The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-10-04

az Mrs. Jsfreys Substantially until the time
they went into The paFlor at HanzelFs. He
said that she had solicited a conversation
With him on religious matters and he declared
positively that he had not assaulted her aad
that be had not made sny compromising
propositions 70 her. lie further said that
there was not Bible in the room and that
before Mz Jeffrsys took her departure she
requested him 10 keep the subject Of their
conversation baptism BY immersionl TO
himself, IS her husband was an enemy Of
the DISCIPLES church and Of immersion.
She said thst she was willing to be immers-
ed. The following night she came 10 hear
him preach and accepted hymn book frcm
his hands, and in a conversation held with
her in the church she invited him 70 her
home. He visited her home the same even
ing.
On cross examination sinser denied that
he hsd ever been eEpsiiei from any church,
OF that he had ever been convicted on a
charge similar 10 the one being tried.
In regard to The testimony Of Walter JET
reys, the defendant said thai il was IN quail
ifiedly false Walter Jefreys solicited an
interview with him and told him what be
had heard Of his misconduct He replied
that the wOman's conduct would give the lie
10 any such accusations, that he was entire
ly innocent aud that if such a story was 20
be sprung against him that he would remain
in Addison and fight it cut. He did not lee
from Addison. but left in order 70 keep en-
gagements previously arranged. Singer in
s:nuated that the prosecution was the out
growth Of denominatiOnal Jealousy.
Elder Singer vas most willing witness
and his counsel had hard work to keep him
within bounds.
Dr. Hartzsil aud his daugbter-in-law testi-
fed that when Mrs. Jetfceys came fro m the
paTlor she showed no indications Of having
gone through Z trying ordeal. That she at
tended church the following evening and af-
ierwards entertained the defendant at her
home in company with a number Of other
people. Had she made an outcry while in
the parlor with Singer they would have
heard her.
Walter Jeifreys was recalled and ADMITTED
that he had been offered 81 if be would drive
Singer out Of Addison and 5 # ha would
kick him out. The Offer had been made pri-
or to the time the alleged assault IS said 70
have been committed.
Several other witnesses were examined but
no additional material facts We're addaoed.
Ex-Judge Beef addressed the jury in bc-
half Of the defendant. The burden OF hs
argument was confaed 70 the prosecq'iag
altness's statement tia. sac had spent a.
most Two hours locSsd ii room With tie
defendant without making an ou,crJ, eEd
the further fact, irrecoacilabie with quit,
that she had afterwards received the defend
ant into her home
". Il. Koontz, for the Commonwealth, In
his address to the jury, dwe!t uPon the pres
ecutrixs uuassaiiable character, the entire
lack Of evidence Of either conspiracy or
blackmail and the necessity Of protecting S.
c;ety from the eucroacAmeats OF men OF tie
defendants stripe.
Judge Loagenecker's charge TO the jury
was fair and impartial.
Alter being out for three hours the jury
returned a verdict Of guilty or the second
count Of the indictment" The bill Of in
dictmeut contained two counts, the hrst for
attempted criminal assault and The second
for assault and battery.
NOTION F5E A NEW TEIsL.
Saturday motion for new trial was made
by counsel for the defendant, and pending ~
gument to be heard at a special adjourned
court to oe held Monday evening, l6-h ult,
he was released on bail. his former bonds
men becoming his security.
The general impression among those sho
heard al! Of heevideace is that the verdict
Of the jury was righteous one and that
elder Singer was extremely fortunate TO es-
cape conviction on the fifst aud more serious
count in the indictment.
SINGER SEEKS ID ISrERyIEw guRYuAx.
Subsequent to the jary's finding the de-
fsndant accosied one Of the jurymen on the
street and asked by what method Of rea-
soning the Jury had arrived at the result It
had" Ia reply he was told that the jury
men we're not privileged TO reveal wha. bad
transpired in the jury room, but 50 far as the
speaker was concerned he bad been totally
unwilling to accept the defendants stsie
ment Of the case, and that he considered the
defendant to be eplaying in mighty good luck
10 escape as easily as he had. Mr.. Singer
seemed satisfied aud did not press the jury
man With further interEoeatories.
THz LAUEEL HILL BAND ACQUITTED.
Considerable attention had been sltracted
to the case ofthe Commonwealth vs. Collins
Hamilton, Joseph Hoffman, and Matthew
and William Koontz. on account Of the bTu-
taliiy Of the crime they were alleged to have
committed. Il sill be remembered tina. the
four defendants namsd above were arrested
charged with having assaulted venerable
Abram Beam and his wife in their quiet
Jsnner township home on the night o. Az
gust lst. The treatment . ahich Mr.. and
Ms. Beam were subj sc,ed Vas OF the most
brutal and diGbolical nature ar. their assail
ants did not leave them until after they
though, that they had committed murder
Hamilton and his gang we're arrested sever
al days following, charged with the eommis-
sion Of the crime. As f5Eeshad1wei in the
HERALD At the tisas Of their arsel', the evi-
dence asainst them was not strong enongh
70 secure a nyiciion. Mr AID Mrs. Beam
both went on the witness sand aud told how
three masked men lad entered their home
for the purpose Of robbery, and when they
we're unable 70 fad any money a51at the
house how they had vented iheir spleen mp
on them By beating them wi-h cls1s. Ssi-
ther Of the eye witnesses was able to ilsnti-
fy the prisoners positively As thsir ass4iiants
and the acqui,tal OF l5s eltire 5taI follow
ed.
TRIED FJE ASSAULT AID ntrrzEy.
The Commonwealth was unwilling to let
Hamilton and his coafedaraiss % af e. they
had been acquitted on a charge Of fo55ins
Abram Beam, ba. called upon them TO
answer a charge CT having committsd an az
sault and battery upon Mr.. Beam and his
wifs- About the same testimony was oifsr
ed in the case for assault aud battery as had
been adduoel in the robbery case. All Of
the defendants were acquitted.
TAKEN To wEsTHoRELtND COUNTY
As soon as the Court had discharged COLI
Hamilton and his Laurel Hill band the
quariette turned 10 leave the court room At
the door they were met By a constable from
Westmoreland comfy who bad warrants for
the arrest OF Hamilton aud Matthew