Evening journal., 1892-02-18
SHOUTS TRIAL BEGINS


Murder of Farmer Dittmore.
ELKToN, Feb S-The trial of Alfred
Stout, coloreo, charged with the murder Of
Farmer George Ditmore and murderously
assaugtlng his wife, at their farm house
near Sedan. this county, on February
2, 1891, commenced in the circNit Court
for Hartford yesterday Il Ful be re :
membered that the murderer entered
Ditmore's house to commit robbery, add
then assaulted the old man, who died in
Philadelphia hospital The trial will
perhaps last several days.
Austin l. Crothtrs, states attorney Of
Cecil county, Walter w. Preston. states
attorney OF Hartford county, and w. T
Worburton Of Cecil county, represented
the state, and hessrs @. G. Crothsrs
Robert @. rhackery Of Cecil and George
I Maynadier Of Belair the defence
After ineff ctua. effort to have the case
continued, because oil the witnesses o {
the defencs were not present. the pris-
oner was arragned and demurrer to
the ndistment argued, on the ground
that inasmuch as Dittman died ia Phila-
delphia. the crime was incom lee within
the jurisdiction Of the court. and that
therefore Stout could not be tried here
Judge Waters overruled the demurrer.
States Attorney Crathers made tbs open.
ing statement 10 The jury for the state
MRS DIITTAoRE ON THE STAND.
The first witness for the state was
Mra. Dittmore, widow Of the murdered
man, who testified that on the night Of
the murder her husband went to bed at
o'clock, while she remained for the FIRE
to burn down. She fell asleep aud was
a ..sI lt.~ II ah,
Christine, am getting murdered Wit
ness started upstairs with a light, got
NJ two steps when the light was knocked
out of her hand aud broken, and she was
struck on the eye by some one whose
face she did not see. She then went
into the cellar. where she remsined half
an hour. Her husband did not cry out
any more, so she vent out to a neighbor,
Charles Furdy. who sent two men back
with her. They found Mr.. Dittmore on
the lounge with bis face knocked
In. Witness generally kept $50 or $50
in her bed-tick. Alfred Stout, the prisoner,
had worked for her eight or nine years
ago and was familiar with the house
She had lost some money about week
previous to the murder and also twice
about two months before.
THE WOUNDS CAUSED DEATH.
The next witness, DR.. J. V. Wallace,
testified to the character OF the wounds
and that they caused Dittmore's death
DR. w. Q. karsner, the nxet witness,
corroborated the testimony Of DIR. Wal
lace, William A. Evans, formerly states
attorney for Cecil county, testified to the
condition Of the house and surroundings
and Of the cid man. After the arrest
witness made Stout bring out the clothes
be wore The night before they were
found in a small bowl and had lately been
washed. The clothing was produced and
identified by witness. At his request DR..
lamar took them to Philadelphia for
examination. A piece of handkerchief
similar 10 another piece found in the
prisoners pocket and knife were also
identified by the witness. DR.. r S.
lamar testified that he took the clothing
TO DR. II. F Formal Of Philadelphia fol
examination for blood stains
PHLADELPHIA's SPECIALIST swEARs
DR.. Formal, president OF the PATHOLOGY
cal Society Of Philadelphia and professor
Of microscopy ia the University Of Penn
| sylvania, was then called He testified
TO the finding of ood-stains on Stout.
clothes and on the piece OF board
| Alexander Van Buskirk corrobora 6ec
the testimony OF other witnesses as tC
tbs condition OF Dittmore's house on tn,
morning after the crime Witness, will
others, followed the tracks 10 the house
where the prisoner lived They secured
the clothes and shoes Of the prisoner anc
/ got ont warrant for his arrest.
Shoes Of the prisoner were produced
and ident ded BY witness, and he ex
/ plaiued pccnliarities OF the tracks anC
showed how such pecullarities nigh
have been made by the shoes
AT clock the court took a rec ess un
I'll 80 D. m but owing to the illness 0
one of the jurymen, James P. Massey, tn
evening session could not be held TIL
case will 20 on to-day If Mr. Massey
we'll enough.