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

was exposed to public view than q, any term
OF court in years past. The stencil arising
from some Of the wash was extremely nau.
seating to both he Court and the public.
Happily for the fair fame OF our county the
most seandalous cases were lugged here by
non-residents. II isoertainIy not edilying to
see minister of the gospel defendant in a
criminal proceeding. but when we pause to
consider what the exposure Of such an one
meAns-stripped Of bis holy robes and reveal
ed in all his norrid ugl ness-we oannos heip
but think that the cause which be has belied
has been beitered by his expuFgatiou.
EVANGELIST SINGER CONVICTED or ASSAULT AM
BATTERY.
The case of the Commonwealth ys R. II
Singer, charged with attempted criminal as
sault, on information of Ms. Alice Jsffreys,
attracted unusual attention on account
ofthe cial position Of the prosecuting wit
ness. and from the fac, that the defendant :;
an evangelist Of the Disciples church.
The case had been set for trial At last term
but was continued on application OF defend
ants counsel, who claimed that mateIis
witnesses could lot be present When the
case was called for trial Thursday morning
Elder Singer entered the enclosure reserved
for members of the bar, court officers and
sui;ors and took seat at his couusel's table
Singer was one Of the last men in the eour
room that would have been taken for the de
iendant in a criminal action. He wore
a loose fitting black alpaca coat and looked
more like visiting barrister than the De
fendant in an action for criminal assault
The defendant wears nose glasses aud when
the list of jurymen was completed and hand
ed 20 his counsel FORT purpose Of challeng-
ing. be leisurely adjusted them aud rising %
his feet leaned over his counsel's shoulder
and apparently offered his opinion as TO the
qualifications Of the men who had been call
ed into the box After the challenges had
all been made and jury OF twelve had been
selected to sit upon his case, SIR. Singer re-
sumed bis seat at the counsel table aud turn
ing his face to the jury and the audience ap-
peared as unconcerned as if he were only an
idle spectator.
Gen Koon,z opened the case for the Com.
monwealth. He simply recited what the
Commonwealth would endesvor to prove
ard concluded by stating that if the Com
monwealth made out her case beyond rea-
sonable doubts he would ask for verdict OF
guilty.
STORY OF The ALLEGED ASSAULT
Mrs Alice Jeffreys, the prosecuting Wit
ness, was then called to the stand. Mrs.
Jeffreys is a rather pretty woman aud in
pressed all VINO saw her with her modes;y and
natural difiidence. She testified that she liv-
ed in Addison and WAS twenty-three years OF
age and a member OF the Lutheran church.
On the thirtieih day OF April last, being
Sunday, she went 10 the home OF Dr. Hiram
Hartzel for the purpose Of calling upon a
cousin who lived there. After she had been
there for a short time Mr.. Hartzel and Rob
e-t II. Singer entered the house and by aud
by several ladies, relatives Of Mr. Hzrlzell's =
came in. A religious conversation concern
ing baptism by EMERSON was sprung and af
ter little debate DR.. Hauzell retired 10 an
adjoining room to sleep. The voices Of the
persons in the sitting room disturbed him
and he sked that the door between the rooms
be closed. At this jnnciure Mr.. Singer solicit
ei Mrs. Jefffeys TO accompany MIN to the
paTloE in the wing OF the building and sepa-
rated by hall from the room in which Ar
Earizell was resting. She assented after be
had invited her second lime, giving as an
excuse for doing 50 that she had every conf
dence in a minis er Of the gospel Upon enter
ing the parlof Singer conducted her 10 sofa
aud then returned 70 the door and locked H.
to the witness he asked her if she
did not ike him and asked the privilege Oi
kissing her She repnlsed his advances and
according to her story, for a period Of be
I Seen one and two hours oattied aysiasl
his caresses and torments. Finally Singer
handed her a bible and alter kissing il him
self requested her to press her lips against IL
sacred covers and promise never 10 reveal
what had occurred in The parlor. She de-
ciined to promise, when Singer Unlocked the
door and permitted her to depart. Re
turning to the dining room the witness
secured her wraps and returned 70 her home,
arriving there about SIX O'Clock in the even
ing Her husband was ready TO start away
and after lunch he left and did not return
until the following Tuesday. Monday
evening Mrs Jeifreys' rather than be left all
alone in the house. accompanied relative
TO church TO hear Singer exOrt. Following
the services Singer called at her house and
was admitted, there being a number Of ether
people present Tuesday morning after she
had become calm and collected witness told
her husband Of the indignities she had
suffered at the hands Of the defendant, Sing
er, Sunday afternoon. Witness afterwards
to the information against him
before justice Of the peace. This eJnciud
ed Mrs. Jefireys direct testimony, much oi
which was nnfit for publication.
Mrs. JeiIeeys was cross-examine1 a. gFsa'
length by Judge Baer but ne was unable to
get her TO dspls. frJn her original story, or
to get her TO coatraiict herself in a single
particular.
MEs. Jeifreys tod the story OF her humilia-
lion in low, hesiiating voice and repeatedly
had recourse to her handkerchief in order 10
hide her blushes and the tears that filed
her eyes. She impressed all in the curt
room with the truthfallness Of her story and
aroused the greatest sympathy for her mor;i-
Tying position.
Ali the time Mrs. JeiIfeys was on the wit
ness siand-betx xeen two and one half and
three hours-Singer occupied a chair imme
iiately in front OF the witness. H. never
took his eyes from her face when she was
preparing to reply to question from coun-
sel. Frequently he held his open hand
back of his right ear in order tina. nothing
hat she might say should escape him. As
soon as she had given her answer to ques-
ton he would indusirioasly write it down
in tablet he kept on his knee. HIS posi-
ton and conduct could not have been other
than very trying and embarrassing TO the Wit
ness and it is certain that il created a most
impression agaiHs. him in The
minds Of the psople vino crowded the eOnrt
room, ifnot in the minds OF the jury Itself
This tablet that the defendant resorled to,
appeared to be in the nature of diary. The
last few leaves of it were closely written and
he referred to it frequently when prompting
his counsel in regard to asking questions.
Walter Jeifreys was the the second witness
called for the Commonwealth. He testified
that defendant had admitted to witness that
he had done wrone in luring his s;s;er-in-law