The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-12-27
PRISON MURDER
Trial Of Alfred Brown for
Killing John Weise at
Trenton.
STATES TESTIMONY IN
Defendant. Murdered Man
and Most of the Witnesses
Are Convicts.

Especial to ''The Jersey City News."]
TRENTON, Dec. q, 1ss9.-Alfred Brown,
llias xii Miller. the State Prison con-
Fict charged with the murder of a fellow
convict, John Weise, was placed on trial
IN Mercer Court of Oyer and Terminer,
before Justice Gummere, Judge woodruff
and a jury. So rapid progress was made
with the case that when court adjourned
1t five o'clock yesterday afternoon the
State had completed It's case, and counsel
tor the defendant had opened his case.
Justice Gummere announced that the
ease must be finished to day, as the trial
pf the Thirteenth ward election cases has
been set down for tomorrow. There Will
probably be no difficulty in finishing the
ease today as the defense has only eight
witnesses to offer.
The case is rather an unusual one for
several reasons. It is one of a series OF
high crimes tina occurred with unprece-
aerted rapidity in Mercer county. It's al
legged perpetrator, its victim, as well as al
most all the witnesses to 1t wore the
stripes Of the convict. But in spite OF
their stripes all seem to be fairly intelai-
gent men, and all were in the good con-
fuct" class and were employed in or
about the bread bakery OF the prison.
Weise, the lead man. came from New
ark. and was serving a term for forgery.
Brown. or Miller, is a short man, with
black hair dark eyes, q prominent nose,
high cheek bones and his general appear
ance is not progressing. He was
brought into court yesterday by Head
Keeper Moore and Deputy Fitzgerald.
At the entrance to the court room the
handcufs were removed from his wrists
and he went and took his seat beside
John H. Backes, who is his counsel. All
day he took a lively interest in his case,
frequently speaking with his counsel
about it. He wore a suit of black, such
as is given convicts when liberated from
prison. a blue and white bow, low collar
and black hat.
The convict witnesses were brought
from the prison in gangs of three in
charge of deputies. All were dressedsin the
liberated prisoners garb.
Somewhat more han an Jour was, TAX
en- up in selecting the jury. Mr.. Backes,
for the defendant, had each juror sworn
on his voir dire, and questioned him
carefully as to whether or not he had
formed an opinion as to the guilt or in
or not the fact that the defendant is a
convict would have any weight, and as
to whether he had read newspaper ac-
counts of the case.
The following is the jury as finally
sworn:-Frank Everett, foreman; Henry
r. Hawk, John F. Reed. Albert Wooley,
Tane A. Bergen. w. Ferd Dettmar,
Davie Banks, Alfred Cubberley, Thomas
Saxton, John H. McCabe, Hamilton S..
Hutchinson. Thomas B. Wilton. OF these
W. Ferd Dettmar, Alfred Cubberley and
John II. McCabe were members Of the
jury which only a few days ago con-
victed job Larkins of murder in the
second degree.
After the jury had been sworn, Justice
Suminere ordered that the prisoner be re-
name to the custody of Sheriff Atch-
ley DUNG the tendency of the trial. The
Sheriff was requested to provide accom-
modations in the county Jail for the con-
ricts who are to be sworn as witnesses.
All the witnesses in the case were ex-
slnded from the court room.
In his opening for the State. Prosecutor
~- di0 WILL III
der would be claimed. The killing, he
said, occurred early on the morning of
June l last. From the testimony adduced
It would be shown. he said, that Brown
Was at the sink in the prison bake house
washing his hands on the morning in
question when Welse entered the room
and walked to the sink to wash his hands.
An alteration engued, from which Weiss
finally withdrew. Brown then went about
halt way down the room toward a large
bread knife which was lying on the table.
Weise saw Browns intention and went
toward him to prevent him from using
The knife. A struggle ensued during
which Brown cut Weise slightly several
and finally stabbed him in the right
side.
The first witness called was Surveyor
Abram Swan. who produced a plan of the
prison b~akeshop and its immediate vicin-
ny. He gave a description in detail of
5hs room and Its various measurements.
County Physician r. R. Rogers, Jr., was
sailed for the purpose of proving the cor
pus deficit. DR.. Rogers said Wefse was a
man 5 feet 5 inches in height. weighed
tbout 100 pounds, and was quite muscular
IN build. On the right side Of his chest.
DR.. Rogers said. there was a lacerated1