Evening journal., 1899-09-23
PORTER FOUND GUILTY.
''Pottsville Red" Sentenced for
Stealing $5oI.
CAUSED SURPRISE IN COURT

AS HIS ATTORNEY, L. IRVING
HANDY, HAD PROVED A STRONG
ALIBI-oTHER CASES Disposed
OF.
The trial Of James Porter, alias
"Pottsville Red" which began yester-
day morning with Former Congress-
man L. Irving Handy acting as attor-
ney for the defense, was resumed at
the afternoon session.
Detective Mcvey, when placed on
the stand, stated that he knew Potts
vile Red" having first seen him when
he went to Shamokin, Pa, on July 6.
for the purpose Of bringing him to this
city. While on the way from the mag
istrate's Office of that city to the sta
tion house, whence they were going,
the prisoner said: you have me lock-
ed up for the Middletown post office
robbery, but can prove where l was
on that night" When told that he
was arrested on the charge of robbingI
the brewery Porter said that he did not
know where he was on that night. At
ter this testimony the state closed.
Mr.. Handy then made his opening
address, declaring that he would prove
that Porter was not in the state at the
time the robbery was committed. but
was sleeping in a barn in the little
town of Schuylkill Haven. Pa. He
would further prove, by reputable citi-
zens of Pottsville, that the accused was
in that place and had conversed with
them on May 9.
John German, of Pottsville, the first
witness for the defense, stated that he
had known Porter for two years. and
that they had spent the day of May s
in Tamaqua. On May 9 they had gone
to Schuylkill Haven, where they spent
the night in barn. He remained with
Porter until May u.
Robert Carlisle and John Quinn, both
of Pottsville, said that they had seen
and spoken to James Porter, who was
with boy, between and 8 o'clock, on
May in little suburb of Pottsville.
William Kennedy, Jr., a 19-year-old
boy, of the same place, said that on
the afternoon of May he had gone
into an old furnace to escape from the
rain and there met Porter.
w. L. Wells, trainsmester of the
Wilmington and Northern railroad; H.
J. Hartman, train dispatcher Of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and H. B.
Murdock, of the p, w. & B. railroad,
Testified in regard to trains, and said
THAT if Porter was seen as late as had
been said in Pottsville, it was impos-
sible for him to reach Wilmington in
time to commit the robbery.
Frank Quinn was recalled, and when
asked the distance from Philadelphia
to Pottsville. said that it was ninety
three miles.
In rebuttal the prosecution called
Police OFFICER Shields, who svore that
he saw Porter in company with an
other man at Front and French streets
lat o'clock on May s.
Both attorneys then addressed th'
jury, Mr. Handy speaking forta full
hour. While he was addressing the
jury he swayed the whole court room
I judges, lawyers and jury included
? with a wonderful burst Of oratory. A
times Mr.. Handy had the whole cour
b in roar of laughter. Again the mos
profound silence pervaded the room, a
he changed from the ridiculous to tn,
solemn. His whole address was mark
ed by eloquence, pathos, scorn and ridi
cule. When he sat down he received
, many congratulations from his fellow
lawyers, and from the judges as well
This was the first case Mr.. Handy eve
conducted before a jury.
c Frank Brockson, who represents Ches
g ter King and James Reason, colored
u who are charged with murderously as
e saulting W. A. Ahern, the operator a
i IGinn's station, near Middletown, aske
r for a continuance of the case, whicl
> was granted, until to-day.
Herbert Watson. who pleaded guilt
Il to the charge of breaking into tn
house Of w. H. oliver at Rising Su
g and stealing s22 and a silver watcl
's was sentenced to be imprisoned thre
l. years. to pay fine of $500, stand on
l. hour in the pillory and receive twent
i ashes.
l. william Speeler, colored, pleade
p uilty to the charge of stealing
watch, and was sentenced to 81
d aonths' Imprisonment and to recei'
welve lashes.
ns Helen Davis pleaded guilty to Il
OF arceny of bicycle, and was sentence
ng o serve three months Imprisonment
Ill James Bartam, who was indicted Sc
as - H.. ,,vr. -, tho charpo of laropn