The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-03-18
THE ARSON
CASE TRIAL.
Flemming Makes Clean Breast of the
Mill Fire.
RICHARDSON DENIES THE STORY.
When the Commonwealth Closed Counsel
For the Accused Moved For Acquittal,
But Judge Kocl Decided There
was sufficieSt Corrobora-
tive Evidence to Go
to the Jury.
Special to EVENING HERALD.


Special to EVENING HERALD.
Pottsville, March 1s.--After the examina-
ton of Capt. VIM. Il. Jones in the Mahanoy
City arson case yesterday afternoon
Michael Flemming, one of the defendants,
was called and sworn. He stated he
boards in Deano, and is 90 years of age and
left Delano on Sunday evening at 1925 p. m.
and met the other defendants Darrah, Rich
ardson and Knowles, who he met about II p
m. the same evening on the banks of the p.
& r. r, He had conversation with the
three defendants Richardson and Darrah
went up 80 the hosiery mill while Knowles
and the witness walked down to Main street.
near the Mansion House Knowles and the
witness went up to tho hosiery mill and met
the others and Richardson and the witness,
Flemming, set the mill on fire, using cotton
waste the witness met Darrah and Richard
son there when they arrived there and Rich
ardson and Darrah went up to the mill to set
it on fire, at least that was the understanding;
Flemming set fire to the eastern end of the
mill and Richardson the centre. The gang
then left the building and went over to
Pleasant HILL The witness then came back
the other defendants Flemming stopped at
friends house the night of the fire. The
witness and Richardson procured liquor at
the saloon of VIM. Harley, at Mahanoy City
and admitted they were drunk. Wooden re-
fused to go to the mill to set it on fire and
didn't 90 along. His cross examination did
not differ materially from that given to the
Commonwealth.
| ba Of
Wilds and Thomas Bryant corroborated that
given by Flemming, and other parties testi-
fed to having seen the defendants in the
vicinity of the fire on the night in question.
Capt. VIM. L. Jones was recalled to the
stand this morning and produced a map of
Mahanoy City prepared for use at the trial.
Mr.. Jones pointed out for the benefit of the
jury the various locations referred to in the
evidence
Michael Flemming was then recalled.
Q. You testified yesterday that you acted,
on the advice of your lawyer-who was your
lawyer
| Mr.. WhitehOuse objected on the ground
that the question was asked to catch the
sympathy of a couple of the jurymen.
Mr. Bechtel: well that is complimentary
to the jury"
The court allowed the question and Flem-
ming answered YES, sir; James w. Ryan
was my lawyer"
George Echman was next sworn. He said
he met Richardson and Darrah in saloon al
about quarter after eight o'clock on the
evening Of the fire. John Huber and Will
lam Wilds we're also there. Wilds, Darrat
and Richardson went out first. Darral
wanted to fight Eichman there.
John Huber cOrroborated Eichmans ev
denee. Both are young men. Thomas Leary
was another witness, but nothing importan
developed
Mrs. Ann Hanlon swore that Darrah ant
: Richardson were in her place at 4th and Pin,
streets after the Eichman fire and stayed
there about ten minutes.
Wm Bevan swore he saw the defendants a
the Eichman fire. He saw them at 4th anC
Pine streets. Willard Wooden and Franl
Lewis we're with them They were talking
but witness could not understand what wa
said.
Mr.. Whitehouse Did you see Mr.. Ramsa,
that night2
f Mr.. Mari: Did you see Mr.. Whitehous
theref He is more dangerous man
p (Laughter).
William Hardy swore he lived so feet ava,
from the Eichman property and that h
knew Darrah. He saw Dsrrah al 10:1
G o'clock on the night of the fire in his (wit
l. ness yard and spoke to him.
+ Q. Is there an alley running between tn
Eichman property and your lOt2
Mr.. Whitehouse objected. but the coul
allowed the question and witness answered
), There is private way from my yard
u Eichman's."
Q To other questions the witness answere
u that he caught Darrah in his yard and had
. talk with him there
District Attorney Bechtel explained tha
the evidence was to show that Darrah Wa
- in the vicinity before the fire.
. I'VE rest" said Mr.. Mari after Georl
"a Geiger and G. f. KleindeAtz failed to r.
N spOnd.
- LEGAL TILT.
n Mr. Whitehouse addressed the court an
said that in view of the fact that all IL
testimony duplicating the defendants can
from the lips of an accessory and accomplic
a. and was not corroborated, he would ask IL
court to take the case from the jury.
Judge Koch; We cannot take this ca
from the jury. You mean to ask the cou
y to order an acquittal1
- Mr. Whitehouse Yes, sir.
" Mr.. Bechtel The court cannot take ii
~ case from the jury on the evidence.
. Mr.. Whitshouse made an eloquent addre,
~ He took the stand that the testimony show,
~ that the defendants were near the burnii
buildings that night, but that there was
corroborative evidence. He said that Il
At Commonwealth might prove that Attorn
Ramsay passed near those buildings tn
night and that fact would not be valid pro
that he burned any of the buildings.