The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-03

ting together on the cellar steps, and
not IA little of their conversation was
regarding the possibility OF their liv-
ing together again as they had been.
Brace up and be a man. said Mrs.
Wescott. Go to work and when you
are able to make a home for us, we
will go away some place and live hap
py together"
Van Horn joked about the sculding
she was giving him and said: Aren't
you afraid to- talk to me like that, see
how easily / could kill you" at the
same time drawing the back of his
razor, as he supposed, across her
throat.
She withdrew her arm from about
his neck and exclaimed: George,
George. you've cut mel" "Oh, | guess
not" said Van Horn, leaning down and
looking at her neck
THE SIGHT OF BLOOD
The sight of the blood, which was
beginning to show itself sent thrill
of horror through him and, dropping
his razor, he started upstairs after Mrs
Wescott who had rushed out while he
was standing dumbfounded at what he
had done. Then he did what every
other person would do in such a plight
and amid the excitement of the mo-
ment, fled from the scene.
1t would be further shown that Mrs
Woscott gave Van Horn a dollar that
night; that they usually PUT their saw
ings together and that when Van Horn
was in need of money he went to Mrs
WesCOtt for it.
That he said some of the rattlehran
things that the commonwealth alleges
would be admitted, but that he went
around like lion roaring out on the
streets that he would do bloody muir
der, in this or that particular way, and
then escape in this or that fashion,
would be shown to he as untrue as it
is prepusterous even for such mem
tally deficient unfortunate as George
Van Horn.
That Mrs. WescOtt sought Van Horns
company; that she came to visit him
where he would happen to be work
ing; that she relpnted for the arrest
which she was forced to make, and that
she, in fine. from the first time they
met loved George Van Horn devotedly
and increasingly. one particular wit
ness, he said would tell that on one
occasion Van Horn and Mrs. Wescott,
together with the witness, walked over
from Hyde Park. not long before the
killing. At the Linden Sstreet bridge
Mrs. Wcscott stopped and told Van
Horn to wait there until she went
ahead to see if everything was all
right. Another witness would tell that
Mrs, WesCOtt sent word one night to
Van Horn to come over; that the chill
drcn were out and the coast was clear.
Glaring discrepancies would he shown
in the commemorative testimony and
much Of their now apparently strong
case would he shattered. He asked the
jury to follow the evidence closely and
give the defendant the benefit of every
reasonable doubt.
The defeose recalled several Wit
ncsses Of the prosecution for Cruss-eX-
animation among them Mrs John Van
Horn. who denied that her mother and
George Van Horn lived as man and
wife IT any time and that she herself
had expressed willingness to pun the
rope that would hang Van Horn.
CONTINUANCE NOT ALLOWED.
Mr. Wedeman wanted a continuance
until Saturday, but it was not allowed.
Thereupon he began his opening.
When he had concluded two witnesses,
Alfred Reed and his son. Eugene Reed.
were called and i'm turn they testified
that Van Horn worked on their farm
at Glcnburn during harvesting i'm 1896.
He might have come to Scranton fire.
Quently in the evening or on idle days,
they admitted.
Next the defense offered the Saund-
erS depOsitiOns. The portion referring
to Van Horns habit of playfully draw
ing his razor across Mrs. Wescutt's
throat was ruled out as not being evil
dcnCe.
Saunders statements i'm effect are
that Van Horn and Mrs. Wescott were
I lovers and practically lived together
as man and Wife. He gave her his
wages and when he wanted money
went to her for it, one time she bor-
rowed $40 from Saunders to buy Van
Horn a suit of clothes At times Van
Horn appeared to be a little off.
The next morning after the killing
Saunders says he met Van Horn back
of the Delaware and Hudson depot on
Lackawanna avenue at $50 o'clock
| They spuko to one another Van Horn
saying he was going up country to look
for work. and Saunders remarking
! that it was - near time" for him to
| get to work. Saunders was out of town
| know of the killing.
The defense next called j. r. Mitch
! ell, city editor of The Tribune to show
! that Lieutenant Davis and Detective
! Moir had given the newSpapermen to
understood that Van Horn in his con-
/ fcssion said the deed was accidentally
| committed. Mr. Mitchell, in answer to
| various questions, testified that he
| printed such a statement c"d that the
story of the confession was gotten from
/ Lieutenant Davis and Detective MOr.
! but, that IL was possible the particu-
! lar statement in question might have
| been secured from CAPTAIN Edwards
! from whom he also secured part Of the
| Information that went into the story
| Without reading the story he could not
| b" positive ON that point.
| The case was adjourned until Satur-
! day morning.
/ CLOSING EVIDENCE
The closing evidence on the part of
/ the Commonwealth was from Hiram
! Helm, who testified to Van Horn hay
! irg made threats, Mrs. Joseph Brown
! ard h"r daughter Laura of Clifton, at
! whose home Van Horn stopped for re-
! frCshments the day following the muir
dor; Chief Of Police Rubling, who iden-
! tilted the razor; and Lieutenant John
| Davis and Detective John MOir, who
! brought Van Horn back from Wadena.
| Iowa, and who allege that he confess
! ed to them each separately that he
killed Mrs. Wescott.
ON cross-eXamiratlon Lieutenant
! Davis denied that he told the news