The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-04-28
ARTHUR MAYHEM ON TRIAL
WAYNEs's STORY or sTEPHEN
pOWELL,S MURDER.
A Scene In the Court Room when the Self
confessed Accomplish IL Cnlied-He he
fuses nt First Go Repeat On the witness
stand His Confession OF the Murder.

- scene In the ' nuNN MtOO" " " FNIN
confessed Accomplish IL Cniied-ue He.
fuses ne First 60 Repeat IN the witness
stand ITS Confession of the Murder,
The trial OF Arthur Mayhem, n negro, for
the murder of stephen Powell In Hampstead
on March Z Inst. was begun In the SUI
prome Court Of Queens county yesterday
morning before Justice Martin j. Keorh.
Powell was ono OF the most prominent resi-,
dents nj Hampstead. He was President OF
the Hampstead GHs Company, aud owned a
shoe store. IL was his habit TO carry about In
his pockets considerable sums Of money. On
Saturday night, March =, 1896, he was found
lying Unconscious In the street between his
house and his ptorc, with three wounds In his
head. lilo died Just after IL physician reached
him. II was evident that robbery was tho
motive OF the crime.
Early next morning John Waynes, n negro,
who was an employee of the gns company. and
Arthur Mnylew, u friend Of his. were arrest.
ed. The men had been seen together. spend
Ing money freely. the night before, and
Wayncs's PHO had been found in the street
near tho place OF the murder. The men were
arraigncd before Coroner Norton. but were
discharged. Later In tho week they were re-
arrested. Then Wayncs signed II paper which
accused Mayhem OF tho crime and implicat-
lug himself.
The case was opened yesterday with the ties.
tlmony of William o.. Low, who discovered
Powell in the street. Morton, Howell, Frank
Powell, and DIR. InnchlrIt also testified.
When District Attorney Daniel Noble called
Waynes to the witness chair there was u sensa.
ton. Waynes refused to bulge, and said ho
wouldn't 80 on the stand until he could con-
cult his counsel. Justice kcogh ordered n
recess. II took more than an hour to persuade
Wnynes was very nervous. His story was
coaxed from, him 10y the District Attorney
only with the greatest effort. At times ho
seemed about Ia collapse.
lie met Mayhew, he said, on the night Of tho
murder in Matthews's, saloon and bought n
few drinks: The, two then went out and were
Joined by Alice Hutchingson and Sarah Jonc.,
Two 4cgro glrls. whom they happened to meet.
The four spent the evening drinking in various
Fhillips's pool room. Soon Mayhem said he
must have some money aud went out. Wayncs
followed him. They saw Powell approaching.
They waited until he had passed. the witness
said, and then they followed closely. behind
pocket n long. black stocking, in the foot OF
which vas a ston" ms big as n mans fist, They
blow on the head with the stone in the stock
ing. Powell fell on his faCe without utteriiIg
one word; Mathew sirurk him twice more,
and robbed him. 1t was then about ll:3O
The two then went to a ncighboring saloon
and STAYED until 12 o'clock. Waynes treating
to several rounds of drinks with money which
he said Mayhcw had given to him. announcing
pipe. which had lis name on it. While hurry;
his knife to Mayhem " to cut the stone ont OF tho
stocking. and he believed he had pulled the
pipe out of his pocket in getting the knife. =.
Mayhow's LAWYER, John Is. Merrill. tried
hard to show IN his crosse 1nmination that
Waynes's statement and confession were cx-
torted by threats and promises on the pnrt Of
the District Attorney. Weynes admitted that
he was told that 1t would be for hi. best inter
est to tell all he knew. but denied that the mat
ter OF reward had been mentioned to lin or
that he had been Threatened.
Waynes was followed on the etand by Alice
Hutching.on. George ID. Hogan, n bartender In
Matthew's saloon. and by samuel V. Gloves.
all of whom corrOboratcd parts of his story.
The trial will probably he concluded today,
after which Wuyncs will be put on trial.