The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-09-22
TODAY'S PROCEEDINGS.

Long before court opened his morning
the seats in the auditorium We're filled,
and soon after the rallied enclosure was in
the same condition. Judge Hudspeth
and the lawyers were in their places a
few minutes after the bell rang and the
trial progress without delay.
Mrs. Christina Martin, a feeble old lady,
" as the first witness. She lives on Cen
trail avenue about 70 feet from the AL
banesius house. On the night of the fire
between nine and ten o'clock. the witness
saw a light in the workshop of AL
banesius's house.
Annette G. McGinnis, of No. 1872 Central
avenue, about It's feet distant from the
Albanesius house, saw a light in the back
part of the building shortly before ten
O'Clock on the night of the fire. The
Zig hit looked stationary.
Mrs. Lena Borne, of No. 1872 Bowers
street. saw a light in the back part of the
building about ten O'Clock.
William Hornblower, of No. 322 Central
avenue, testified that he was passing
Kessler Hall at $40 and saw Albanesius
standing there. The hall is a block away
from Albanesius's house. The witness is
acquainted with Albanesius and could not
be mistaken about his identity.
DR.. Vail, of No. 163 Griffith street, was
standing in front of Kessler's Hotel, on
the night of the fire, talking to Police
man Martin. Albanesius came along from
the direction of his house and said Good
evening" That was about twenty min
utes to ten o'clock.
John E. Muller, an insurance agent and
adjuster, proved to be an important wit
ness. A letter was shown to him n he
identified it as one he had received from
Albanesius. After receiving the letter he
filed 1t with his papers, but subsequent
ly turned it over to Chief Murphy.
The witness had a conversation with
Albanesius about the letter.
What was hat conversation"
Objected to but allowed.
81 asked Albanesius If he wrote the let
ter himself. He said he did"
Ex-Judge Hoffman put the witness
through a severe eross-examination
which developed the fact that Mr.. Muller
wrote a letter to Albanesius at the sug-
g~estion of Chief Murphy. He wrote it
for the purpose of getting a specimen
of Albanesius' handwriting. When he
got a reply from Albanesius he turned it
over to Chief Murphy. Judge Hoffman
compelled the witness to give in detail
all that occurred during his interview
with Albanesius at the time he admitted
Muller.
This was all a trap then, was it?'
asked Judge Hoffman.
ed to get some information from Mr..
Albanestus as well as a specimen of his
handwriting"
The letter was admitted in evidence and
Albert H. Dorr. of No. IS Central ave-
nue., testified that he has known AL
banesius for two years. Albanesius re-
the fire. The witness was shown a paper
with some writing N it. He said the
writing was in Albanesius' hand. The
witness saw him write it.. Mr.. Dorr was
with Mr.. Muller at the latter's interview
with Albanesius and he heard Albanesius
tell Muller that the letter was in his wi
Albanesius talked to him about receiving
letters. The morning after the fire the
witness and Afbanesius were standing on
the stoop when a letter carrier came up
and handed Albanesius a letter. Al
banesius read it and then handed it to the
witness to read. $50.
What would you do about that?" Al
banesius asked the witness.
Il would take it to the Chief of
Police" the witnes replied.
Albanesius gave the letters to the wit
ness and he took it to Chief Murphy.
The witness also took other letters to the
Chief. Among them, four which Albane-
sius had written to Miss Lillian Beck,
when he was paying attention to her and
which she returned to him when they had
a falling out. The witness did not know
who gave him the Beck letters. They
were given to him, he said, by some man
in the house.
Miss Lillian Beck was the next witness.
She is a strikingly handsome oun wom-
an and very modest. in her demeanor.
She identified the four letters and said
that she returned them to Albanesius.
How did you return them?" asked Mr..
Winfield. 49,
II handed them to Dr.. Albanesius per-
sonally."
"How long ago."
Nearly a year"
Miss Beck said that Albanesius asked
her. for the letters and she returned them.
Hesthanked her.
Mr.. Dorr was recalled and said that he
had seen Afbanesius write several times.
He generally wrote with his right hand,
but sometimes used his left hand.
William A. Cookson, the important wit
ness whose absence caused a postpone
ment of the trial and who was afterward
required to give bail to appear as a wit
ness, was called. He proved a great dis
appointment, as he could remember
scarcely anything.