The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-10

Horn has relatives in wadena but he
did not go to see any Of them.
Constable Heniman and his son-in-
law Thomas F Jones, at once started
out to find Van Horn and learned that
he had left town. The next morning
they found their man asleep In a log
cabin about two miles from Wadena
where he had spent the night with a
man with whom he was acquainted
The officer covered him with his revol-
yer but Van Horn quietly told him to
put 1t up that he would go with him
without any fuss. Nevertheless he was
led into town covered bya revolver and
was subsequently landed in the Jail
at West Union His captors will re-
ceive the reward of 5000 offered by
the county.
After being locked in the Jail he ad-
mitted cutting Mrs. Wescott's throat
but said 1t was an accident He was
strapping his razor in the cellar when
Mrs Wescott came down. He began to
fool playfully with her and made a
pass to show her how easy It would
be to cut her throat. He intended to
strike the dull side of the razor against
her throat but instead the sharp edge
struck the flesh. He declared that he
did not know she was dead until he
was placed under arrest. That state
ment he repeated several times to De-
tective Moir and Lieutenant Davis.
ARRIVAL IN THE CITY.
Chief-of-Police Robling had taken
every precaution to prevent any news
of the time of Van Horns arrival be-
coming noised abroad. He did not
want a large crowd at the station.
When the train arrived at the Della
ware and Hudson at $40 yesterday af-
ternoon the chief was there in citizens
clothes on the opposite side of the
track from the platform where passen-
gers alight. AS soon as the train
stopped, three dust-covered men
jumped off on the side where the chief
was standing. Van Horn was hand
cuffed to Moir and Davis walked on
the other side of the prisoner who was
showed into a cab standing back of the
Weston mill. Before half dozen per-
sons had time to congregate the cab
was in motion and Van Horn was on
his way to the central station. The
route was Mifflin to Spruce to Franklin
to Mulberry, by the house where the
murder was committed and thence out
Mulberry to the city hall. He was
locked in cell No. of the Woman's
ward until the hearing in the evening
While there the prisoner and Captain
of Police Edwards had a long talk. Van
Horn, the captain says, admitted cut
ting Mrs. Van Horn with the razor,
but he did not think it was a deep cut
and did not know that Mrs. Wescott
was dead until his arrest. He denied
that he had any trouble with her, but
a moment later said he was afraid she
would kill him. When Mrs. Wescott
entered the cellar he was strapping his
razor, he said. He cut her. but why he
does not know.
At SIS he was taken to Alderman
Millar's office in charge of Davis and
Moir and there was met by his brother
Frank Van Horn, of Dunmore and At
torney George NJ. Watson, who had
been retained as counsel for the ac-
cused. The three men held a consulta-
tion in the alderman's private room,
which lasted about fifteen minutes.
District Attorney Jones and his as
sistant, w. Gaylord Thomas, were pres
ent to see that the interests of the COM
monwealth were properly cared for.
DID NOT WANT A HEARING.
Soon after S. 80 Attorney Watson and
the prisoner stepped from the private
office into the court room and Mr.. Wat
son announced that they would waive
a hearing. To this District Attorney
Jones objected. He said he would like
to call a few witnesses. Mr.. Watson
said he could not understand why it
NKsn rnn 20 n x1.tt l. a..
client said he would waive a hearing
and go to Jail Mr.. Jones maintained
that in such a serious case it was the
better practice to hear witnesses and
have a prima facie case made out be-
| fore making out commitment. Alder
man Millar said he would hear wit
resses and Coroner Longstreet was
called.
He testified that he made an autopsy
on the body of Mrs. Wescott and found
a cut six inches long on the neck which
had cut the jugular vein and partially
severed the windpipe. Death was due
to hemorrhages caused by the wound.
! The cut was clean and clear and must
have been made by some sharp instru-
ment
George w. Wickenhoffer who lived
opposite Mrs. Westcott, on Franklin
avenue, on the night of the murder,
testified that Mrs. Fetherolf had called
him over after Mrs. Wescott came up
out of the cellar with blood streaming
| from her neck. She said, in the pres
ence of witness. Mr. and Mrs, Fether-
off, a Mr.. Brimble, and an unknown
young man, that George Van Horn
| had cut her. Witness went for a doc
| tor and later in the night made an
| examination of the cellar and found
| the steps and floor covered with blood.
| His wife found a razor in the cellar,
| which was covered with blood. This
| testimony was only elected after a
series of strenuous objections on the
| part of Attorney Watson.
Chief of Police Robling testified that
Van Horn left the city Immediately
] after the cutting, and that great ef-
| forts were made to capture him. Dis
| trict Attorney Jones then asked for
| the commitment of the prisoner, pend