessary to bring witnesses
to prove ii.
William II, Lee testified that lie was
employed by the railroad company for
some time, and knew of several fires
in the vicinity of Bush's, caused by
sparks from the engines.
William i. Brinkley. Samuel Moore,
Deninlnin Il. Sheppard, James Nj.
Smith. William Haley and Edwin Long,
the latter pastor OF Groenhill Presby-
ferian Chirch, ali testified to thu good
character OF the accused, and said hat
they hal never known anyone to say
anything against him.
Oricer Sherer wasH,so called to les
tify TO his character, and said that al.
though he had known him for MUM
ber OF years he had never known any
thing against him.
This was the last witness called, and
the Jury was discharged until . O'Clock
this morning.
Spencer Greenwood, ,colored, through
his counsel, William S. Hilles, ESD,
withdrew his plea OF not guilty OF thC
larceny of pair of clipping shears
and entered a plea of guilty. Judge
Ball testified to his previous gsud
character, which saved him from the
post, and he was sentenced To pay the
costs, - restitution money, and bC
imprisoned one month. Court thel
adjourned until this morning.