New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-22
PETEP JAMES TELLS HIS STORY
THE BEDFORD STATION MURDER CASE
LIKELY TO co TO TIE Jury TO-DAY.

THE BEDFORD STATION ORDER CASE
LIKELY TO GO TO THE Jury TODAY.
The trial OF Peter James indicted for murder In
tho first degree In causing tho death Of Walker
T. Adams AT the time his store In Bedford sta
ton wa attacked by burglars. on tho night OF
August H. 1896 WAS continued yesterday in the
Supreme Court in White Plains. before Justice
Martin J. keogh and n Jury.
The principal witnesses were the prisoner and
DR. chapman the latter telling OF confession
which John Jenkins OF the burglars. made 70
him Just before he died \ la'gc crowd was pres
ent in the courtroom.
Or Charles +. chapman testified that he had
examined the defendant since he testified on
Wednesday, He showed that the bullet entered on
the right side Of the back and it came out on tn"
left OF the spinal column. Tho course OF the wound
Jenkins received from tho l"ft sidc OF ia"
abdomen and cadc1 in the spinal column ana II
was from that he died. He asked the witness " he
going die and the reply vas in the aiiifrla-
tive and that II was a matter Of little lime. Then
he said he had confession 10 make, which was
essentially that he Genkins, shot Mr.. Adams and
that James did not. lie did not make this confes-
sion 10 the witness until h" was positively sure
that he WAS going to die. lie told how he met Mr..
Adams coming down the track with the gun. and
told hin: 20 stop or ~ would shoot him He I'D
not stop aud jenkins shot him and he fell Adams
had raised his gun TO shoot jus, befor" Jenkins
fired
on cross-eXamnaton the witness said thar Jon
kns had expressed surprs" that Clair, Tho other
fellow" had conc 20 Brewster and hen to Long
Island hospital Cor treatment when 4" bad wealthy
and Influential friends in Brooklyn. Philadelphia
sri Baltimore lie, in speaking Of James, -ald that
he did 10 hc shooting
Pcios james tho defendant. testified ne was mar.
ricd ard had two chiid:en--t son and 4 daughter.
He Is for;y-sevcH years old. He had two stores at
Tho time % his arcs;-one at No. 80 Henry-st..
Brooklyn and another AT No 3ls in tho street.
He in the bicycle business. He told Of his
meeting with Jenkins and his trip to Bedford Sta
ton. He WAS 20 get 81" which cJnkins owed him
for passing an opinion on he wires running from
the Adams Building.
When they arrived At Bedford Station and went
TO work on the Adams store. the witness advised
Jenkins TO have anything to do with robbins tho
store and started 10 walk away toward the railroad
station He described his parting from Price A
short distance down III" track. and then said: II
went toward a road leading in westerly direction.
| called out 20 Price. Come on: what are YOU stay
ing there fcr?' meaning for Price To follow. Then |
was shot as crossing the tracks. ] fell twice.
and breath drew with srca, pain /
can't tel how long lay there, until Rogers helped
me TO the place where | was found. | asked him
take me to some safe place lie told me he
would get a wagon and be back in five minutes
He went away. and that was tho las. | Saw OF
Rogers
II did not shoot Wsikcs adams enter the
building took no par, in the az air. have never
boon convicted Of assauit.ng any one"
II did not shoot my revolver that right" lie said
Ilo explained the fact OF his havin,, wires In his
pocke; by saying that they such as he used
In his business
He admitted that he had served three years and
seven months in Sing Sing Prison for receiving
stolen goods. He had also been committed for "A
burglary in New-York. and got fifteen months in
Sing Sing Prison for that. That was about 1871.
The next arrest in December. 1882. IN Phadel-
zfn,. 10 4.
Tor Nve years and nine months in the penitentiary.
There was another conviction in Westchester.
Penn. on a charge Of stealing jcwelry worth S5.ooi
from a safe. He stayed IN jail he said fourteen
DAYS though the District Attorney showed sem
tence for year to have been passed upon him.
After 1872 he 10 Ncw-York.
He went to Bedford Station 10 satisfy Jenkins.
he said He admitted that he understood all about
burglar alarms and electric wires. and jenkins
wanted his opinion He was take part In
the burglary. Ne only tn" electrician OF the
enterprise He explained the presence OF revolver
In his pocket by saying that he put II there three
M four DAYS before tho murder. having taken IL
from one OF his employees who had been shooting
49,, -, ~ =,
and Stenhen Baker. OF the officers who had
charge OF James and Jenkins in the Mount kisco
lookup was asked what was said at the parting
between James and jenkins when the former was
be,ns taken away 10 the county jail. Jenkins said
.t;oocby Pete: keep mp courage. u they want 70
know anything tell them 10 come 10 me.
William y. Plat then began his summing M ioI
tho defence He will continue this morning and
The case will probably go 10 The jury TO-DAY.