The evening times., 1897-05-26
PROBING A PLOT TO KILL.
Alleged Conspirators to Murder by
Dynamite Placed on Trial.

Bloomsbury, Pa, May 26.-Not since the
trial and conviction in 1877 of Hester,
Tully and McIIugh, the Molly Maguires,
for the murder of Alexander Rea, has
there been a case in this county which
has attracted as much attention as that
against Lloyd s. Wintersteen, a prom-
nent attorney, and Clifton Knoor, son of u
former leading lawyer.
The trial of their cases began yesterday
before Judge Ermentrout, of Berks county.
District Attorney Hannah is conducting the
prosecution, and is assisted by Mr Wal
ler's COUNSEL George s. Graham, district
attorney of Philadelphia; James Searlett,
of Danyillc, Pa; w. Ii. Ria wn, of Cata-
wissa, and Grant Herring, of Bloomsbury.
Associated with Frederick keller, local
counsel for Wintersteen, are A. s. l.
Shields, of Philadelphia; j. II. Jacobs, a
Reading criminal lawyer, and his partner,
ii p. keiser.
Case No. L, charging aD attempt to
wound with intent to commit murder by
igniting a dynamite bomb, and attempt TO
commit murder by exploding dynamite
bomb, was the first one called for trial.
Knorr pleaded guilty and Wintefstean
pleaded mot guilty.
Wintcrsteen was first put on trial. The
work of obtaining jury occupied almost
the entire day.
The attempt to blow up ex-Representa-
tive Levi f. Walters home with dyna-
mite on the night OF September o lastcre-
ated sensation After Knorr's arrest
at Reading on Christmas Day he turned
states evidence and alleged that Winter
steen, who, besides being a well-knOwn
member of the Columbia county bar, is
president of one and director in two or
three local industrial concerns, was the
prime mover Il the attempt upon the lives
of Mr. and Mrs. Waller and the Iatters
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles K. Buck
alew, who formed part of the Waller
household.
Knorr said Wintersteenoffered him $5 900
co put the dynamite beneath the porch and
blow up the house. 1t was on the basis of
this confession that Knorr and Wintersteen
were indicted February 2 by the grand
jury under seven separate bills, charging
them with several forms of attempt to kill.
The case was continued until the May term,
81 900 Tail being required Of each Of the
accused
Later Knorr made another statement.
He said that while acting under the di-
rection OF Nintcrsteen, he not only put the
explosive under Waller's porch, but had
previously sought to shoot Waller with a
pistol.
The whole case is full Of incidents of
sensational character, another of Knorr's
confessions being that he attempted to
poison his own stepmother, Mrs. Mary
Knorr, having drugged her tea, and also
by placing diphtheria germs in her cloth
ing.
The motive for Wintersteen's alleged
desire to get rid Of Mrs KnoTT and Waller
was to end suit in equity filed by Mrs.
Knorr, charging Mrs. Wintersteen with mis-
management in the settling up OF Col
Knorr's estate Col. Knorr, who died
in 1889, had been WinteTsteen's law part
ner, and WinteTsteen was made his eXecu-
tor There were three heirs, Mrs. Mary
Knorr, Clifton and Mildred Knorr, the
last two being children OF Col Knorr's
first wife.
How ncrr, young man OF good birth
and university education, could have been
induced to do all that he has confessed
is beyond the comprehension of his friends
He has spent his share OF his father s large
estate At one time he put an opera troupe
on the road and 1t stranded at Pittshurg
It is said he became heavily indebted to
Wintersteen.