The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-06-02
SOME STARTLING TESTIMONY.

As the trial of the Roddy boys pro-
crosses some startling evidence has been
introduced on both sides. Nicholas
Slick, veteran Of the Mexican War, re-
newed the link in the chain of evidence
broken by Robert Herdman, a witness
for the Commonwealth, who swore at the
first trial that he had seen James and
John ROddy at Osborne cut, on the S. *
c. II. r, about six o'clock on the morn
ing following the Berkey robbery, and
that their travel stained appearance in
aicated to his mind that they had recent
ly been travelling over a dusty road. Af-
ter the defendants had been convicted
Herdman confessed that he had been
mistaken in the testimony he gave about
the prisoners, he having been in Gettys-
bnrg on the "a Of June, and his confess
sion was deemed sufficient ground by
the Court for granting new trial. The
witness Slick testified that he had passed
two men at Osborne cut abOnt 6:30o'clock
on the morning of June Sd, and his at
tentiOn was directed to them by their APP
pearance. He said he had watched them
as they walked 100 yards in an opposite
direction from which he was travelling.
One of the men, he said, wore the IA
nous brown colored hat, which has been
identified by not less than eighteen wit
neSses as having been worn by John
Roddy. He was positive one of the men
was John Roddy. Sticks testimony is
corroborated by the evidence of Ed
ward Horner, who also claims to have
seen two men resembling the defendants
at Osborne cut on the same morning.
"JIM' RoDDY ADMITS HE LIED on THE
FORMER TRIAL.
Jim" Roddy got badly tangled when
on the witness stand Friday afternoon
and admitted that the story he had told
on the former trial in regard to his hav-
ing gone to the home of William Cooper,
in Morrellviile, on the night of June 2d,
for the purpose of getting Cooper to Sc
cure work for him at the Cambria Iron
Works, and of his calling at Cooper's
house the following morning and accom-
panying him to the works, was absolute
ly false. He also gave evidence at var
fence with his testimony at the first trial
in regard to the liquor he had consumed
on the % of June, and in other particu-
lars. The witness presented wretched
spectacle when giving his evidence.
His legs twitched and his chin
quivered with excitement. Coun-
sci were called upon frequently to re
quest him to remove his hand from his
chin, the nervous twitching of his fin
gers affecting his speech.
The admissions of the witness were
probably forced by the fact that the wit
ness Cooper, who corroborated his state
ment at the December trial will not be
present at this term Of court, he having
learned that he was mistaken in the evil
dence he gave at that time. Jim" at
tempted to hand letter to Judge Long
enecker during the erOss-examination,
but was repulsed by the Court, who di-
rected him To deliver the paper 10 his
counsel. 1t is supposed the communica-
ton was from Cooper, but the contents
have not been made public.
"JIM's" MIND SAID To BE FAILING.
Counsel for the defendants say that
James Roddy's mind is rapidly giving
way and that he is not responsible for the
mis- statements he makes. II Is alleged
that he is suffering from an incurable,
loathsOme disease.
WITNESS FOB THE DEFENDANTS.
Mrs. Ella Overdorf, a witness for the
Roddy boys. Saturday afternoon, cleared
up three or four of the most damaging
facts established by the Commonwealth.
A $40 Confederate note stolen from the
murdered man cut quite a prominent
| figure in the former case and has been
introduced again in the present trial.
The Commonwealth proved by several of
Mr.. Berkey's relatives that he had car
ried Confederate bill of the denomins-
ton mentioned in his pocket book for a
number of years prior to the robbery,
and that it was among the money stolen
| from him on the night of jane 81. Mr..
and Mrs. Pred Naugle and their little
daughter, of Morrellville. testified that
they had seen Jim RDddy destroy $40
Confederate or counterfeit note on the af-
ternoon following the robbery. James
Roddy swore that he had secured the note
he destroyed from lad on the streets of
Morrellvilie in exchange for a stick of
chewing gum, and now comes Mrs.
Overdorf who testi les that she saw one
of her own sons exchange the note in
question with Jim Roddy for chewing
Egum. She produced several similar
notes in court containing fac-simile of a
Confede ate $40 bill on one side and the
advertisement of a liquor dealer on the
other. Mrs. 0yerdorf also testified that