The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-18

coming out They walked along to-
gether to the corner Of Linden street
and Mr.. Fuller asked Luce to go to
the armory. where q Republican rally
was in progress. Mr.. Fuller was COM
ing from the rockingham theater.
where the main rally was held. That
was the night Governor Hastings. Con-
gresham Grow and other distinguish
ed men were in town. Luce refused
to go to the armOry, saying he was In
a hurry to go home. They parted at
the corner of Washington avenue and
Linden street. Mr.. Fuller also gave
character testimony.
Attorney q. B. Partridge, whose Of
flee Is in the same building. A2l Lacka-
wanna avenue. where the offices Of r.
w. Luce & Son are located, was the
next witness. Mr.. Partridge was pre-
pairing to leave for the rockingham
and Luce came to the door. saluted
him, and passed out. This was Just
about 3 o'clock. Mr.. Partridge was not
positive whether it was a few minutes
before or after the hour. but he knows
that he went directly to the theater.
THAT FINED THE TINE.
Senator J. C. Vaughn. who shares
Mr.. Partridge's office, was on the stage
enter. Senator Vaughan looked at his
watch and saw that II was about sos.
The reason they were figuring time so
accurately that night was this: Mr..
Partridge Is treasurer of the Common
wealth Building and Loan association.
and Senator Vaughan Is secretary. That
was pay night and at $50 always on
pay nights they begin to sell shares
of stock. There were only two shares
bought and 1t, consequently, took only
a short while. The meeting then ad-
journed. AS Senator Vaughan was alb
sent the double duty Of secretary and
treasurer fell upon Mr.. Partridge. and
when the senator saw him come into
the theater 1t struck him right away
that there was not much business done
and he looked at his watch to see what
time 1t was.
George H. Birdsall and Miss Jennie
Mckenna were sworn, the former CIV
ing testimony with regard to insurance
on the factory, and the latter giving an
estimate of the stock. Their stories
corresponded to what was already
sworn to on these points.
Testimony establishing an alibi for
Bateman was given by the next three
witnesses and 1t was such as to clear
him Of the crime. Charles Billings, a
| conductor In the employ Of the Scran-
ton Traction company. his wife. and his
sister, Mrs. Susie Fish. were the three
witnesses. Bateman boarded with
them In kressler court the time Of the
fire. Mr.. Billings swore that the de-
fendant came home that night about 3
o'clock or a few minutes afterward
and went to bed soon afterward. He
was In bed twenty-five minutes when
the fire alarm sounded. And when he
| came home he had no overcOat, nor
had he begun to wear one at all that
season. Mrs. Billings corroborated her
husband. and SO did his sister, Mrs.
Fish. Miss Maggie Henderson was
had an overcOat on his arm Mrs. Bill
lings said she had not seen Bateman
with an overcoat before the fire since
he came to board with them and there
was not any in his room. unless 1t was
packed away in his trunk.
PERSON COULD NOT SEE.
Attorney George NJ. Watson and Fl.
j. Chapman swOre that a person stand
| ing at the Warman laundry near the
corner of Penn avenue and Linden
street could not distinguish a person
| half way down the block in the direc-
| tion Of the HOwley building. They
| went down there one evening at the re-
| quest of Mr.. Luce and took note Of the
surroundings After this the defense
| proposes to read part of the testimony
given at the preliminary hearing to
prove that what some of the witnesses
| swore to was an impossibility. The
case will not close today and will ex-
| tend into next week.