The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-18
.BATEMAN on TIE STAND
He Told His Story In a Straight
Forward Manner.
TRYING TO PROVE AN ALIBl
Ex-i.ientc cuant.G L. A. Watres'
Testimony Shows That 1t Would BE
Loss to Burn the Factory
for the Insurance Money.

An unusually large amount Of testi-
mony was heard for the defense yes
terday in the Luce -Bateman arson
trial, and II was one of most favorable
character for the two men on triai.
There was very positive evidence TO
show that Luce and Bateman were not
near the Howley building at the time
when the torch was applied, ana II
was quite generally conceded that the
other array of effects presented by the
defense will succeed In acQuitting the
men of the crime. Bateman was on the
witness stand a long period during the
early afternoon and his story was told
in a very straightforward manner.
The first witness called In the morn
| ing was X. w. Luce. father Of Mr.. Luce.
| one of the defendants. The machinery
| he said, In the Knitting factory was
worth $500. He made way for ex-
Lieutenant Governor l.. A. Watres,
| who was interested In the factory be-
| fore 1t was sold to Mr.. Luce. the
transfer of the capital stock was made
on July %. 1894, to him.
Mr.. Watres said he at one time paid
| 81, ,253 In cash for some machinery ana
the company again purchased $4:o0o
worth more. There was. however, $iaV
worth of the machinery sold, but after
| that the factory was valued al over
| $4,000. They carried $1,000 insurance.
| The company sold out to MIR. Luce be-
cause It was not a paying investment.
but he was told that Mr.. Luce conduct
ed the business at profit MI Luce
bought the business for $l,OOO. MT.
Watres testified to Luce's good charac-
| ter.
R.W. LUCE RECALLED.
r. w. Luce was recalled and he testi-
| fled that when the insurance carried by
| the company before his son bought II,
| had expired, he issued insurance to the
amount of $1,000 on the machinery, sooo
| on the stock, and $3.50 on the motor
Mr.. Watres had already testified to the
value of the machinery. The witness
| said in his Judgment the stock was
worth at least $3.50. On he date or the
| fire the defendant was at the insurance
office until $50 p. m.
Alderman Fred Fuller, Of the Six
teenth ward, testified that the warrant
| for the arrest of Luce and 8ateman
was sworn out before him on Dec. l,
| 1894. unon information sworn TO py
Chief of Police Simpson.
Joseph l.. Medway, superintendent oI
| the Delaware, I.ackawanna ana Wes..
ern machine shops for twenty-elght
years, testified that kerosene OIL Is used
|
| cleaning machinery. and for cleanlhg
| the hands of the machinists. He mas
known Luce from childhood and never
heard aught, but good of him at any
| time. Nj. w. Cummings, OF Olyphaht'
| and James ]. Lynch, of the same place
testified to Luce's good reputation:
They knew him as general manager OF
Johnson's store for over ten years. Jas.
| Collins, Of Green Ridge. gave testimony
concerning the Howley building the DAY
| of the fire He is carpenter ana was
emnioved by John j. Howley putting
Y nm an addition to the rear OF the
building.
| MRS. HOWLEY'S TESTIMONY.
Mrs. Katie Howley, ,bookkeeper In the
office of Luce & Son, testified that the
| defendant was there until 5.30 IN tne
evening, when he went to the mill.
Reniamin s Lewis swore that he in
spected the second and third floors the
| day after the fire and could see no
evidences of flames. On the fourth
floor however, part Of the woodwork
was charred.
He has known Mr.. Luce for several
| Years and testified to his good charac-
| ter. Alderman John T. Howe gave
testimony to the good reputation OF
Mr. Luce as an honest and law-abiding
citizen. Court at this stage took re-
cess for dinner and Judge Archibald
announced that the case would be re.
sumed at o'clock, and court would
not adjourn until s p. m.
w. q. Bateman, one of the defand-
ants, was called to the stand at
o'clock and he was kept there for nearly
two hours. The first he knew of the
fire at the Howley building was when
he was in bed George Kringlesmitf
came in and told him the factory was
on fire. He was not at the building
later than 8 o'clock that night and a,
9 o'clock he was home and asleep. He
denied that at 9O5 he collided against
Miss Maggie Henderson, as she testi.
fled. He could not have done that and
be at home in Kressler court.
Miss Henderson sworc Bateman came
hurriedly out of the Mulberry street en-
trance to the building that night moi
later than $40 and ran against her as
she was on her way home. She sale
he carried coat on his arm. Batemar
denied that he wore an overcoat thai
night or before that time since he came
to Scranton, which was about six weeks
before.
USE OF KEROSENE OIL.
He said that kerosene oil was used
to dilute machine oil and to polish the
engine, as well as to clean grease spot.
off the hands of the workmen. For 6
week before the fire Luce had spoken tt
him quite frequently about devotinf
an evening to going to the factory ant
taking an inventory of the stock sc
that he might know what material hi
would have to order for busy winter
season. Bateman knew of his owl
personal knowledge from being fami
liar with the books and papers Of thu