The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-20
LEB[CK 4 CORN
W|LKES-bARRE.
METZGAR TESTIFIES.
lis Story Seems TO be Weak and Con.
Trajectory.


Yesterday morning a big crowd at
tended the trial of George Metzgar In
he court house. as 1t was known that
Metzgar was going OF the stand In his
,wn behalf. Mrs. f.. B. Thomson was
he first witness called, and she testi-
led that she sold a razor to George
Netzgar, O few weeks before the shoot
ng.
DR.. George H. Kirwan, the prison
physician, testified that Metzgar was
weak mentally and physically. when
brought to jail. DR.. Kirwan said that a
person shot at, might lose control of
lis faculties from fright, but could not
ose h senses of sight and hearing,
without the sense Of feeling, as Mike
John testified.
Metzgar was not insane. He was
mly mentally weak, having just recov-
red from typhoid fever. He answered
III questions intelligently at that time.
A few more witnesses were called,
,ut nothing of Importance was elected,
md finally George Metzgar. the defend
int, was put on the stand. He said:
I am Is years of age, and was born
n Mauch Chunk, and came to Wilkes
Barre when I was 4 years old. I went
school until I was II years old: After
hat 1 worked at the different collieries
n the vicinity. I was working in
September. 1894. The last steady work
had was working in a stone yard.
' tut 1t was TOO hard for me, and I
luit. l have known Penn Bowman for
u or five years. The night before
he shooting jackson and I and some
rlends were around town. Went home
ind got up at 6 o'clock the next morn
ng. I went down Mclean street with
he intention Of going to Plymouth to
ook for work. I saw Penn Bowman at
he gate of his house and asked him to
,ome along. He came. / asked the
brennan of No. 2 breaker for O Job,
Tut he did not have any. We returned
ver the railroad. I went home to din
ter and went to meet Ben Day to go
With him to B~uttonwood, but I missed
lin In. some way. I met Penn Bowman
It the mineral spring at South Wilkes
Barre. Bowman asked me where I
vas going. I said ! was looking for
Tony Meyer to see II there was any
nance to get work at the Lance COL
lery. We went over the trestling and
at down on the ties playing cards.
Patsy Burke and Gibbons asked us for
) chew. Bowman and I got up then.
cause / said that was not getting me
my work. Bowman said wait q mo-
nent and we will ride home on the
Delaware and Hudson train. We play
d cards again. Penn Bowman sat
With his back toward Nanticoke. I
vas sitting facing Wilkes Barre.
Metzgar was then asked to go to the
PLAINTIFFS table, where the scene and
Joints Of the shooting we're illustrated
" books and ink well. we had some
dispute about the game Of cards and I
vas playing solitaire when I heard two
hots. ] looked up and saw Penn run
ling. Then I got scared and started TO
un. when ! heard two more shots. Wit
less then described his route home after
ne shooting and his supper there. MY
hther and I quarreled about my not
letting work and 30 / left home. I saw
PEN Bowman and asked him what he
hot at. I said. You hit some one, didn't
lou? He said, No, ! didn't hit anyone
md II I did It didn't hurt him. Penn,
sowman and I then played checkers
Until . o'clock, when / went home. 4
1ept with my little brother, who waA
ack, that night. I went out the next,
morning with Miller and went to But
Dnwood to look for work. The next
morning after the shooting I saw in the
lapers that an Arabian was killed on
he fats. ! got scared and that night
FILLER and I slept In Bohn's barn in
ksnover township.
I went 70 iNeuch Chunk, to Chicago,
Louisville, ~, to Boonvilie, KY,
ltttsburg, Pa, Rsnkin. Pa I travelled