The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-06
CLOSING TESTIMONY
FOR THE DEFENSE
Witnesses That We're on the Stand Yes
terday Ia Dickinson Case.
EXPERTS WILL BE CALLED TODAY
Their Testimony Will BE the Last
That Will Be offered on the Part of
the Defense-- Miss Anna Dickinson
Will Then go on the Stand to Give
Evidence in Rebuttal--Testim
Heard Yesterday.

Heard Yesterday.
The trial of the Anna Dickinson case
was transferred yesterday from the |
main to the superior court room of the |
county court house, which was crowded |
all day by spectators. After court con-
vened Miss Susan +. Dickinson was re-
called for further cross examination. |
She described how she had raised
money on some of Annals Jewels and
showed the way Anna once clutched
her by the throat. In response to At
| torney Hodges interrogation she in
sisted that she had done her best to be
| absolutely fair to her sister in giving
! her testimony.
W. /. Hobbs, of Pittston, who acted
as attorney for Susan L. Dickinson in
! 1891 was called and identified receipts
| for certain property turned over by
| Susan to Annals representative, Mrs.
Akerly. Mr.. Hobbs described a lee
ture he heard Anna deliver in the
Broadway theater, New York city, on
Sunday evening, November 8, 1891, on
Personal Liberty" During the ad-
dress she abused and villifed ex-Presi-
dent Harrison, Quay, Clarkson, George
Kennan and ex-President Grover CleVe-
| land. She was exceptionally severe on
the latter, referring to him as the
"hangman of Buffalo," The czar of
Russia received words of praise from
her, Mr.. Hobbs said, and she declared
that henceforth she would place herself
under his protection. That address he
thought was an indication of insan-
ity.
IN THE AFTERNOON.
Mrs. George B. Thompson, wife of
one of the defendants, testified to the
cordial relations that existed between
herself and husband and Miss Anna
Dickinson and the assistance they rem
dered to Miss Dickinson when she was
taken to Honesdale to have an opera
tion performed. In the latter part of
1889 and early in 1890 she first noticed
a change in Miss Annals manner. She
became irritable, treated those who
came in contact with her badly and
seemed to think that the world at large
was set against her. She described in
, detail the peculiarities about the plain
, tiff that most strongly attracted her
attention. Several times she detected
the odor of whisky on Miss Anna's
breath.
She was asked by Attorney Hodge II
: there was not some i'll feeling between
her and the plaintiff because Miss Anna
refused to call on one of the guests of
the witness. Miss Thompson said that
was not true. One time her cousin,
, Miss Rose Elizabeth Cleveland, sister
: of ex-President Grover Cleveland, came
: to visit her. She did not want Anna to
2 call on her and did not invite her. She
; did invite Miss Susan, but did it in
1 hot . ,;rrl1t he CT, ,a1
: as a general invitation as she did not
= want to give offense. Only Miss Susan
! called and she made an excuse for Miss
r Alma. Mrs. Thompson is a very bright
i woman and Attorney Hodge found it
t exceedingly difficult to trip her up in
his cross examination.
!, DEFENDANTS RECALLED.
Harry Dryden and Allen Eggleston.
two of the defendants, were recalled
and testified that there was very Of
a fensive odor in the room of Miss Anna
the day she was taken TO the asylum.
| The odor came from a vessel in the
| closet.
4 Mrs. March, one of the attendants
p at Danville asylum. said that on the
a first night Anna Dickinson was there
witness was putting her to bed when
X Anna grabbed her by the throat and
6 asked her to be her friend. She prom
n ised that she would be and Anna re-
O leased her and kissed her.
r George B. Thompson, one of the de-
!. PENDANTS, was sworn and said that he
: is real estate agent and in February
;. 1891, resided on Montgomery street
d West Pittston, in the same house with
the Dickinson's. His relations with
e the Dickinsons was very cordial anG
e friendly. This was shown by the ex
e change of many gifts. He lived in the
IS same house with the Dickinsons from
Ie 1884 until 1891. They rented their par
d of the house from him as agent for
e e. Patterson & Co. He collected the
y, rent paid by Miss Susan E. Dickinson
h After describing some of Miss Anna!
. peculiar actions and services he rem
dered to her he told of his being re-
e quested to be present on the day tn,
: plaintiff was taken to the asylum. H,
n consulted an attorney who told hin
t. that If DIR. Underwood was to be ther,
l. the commitment would be regular TO
lie the doctor knew more about commit
ting an insane person to an asylum
than any attorney in Pittston.
CONTRADICTED PLAINTIFF.
Id The breaking into the room occupiet
by Anna Dickinson and the subse
IA quent removal to Danville was de
,s scribed very minutely by the witness
s. fatty contradicting some of the state
,g ments made by the plaintiff in her tes
as timony when on the stand last Tues
L. day. No undue force was used in tn
house or at the railway station. MI
| HbnY,oncpn tho Ia Sf a,,1
ge ined yesterday.
Is Several experts with reference to in
he sanity will be called this morning an
the defendants expect to close thei
case before the noon recess. In tina
event Miss Dickinson will be called t
10 give evidence in rebuttal this after
tv noon.
in