The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-06-25
GEN7RY'S DEPBNSB.
Counsel Trying to Prove Madge
Yorke's Slayer Was
Intoxicated

PHILADELPHIA, June 25. 1ss6.-The
court room was again crowded this morn
ing when the Gentry trial was taken up
Gentry's aged mother, as usual oecE-
pied seat alongside of the dock. The
prisoner was composed, and he apparently
took an interest in the calling of Witness
es, etc, by the court crier before the re-
sumption of the case
Charles johnson, conductor on the
Pennsylvania Railroad, was the first wit4
ness called. He testified that Miss Drys-
dale went from Philadelphia to Jersey
City on train of which he was In charge
on Sunday. February II, 1895 (the date of
the murder).
William V. Veghte ticket examiner
at the Pennsylvania Railroad station in
Jersey City, testified to a like effect. The
object of this evidence was to show that
Miss Drysdale went to Jersey City for the
purpose of meeting Gentry in pursuance
of a telegram which the latter had sent
to her from Boston. Gentry was not at
the station to meet his sweetheart and
she returned to Philadelbfia The defend
ant followed on later train and the trag-
edy resulted.
Joseph Coyne, an actor, who testified
that he was familiar with Gentry's hand-
writing, identified the original copy of
the message to Miss Drysdale that had
been sent from Boston
At this point District Attorney Graham
announced that the Commonwealth would
rest its case.
Lawyers Brooke and Munce, the pris-
oner's counsellors, then held a short con-
sultat;on, and at is conclusion, Mr..
Munce began the opening speech for
the defence to the jury.
Attorney Munce declared that the
Commonwealth had only, parsfaily told
the story of this unfortunate affair."
and that the defendant would be Obliged
to call upon some of the prosecutors
witnesses in order to complete the mar
rative
AS Mr.. Munce told of the irresponsible
condition of the defendant for fsdays
Rfaor I5bsra, g notinns the trageag Of his b:bng
while in Boston, and of his crazed man
ner when he reached Philadelphia, the
prisoner was deeply affected and tears
the lawyer who was pleading eloouently.
referred to Gentry's meeting his sweet
heart in Zeiss' Hotel and Of his asking
her to Kiss him, the prisoner broke down
Mr.. Munce closed with an appeal TO
the jury for a verdict or murder in a
degree lower than the first. Gentry
does not want to escape punishment .
the lawyer pleaded s'but he Is not guilty
OF murder in the first degree."
William Collier, the comedian. was the
first witness for the defense Gentry
was a member of Golfers company.
Mr. Collier stated that during the week
prior to the crime, while his fCollier,s1
company was performing in Boston. the
fsaey sonehng afana whssey and aanne
The witness testified that he had been
acquainted with Gentry for five years.
and knew him to- be a man Of practical
sobriety. When Lawyer Brooke attempt
ed to prove by the witness that Gentry
and Miss Drysdale were lovers the Dis
trict Attorney objected, and an extended
argument followed over the relevancy Of
the question. The District Attorney
claimed that counsel for the defendant
had thus far failed to show that their
ended by Judges YerKes sustaining the
objection although, before THE fIling
Collier stated that he knew the couple
To be sweethearts and that a- year be-
Iore the tragedy Miss Drysdale was also
member of his company Golfers ey:-
dence was interSpersed whit cross-olles-
tons by the District Attorney
William Smith, the manager Of Collier s.
company. gave evidence of similar char
acfer.. There was consid iderable contention
between the witness and the Opposing IL
ing the Boston engagement Of the froupe
Drunkenness or partial intoxicatipr was
the subject, and 1t ended by the witness
admitting that Gentry was "frtoxfcat ateTl,'
but not drunk At 1910 the Court toak
recess Until p. M.