The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-06-01
CREHCH'S OWN STORY.
He Says He Never Used an
Axe on Smith, and
His Life Was in
Danger.
DEASE'S QUEER WAYS.
A Witness Called by the Defence
Accuses Him of Faking
Evidence.
DEASE'S QUEER WAYS.

in the Court of Oyer and Term1ner this
morning.
Dease and Judge Thomas +. Noonan
George Creech from the gallows. But it
seems impossible. as far as the case has
proceeded. that the testimony of the
State can be overcome.
The proceedings in the trial up to the
time when recess was taken yesterday
afternoon have been told in THE NEWS.
Mrs. Mann was on the stano after recess.
Counsel llor Dease cross-examined her for
almost two hours. AT times Judge
Werts wearied and said that Mr.. Dease
was consuming the Courts valuable
time by asking unnecessary questions.
Mrs. Mann stood the ordeal well and
her direct testimony was shaken but lit
tie. She is very tenacious person, and
at times answered Dease sharply. When
asked if she intended to kill Creech if she
succeeded in getting pistol on the Nor
man and Jim, sne laconically replied, Il
intended to shoot Creech In the leg"
Mrs. Mann testified that after the axe
had descended for the second time on
Smiths shoulders, and Smith had rolled
back into the cabin. Babcock grappled
Creech and she struck him over
the legs with club while Babcock held
him by the throat. They tussled for
about three.quarters of an hour, and the
woman did not exhibit the slightest emo
bIon while she was telling of the bloody
ARRAY Finally Creech got away.
Prosecutor Winfield OH redirect eXami-
nation brought out that Mrs. Mann was
mortally afraid Of Creech, as he had
given her terrible beating before. One
day, two weeks prior to the murder,
Creech met her in New York and said he
would kill Smith the first time he met
him.
BABCoCK's STORY.
John Babcock was then called, He
testified that on the fatal night he and
Smith visited the Oliver A. Paine, Mrs.
Mann's boat. He had never meet Creech
before. Creech was swearing awfully.
On the deck of the boat, as Creech was
about to strike Mrs. Mann, Smith
held a big club over Creech's head,
Babcock was positive that he saw
Creech strike Smith with an axe, and it
was after this that the struggle on the
deck took place, when Babcock and Mrs.
Mann tried to prevent Creech from escap-
ing. On cross examination the witness
testified that Smith said he would shoot
Creech.
Two policemen told Of their vain search
for the axe, and DIR. Converse testified as
to the character of the fatal wounds.
Then the State rested.
THE Defence.
This morning George Creech was put
on the witness stand. He testified to
having met Smith once before and Smith
said If the witness did not stay away
from Mrs. Mann's boat he would shoot
him.
Mr.. Noonan here informed Dease tina
Captain Millikeh was In Court and by
permission of the Court Creech was with
drawn and Captain Milliken sworn. He
proved a sorry witness tor the defence.
"Did Mrs. Mann say that when Smith
went up the stairs to go at Creech, Smith
had a pistol in his hend?" he was asked
'.She did not" the witness replied, and
Dease was taken aback.
'What did she say, if anything, about
his having pistol in his hand" Coun-
sellor Dease persisted.
"She said she had q pistol and she gave
it to him."
"Did she say when she gave Smith this
pistol"
"She did not"
CREEcH's STORY.
Creech was then recalled. Counsellor
Dease asked him If he had ever been
wounded in the head, and he replied that
he had, on several occasions.
What effect did these wounds have on
your"
They affected my memory. My men,
ory i5 bad"
The witness then told this story in a
low, strained voice.
81 went over to Mrs Mann's boat on
the evening of March 81. l went there
In the interests of Mr.. Pitry an had
some authority. sat in the cabin and
Smith tod me to get out. Mrs. Mann
poured some hot water down my back.
Then she went and got club. Smith
pulled revolver and chased me
out on the d-ck. | went out
l. I N
and couldn't 60. l met Smith at the top
of the stairs leading to the cabin and HIT
him with the stick. Babcock then hit me
in the mouth and clinched me.
He grabbed me around the neck
and tried to choke me and Mrs.
Mann was hitting me with a stick
We wrestled and fell over into another
a club. Mrs. Mann gave him club aud
he hit me over the head several times"
Here the witness exhibited several scars
on his head to the jury.
II went over TO New York to Mrs.
Grogan, my cousin, and then l washed
the olood'off my face The next morning
went down to South street. where | gen
orally spent my time, and Mrs. Mul deck
showed me newspaper containing
an account of the affray. l
saw that Smith was dead aud that l was
accused of using an axe. never used an
axe and never saw tue axe Wnlcn Is mere
in court. I did not know how badly
Smith WAS injured until l saw the news
paper account"
The Prosecutor would not cross-ex-
anime the witness.
James Stilwell of Buffalo was called
by the defence to prove The bad charac-
ter of Mrs. Mann.
Dr. Joseph Culver swore that a
rupture of the diaphram in conjunction
with the other wounds probably caused
the death. lie did not believe it was the
rupture alone caused it although 1t was
not impossible.
A SENSATION.
Sherman Pierce was then called, and
after asking him several questions Dease
said, "That is ALL"
But that was not all Mr.. Petrey asked
the permission of the Court to make
statement as he was not asked enough
questions There was sensation in the
court.
''Dease sent me letter." said the wit
ness. Il did not reply to it, and then
Dease came TO me personally. Dease told
me that Creech had told him 1
sent him to the boat that
Smith was dead and there was no use
hanging him. | sad your clients state
ment is not so. told Mr.. Dease that his
client was always prosecuting Mrs. Mann
and she was afraid of him | told Mr..
Dease that | met his client on the night
of the killing near the Cortlandt
street ferry and said to him, IF
YOU don't leave the woman alone
I'll have you arrested l told him Creech