The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-25
THE MURDER TRIAL.
Some Interesting Testimony Kept Out,
but Much Is Adduccd.

There was less interest manifested in
the murder trial yesterday morning
when court was called than any day
yet, although there was big crowd
present again. James Bird then came
In and was put on the stand, and
testified that he was born in Kentucky
and Is - years of age, worked on the
Wilkes-Barre and Eastern. and then
worked for Mr.. Sayre. As to the night
of the explosion, Bird said: well. L
went to bed at $50. We were all home
but Jim and Frank. They We're at
Miners Mills. When they came home
they were drunk and We're making
noise. Nelse Miller told them to make
less noise or he would put them out.
Shafer said he did not care as he was
going to leave next week. Then they
took off their shoes and went to bed.
when did you hear of the eXplo-
sion?"
AT O'Clock we were awakened by
the watchman who said Mikes shanty
was on fire and he asked us 10 so up
and put 1t out. Nelse and the others
went out at that time and l went up
later and we helped get the men out
of the wrecked shanty.'
The witness was going on to tell how
Mr.. Quigley hung him up by the neck
the defense objected to the witness tes-
tifying to II.
Attorney MrGovern said he wanted
TO show that this witness was hanged
by THE neck by the prosecution to make
the witness confess, and also their In
terest in the case by their filing bill
for $4,000 with the county commission
ers for the arrest and conviction OF the
prisoners. The reward Is what the
prosecution Is working for The mo-
ton of the defendants attorney was
disallowed and the witness was not
allowed to testify on the point regard
ing his hanging.
1t will be remembered that Bird made
an affidavit some months ago that
tom" Ouigley, of Miners Mills, jim
O'Brien, detective in the employe or
the Lehigh Valley railroad. and Fore
man I.anon, hung him to a tree near
Laurel Run in order tn make him tell
.who blew up the shanty. Bird. how
ever, refused to make any confession
and a local paper subsequently
brought him to this city, took him be-
fore Edward Gunster notary, before
WI h. swore to the hanging. In MS
affidavit he says that he was pulled UP
twice offered money and SUIT OF
clothes II he would tell, but they failed
To get All lulllS, III NSs VA -
sion out of him.
Many were disappointed because Bird
was not allowed to testify regarding
the hanging and Attorney Fuller be-
gan the cross-eXamination. Bird made
a good witness. answering all questions
promptly and could not be puzzled anu
many of his answers We're witty. lie
denied all knowledge of the SO alleged
TO have been given him by jordan, anu
his testimony could not be shaken
Sarah Miller. wife of the accused
was then called, but If she knew any
thing of the explosion it could not be
gotten from her. Hester Brace was ex-
amined with the same result.
James Miller. another of the accused,
was an important witness, and caused
n sensation by saying that Qui igley ana
James Lenahan had been posting Shaf-
fer with books. He said he was told
that in the Jail. Attorney Lenahan be-
came heated and demanded that the
witness tell who 1t was told him. James
Miller denied that he knew anything
about the case. He admitted that Shat-
fer and himself were at Quigley's place
on Saturday night. They got drink
there and reached the car at II o'clock
that night.
When you got in did you have any
SUPPER asked Mr.. Lenahan.
Yes. there was some suppor on the
table"
Were you able to eat it?"
"Yes. sir. l was never so drunk that
! could not feed myself"
Were you quarreling?'
mo, we were only talking loud. just
as you would when you get drunk"
This made Mr.. Lenahan angry and he
asked witness If he ever saw him drunk
ut hefa n a { s.
was started, and told the witness to
remember he was on oath. Nothing
more Of Importance was obtained from
him.
Then Nelson Miller, the defendant
was put ON the stand. He said he came
to Pennsylvania three years ago and
worked on the Wlilkes-Barre and East
ern. He told of various places where
he worked until he began for Sayre &c
Mcdonald. lie said he was work ing
toward Fairview at the time of the
explosion, as Zimmerman. He went to
bed on the fatal Saturday night at 8
o'clock, james MILLER and Shaffer came
home at Ills. Frank Shaffer was
fussing and told him to stop it. They
ate some supper and then went to bed
] was awakened at o'clock that morn
ing by the waItchman who raped on
the car and said Get up; Mikes shanty
Is on fire. i got up and looked out
and saw smoke among the trees. ! said
there must be a fire and went up and
saw the shanty wrecked, but was told
not to touch anything until Boss Nc
Donald came" He denied the entire
statement of Frank Shaffer and said
the whole story was false.
"A few character witnesses today will
complete the testimony and the case
will probability go ITO the jury this after
noon.