The times., 1898-10-28
PRICE TRIAL IS CLOSING
lie Case Will Probably Go to
the Jury Today.
ACCUSED is UNCONCERNED
He Calmly Reads n Newspaper While
Damaging Evidence Is Being Of
But One Witness-Jurors Visit the
Scene of the Robbery.

The trial of John Price. of New York.
who is charged with having robbed Ar
thur o. BaDendreier of sl6S2 in the Vatoldi
Cafe on March 80 last, is nearing its end.
| and a verdict will probably be reached by
noon today.
Since the trial began on Tuesday it has
attracted much notice, as is attested by
the fact that each day The court room Is
crowded to its utmost capacity by an aud
ience which gives The closest attention to
the proceedings. In the audience, how
ever, there is one man who apparently is
not concerned about what is going on
around him, and that man Is John Price
the accused.
Only once since the trial bsgan has Price
shown any concern as to what was being
said, and that was yesterday afternoon.
when John E. Laskey, who is assisting
United States District Attorney Henry E.
Davis in the prosecution, made the open
ing argument for the Government. Dur
ing the morning session of the court,
while number Of Witnesses were on the
stand giving damaging testimony against
him. Price sat on the right of his counsel
reading Newspaper and apparently pay
ing not the slightest attention to what
was being said.
Even when former Detective Charles E.
Finder took the stand and stated that he
mad known the defendant for nearly
twenty years, and had seen him at the
corner OF f and Ninth Streets on the
morning of March 30. the only attention
a cad ~
at the witness. Again, when Babendreier
ana Wilson contradicted each other on
the witness stand, Price, without looking
up from the paper he held in his hand
sifiied, showing that although he was not
watching the proce edings he was listen
ing very aftentively TO every word
"heh the Government closed its side of
the case just before the recess hour Mr.
Rose the leading attorney Tor the de-
lehse' called Francis X. Weller, a drafts
man. 10 ihe stand. 1t was Weller who
,iiaue maui, d diagram of the VatoldI Cafe and
ne was merely called to testify to the cor
rectness of his work. He stated ,hat
person standing on the sidewalk would no,
see the satehel in the position Il is said to
nave nav occupied under the cafe cash desk
mheh Weller left the witness stand Mr.
fNose announced that the defense would
iiot can another witness, nor would the
accused testify in his own behalf. 80
"Heh weller concluded his testimony
the court adjourned for recess and at
.he request of both Mr. Davis and Mr.
rose, the jurors were allowed to visit the
Natoiui CAFE and inspect 1t with refer
ehce 10 the position OF the cashiers desk.
lhe WINDOW, the door. and the place
@ @mHeie 'he satchel Is said TO have been
placed by Babendreier
When court repopvanaJ ,t,o
the Government and the defendant nra-
sented TO Chief Justice Bingham their
prayers Tor instruction to the iury
Inc opening argument for the Govern
ment was then begun by Mr.. Laskey. He
reviewed the testimony against the de-
iehdaht So far as the identity of the
prisoner was concerned, he claimed that
II had been established beyond a doubt
MIR. Laskey's theory of the robbery was
that Price, who had previously located
the position of the satchel. when Miss
searies turned to order the sandwiches
quickly stopped behind the door, reached
his hand between the desk and the wall
and secured the money
The opening argument for the defense
was made by Mr. Rose, who contended
that not only had the prosecution failed
TO identify Price as the man who was
in the cafe at the time at which the rob-
berry was committed but had also failed
to fasten the crime upon him. The wit
nesses for the Government he claimed.
had not only contradicted themselves. but
had also contradicted each other on every
material point.
Andrew Lipscomb will close the cas- for
the defense this morning. He will be fol,
lowed by District Attorney Davis who
will make the closing argument for the
Government.