Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-04-13
EATON HELD 70 court.
The Preliminary Hearing Was Con-
cluded Last Night,
And Eaton Sent to Jail in Default
of Bond for His Appearance.
Grandison's Cross Examination
Occupied the Entire Day-The
Arguments Of Counsel Last Night.
Will Apply for Writ Of Habeas
Corpus.

viii Apply for Writ OF Haoeas
Corpus.
Another day was consumed in the pre-
liminary hearing Of VIM. Eaton. Albert
Grandson the colored porter employed by
Eaton. who is the principal witness for the
State. was subjected to a searching cross
examination by Attorney Boyce for the
defense. The witness did not appear to
comprehend many of the questions, and
was frequently compelled TO go into rather
elaborate explanations in order TO make
his meaning clear. Mr.. Boyce took him
over the evidence he gave upon direct eX-
animation. but the witness stuck TO his
original story with very Slight variations
in some little details His evidence was
not shaken. The cross-examination was
concluded late in the afternoon. The pro-
ceediugs during the day were enlivened
somewhat by little tiffs between Mr.. Boyce
and Mr.. Sommervile. both of whom in
duged in considerable practice in the art
of repartee.
The defense offered no evidence. At the
evening session the arguments were made
and when they were concluded the Justice
held the accused. sending him to Jail in
default Of bond in the amount required.
The hearing was held In the office of
Justice Fitzpatrick. Grandson was called
to the stand, and in answer to questions
10y Mr.. Boyce, gave the details of the con-
versation in which Eaton IS alleged 10
have offered 500 as the price of his silence.
He was then asked TO repeat his evidence
concerning his seeing Eaton on the creek
bridge. Witness was then required to de-
scribe the CRATES i'm the building.
Further along in his evidence Grandson
said carpenter examined the store for
gas fittings. but connections were not
made. He detailed the lighting of the
thing which Eaton placed in the stove.
He looked in when Eaton left and saw it
burning, but did not touch 1t.
In the afternoon witness was questioned
about seeing Eaton on the bridge. He re
membered that it was Wednesday, be-
cause he worked every other day that
week. and on Wednesday went TO the 3.
& O. depot for a drummer.
Witness was next questioned about the
pear shaped contrivances in the box on
the second floor of the building His GU
rosity was first aroused when Eaton told
him not to pound on the box. Witness
used his hands 10 show the size Of different
objects, and was taken over the same
ground repeatedly, faring very well under
the searching questions Of Mr.. Boyce.
There was considerable wrangling among
the attorneys over the admissibilty Of GER
tain evidence Witness described the
largest object and made a diagram of it on
a piece of paper. Then. In answer TO fur
Their questions he said he could not see
the bottom of the object, owing 10 the
way it was packed in the box. He was
asked how he could make diagram of the
pear shaped object when he could not see
it entirely. and answered that he made the
drawing from what he could see.
The object witness described as tapering
out like a jug. 1t had a metal cap with
which wires were connected. He saw the
object twice on the same day. The first
time he saw it when Mr.. Eaton wGs out.
When Eaton returned he left the box.
Then Mr.. Eaton left again and witness
made a better examination. afterward
closing the box as he had been directed.
He did not touch the object, as he was
afraid of the thing
What did you think when ne told you
not to pound on the box?'
Il wanted 70 see what was in it,"
Did you get suspicious then?'
Il had no idea there was anything
wrong"
Witness thought it was natural that his
curiosity should be excited when he was
told not to pound on certain boxes. One
end of the box was broken and wire was
tackled to the outside. The box containing
the pear shaped objects was near some fly
plates. Witness brought all the goods into
the wareroom. The wires on the boxes
were wrapped something similar to cleo
trio wires" Witness examined an insu-
lated electric wire, and said 1t was like
that only dark in color" and on the end
it was soft. like a rope after being cut.
He could see no wire in it. When he de-
scribed it as wire, he meant it was in the
shape of a wire.
In answer to questions by the Squire,
Grandson said the box was marked "Ea-
ton" He could not say whether there
were any other marks on It. He thought
it came from the B. & o. depot.
Q.-"Did you tell Lieut.. Ingram re-
ward was offered. and that you would
give him all the information. because you
knew if they got the money you would
get a piece of it?'
At is not true"
(Which part is not true?"
About the money and the reward"
Q-"How much has McNichol offered
you?"
Adjoining"
Witness told a number Of persons about
the pear shaped object, talked freely
about III
Q.-"Did you tell Chief Bennett about
the fire."
Al told him all I knew about it,
Q.-"Did you tell him about the boXes?'
Al had forgotten all about them.
Mr.. Eaton himself reminded me about it,"
Grandson testified that when he was
pounding on the box. Eaton told him to
work on some empty boxes. When he fin
ished the other work. he nailed up the
box containing the pear shaped objects.
Eaton was present at the time. Witness
made a diagram Of the machine also for
Capt. Bennett. He thought nothing about
the machine until Eaton mentioned it on
Saturday. The conversation started about
the fire. Eaton said: We've had a bad
accident" ] said Yes" He said. What
do the people thnk?' They think it is
very suspicious" Eaton said. "Well. Al
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sTAgsEAsN "For fifteen years