Evening star., 1897-05-17
Witnesses Testify as to Mr.. Talcott's
Reputation.
CONTINUING fHE ASSAULT Case
The Defense Attacks the Govern
ment Witnesses Today.
COU RT ROOM CLEARED


colt, the aged electrician at the U. S. Capt.
| tol and former well-known newspaper man,
being the drawing card. AS reported in
The Star. Mr. Talcott was placed On trial
Friday last, charged with assaulting five
little girls, Julia Garrison, Emma Mellen,
Addie Garrison. Phoebe Hartley and Lille
Meiien, ranging in age from nine to fifteen
years. The testimony adduced during the
nrst day OF the trial was of a decidedly
extraordinary and extremely shocking
character. The case, therefore, has at
| tracted unusually widespread attention.
Although the utmost vigilance was ex-
ercised in admitting persons, the court
room was crowded some time before the
hour set for the resumption of the trial.
while scores of disappointed ones occupied
| the Railways. The front benches, in some
| unexplained manner, formed resting places
| for thirty or forty small boys and youths
and that fact was al once noted by Judge
klmball as he mounted the bench. The
court exploded something in the nature
| of bombshell by directing the bailiffs 10
clear the room of all persons having no
business there, especially the boys. A
general but reluctant exodus followed.
those ruled out lingering about the building
| in the hope of later in the day securing
admittance to the hearing. The trend Of
the testimony, however, was by no means
as sensational as that of Friday.
Good Character.
Justice of the Peace Samuel c. Mills,
Clerk Joseph Y. Potts of the Police Court,
Mrs. Henry Sunwold, Mrs. Mary Kaffey and
Mrs. Emily Briggs late Friday afternoon
began the case of the defense by testifying
as to the excellent reputation of Mr.. Tai
colt.
When the hearing was resumed today
| of the Philadelphia Ledger. John II. Brooks
of the Navy Department, William j. Muir
tagh, who was proprietor of the National
Republican; NJ Marean of the Western
| George w. Ballogh, Harry 7. Towers and
William H. Smith We're called in the order
named. Their statements were to the
effect that they have known MIR. Talcott
for many years, AMI that they had never
heard breath against his reputation.
A long discussion followed in regard to
the non-appealance of a witness named
Mrs. Hardesty. All the little girls alleged
to have been assaulted declared Friday
that Mrs. Hardesty was the first person to
learn of the assaults. This happened, 1t
was brought out, because of the fact that
Mrs. Hardesty is a storekeeDer. She in
quired Of them where they obtained pos
session of all their money, and was told
il was given by Mr. Talcott.
Il served the summons on Mrs. Hard
eSty, said policeman "readng it TO
her in person. She said she knew nothing
of the case. and would not go to court
An attachment was thereupon issued for
the arrest of Mrs. Hardesty, and a police
man set forth in search of her, with in
structions to bring her into court forth
with.
Family Testimony.
DR.. j. B. Gregg Custis was the next wit
ness called for the defense Attorney Car
rirgton attempted to show the physical
cordition of Mr.. Talcott, through talks
held by DR.. Custis with Mrs. Talcott, but
the question was ruled to be improper
DIR. Custts stated. however that in his
opinion the duration of the alleged as
sauits as stated by the little girls was an
impossibility.
1t desired 10 place Mrs. Talcott on
the stand. but Assistant District Attorney
Mullowny called attention to the stipula-
ton that wife cannot testify for or
against her husband.
by what rule do you move to use Mrs
Talcott as a witness?" asked the court
by the rule of necessity and justice"
replied Attorney Darlington.
Have you any authority in support of
that contention"' Judge Kimball wanted
to know.
This is as good place as any to make
ar authority" submitted the attorney, but
the ruling was against him, and Mabel
Falcott, the little daughter of the defend
ant took the stand.
The statement Of greatest importance
made by Mabel was that she was present
with the other girls the entire afternoon
March Z, when Emma Mellen and Julia
Garrison claimed to have been assaulted.
Mabel declared that she was with Emma
ana Julia that afternoon from the time
the latter two went to the woodshed to
play until Julia was compelled to go home
whipped all the way by her brother, Row
HARRISON Not the semblance of an assault
occurred during that time. she said.
Roy Garrison was recalled and a:ked
again II he was given money by Mr.. Tai
colt the latter part of March, Mr.. Talcott
Stopping his buggy one day on the street
ioaut tol .hat purpose. The reply was emphat-
MT William +. Gross. who said he was
"!th Mr.. Talcott on the occasion stated
added that he saw Mr.. Talcott give Row
n'ada aiilsoH t AS sum or money. Objec,ion was
mace TO this testimony on the ground that
II was merely collateral, but the court
r%uled % that 1t was admissible, Attorney
harrington maintaining that the point was
important for his claim of blackmaiJ
Policeman ]. P. Smith replied that ba
never dreamed of making such a remark
when asked if he said, in a street car, after
- the e., aa1ournment a Of court Friday: i've got
II IN Tor old man Talcott, the old -"
Charles Prather explained the sitrotio,
ol Mr' Iaicott's s woodshed, the Chicken
mouse and the fence. The diuensinns ~
Ia. sne enicken house, he said, are four feet
position on the fence where Row C;arr;son
claimed to have witnessed the actions of
Mr.. Talcott that Indicated an assauIt
March z, so declared Mr. Prather. IT was
impossible to have seen the alleged assault
or suspicious actions
Attorney Darlington attempted to show
by the witness that the little girls have
been In the habit of staying out very late
at night in unfrequented places with boys.
including Roy Garrison, William Milstead
and Lawrence Saxty. who testified for the
prosecution, when Judge Kimball said:
suppose these girls are as bad as Won
imply? They are under the age of cor
sent. and even If they have been with forty
boys and 1t should be shown that the
charges against this defendant are true, he
would be guilty of assault"
The question on that point put by At
torncy Darlington was ruled out and then
Mrs. Eva Hardesty, who had arrived at
court. was called. She kept a candy store
last last summer. said Mrs. Hardesty. and
Julia Garrison, Emma Mellen, Addie Gar
rison. Phoebe Hartley and Lille Mellen
had. in common with the other children
of the neighborhood, made purchases of
her.
ION one OCCASION stated the witness.
II asked Julia Garrison where she obtained
her money, and she replied that Mr. Tai
colt gave 1t to her. That was ALL She did
not say why he gave 1t to her."
did Emma Mellen and Phoebe Hartley
tell you they secured their money from
Mr. To1o