Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-09
RAMSEY HAS AN ALIBI.
The Evidence of the Prosecution
Rather Shattered 1t, Though.
PROGRESS OF THE COOLEY TRIALS
Judge Ewings Charge Is Strongly Against
the Prisoner.
NARsHALL's PLEA FOR THE DEFENSE

|
Ramsey, the noted Fayette bandit, was
resumed in the Criminal Court this morn
ing. The outlaw entered the courtroom
with his usual boldness. He looked disap-
pointed when he saw that most Of the
people in the room were Commonwealth
witnesses, instead of his friends whom he
looked upon yesterday.
The case was opened by D. M. Hertzog
for the Commonwealth Mr. Hertzog was
District Attorney when the crime for
which Ramsey 10 now being tried was COM
mitted, and he is familiar with the facts in
the case. He stated briefly what the Com
monwealth hoped to be able to prove
against Ramsey. The first witness called
was Mrs Sarah Keener. She testified as
follows:
was living near McClellandtown on
March II, 1889. On this evening was at home
in bed. Between II and o'clock heard
lot of men coming cursinE and swearing. l
was alone with my granddaughter Birdie, Q
years old. The men rushed against the door
and broke It In. Iscreamed and asked them
who they were and what they wanted. l
asked If It was John, meaning my youngest
son. They replied chat it was. They oame
to my room and demanded my money.
told them had none. They swore tneY
did not give them my money. still said
had none. They first said they wanted
something TO eat. l told them to go to the
and told them to go downstairs and they
would find one on the mantel. They knocked
the globe OF my lamp and broke 1t. -
Determined Upon Robbery.
When they came back they took hold Of
me by the shoulders and shook me hard, and
again demanded my money. / told them
again had none, and they thrust their re-
volvers in my face and swore that they
would shoot my hesrt out. l finally told
them that there was q check for some money
down stairs They swore they did not want
any checks, but it was money they were
after again told them that the only money
had was IL cents, two cent pieces and two
/ cent pieces. Finally, when ! told the m
again that had no o,n money. on ano dnl naa @ Deen
knew weItner He had q brown muslin
mask over his face, but his features were as
plain as could be, and also recognized his
truth, boys; saw her at the station" Then
one of the men asked what I did with my
money and said he knew was always get
ting money told MIN MIN ~ was IN tse ase' soT
could. John Weltner spoke up again ana
said I was telling them the truth. as he Knew
had bought property. Finally my nttle
she CRIED and one OF the men, tall fellow,
went up to her and pushed his revolver in
her face and pushed her back, telling her to
be quiet
Mrs Keener here gave detailed descrip-
tion of the man that wore no mask She
said she noticed him closely 30 that she
would know him again. The description OF
The man without a mask did not fit Ramsey.
Mrs Keener remained cool and unexclted
throughout the rigid cross-examination of
Attorney Marshall
C. 81. Beall testified as follows:
I was in the livery business March II, 1889.
On that evening hired horse to DEFENDANT
John Ramsey. The horse was to come back
that night, but did not come. Was afraid it |
had been stolen, Sent Constable Chick for |
it next morning. He found it in Cool Spring |
hollow. when brought back the horse had |
a shoe OF the left front foot.
Recognition OF Ramsey.
Joseph W. Anderson-I was living three
fourths Of q mile north Of McClellandtown. |
Am 6S years old. Am an uncle of John |
Ramsey, married his mothers sister. Have |
known Ramsey since he was or years old. |
Was at home on the night of November II, |
1889. was sleeping down stairs that night. |
Between IL and o'clock I was lying awake |
and heard and saw the door move called /
out; "If you come in here I'll shoot" just |
then they rushed in with revolvers and /
came to the bed. My wife ana were in the |
bed. NV wife was ii years old. When they |
reached the bed they demanded my money |
seized me. 1 had intended to tell them
where my money was, but before could say |
one of the gang spoke up and asked |
TOR the keys to the stand. l told them that the
keys were in my pockets. One OF the men got
the keys went to the stand, opened the first |
drawer and put in his hand and opened
secret drawer in the stand. One not ac-
q uainted with the fact that the drawer was
there would not see It. They got something
over S12S out OF the drawer. The same man
that asked for the keys OF the stand asked
I had none. They made my wife get out of
bed. They tried to make my wife tell where
our money was. They took me up stairs,
laid me down on the floor and poured car
bon oil over me until 1t run down over me
on the floor. They said If did not tell them
where my money was they would burn me
up. One Of the men choked me. All of the
man without the mask finally came up
stairs and told the men to let me up. They
did So. We came down stairs and ound my
wife gone They then III tnreasenea e to n burn
was. I think 1t was Ramsey because he
lisped when he talked, because OF his know
ledge of the secret drawer In the stand and
himself when he walked. I think it was |
muslin mask he had on. These are the |
points by which recognized him.
Points of the Defense.
At this point the Commonwealth rested, |
and Colonel Th omas B. Searight opened for |
the defense. He said he expected to prove |
by good reliable witnesses that Ramsey |
was not at the place the robbery was COM
mitted. He appealed to the jury to get |
away from the prejudice that was enerally
held against Ramsey and try the case as
though the defendant was the most re-
spected citizen in the county.
Ramsey was the first witness called for !
the defense His testimony was in SUBJ /
stance as follows:
am SO years OF age. I came to Union
town on the evening of this robbery in 1859. |
did not see Charley Lewis on that day. 1 |
hired horse from q livery stable to go to a |
dance at Paul's in Cool Spring Hollow. I |
let the horse go about one mile from town. |
was not at the house of either Mrs. Keener /
or Joseph Anderson on the night they were /
robbed Mr.. Anderson, the prosecutor in
one Of these cases, is my uncle, but he did |
not raise me. have frequently been at his /
house. but know nothing of the secret |
drawer he speaks Of
Shattering the Alibi.
The, outlaw then told the story of his
early life, when be roamed about from one