The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-04

the defense was represented by Il. p
Wedeman and Il. w. Thayer Van
Horn evinced no interest whatever in
the proceedings for several days and
very little interest at any time. His
GOODNESS and unConcern was one of the
most remarkable features Of the trial.
The story as told by The common
wealth was that Van Horn had been
arrested five weeks before the killing
on a warrant sworn out by Mrs. West
colt, charging him with having sneak
ed into her house and STOLEN s15. She
withdrew the proceedings, but the ar
rest apparently ranked in Van Horns
breast, for he made threats against
her to various persons ana only four
days before the murder cursed at and
damned her in the pres ence OF Mrs.
George Neiman at her home on the
West Side, and, exhibiting n wn!tc
handed razor, said ne would cut her
(meaning Mrs. Westcott) throat from
ear to ear: that they could not hang
him for It, as he would get uo into
New York state and they wouldn't be
able to find him.
WAS PROWLING ABOUT.
1t was also shown by witnesses that
Van Horn, on several evenings Just
previous to the murder, was seen
prowlinG about the Wescott house,
lodging along from one tree box to
another on the opposite side of the
street or skulking in the alleys nearby
One of the witnesses who testified to
this was George Wickenhoffer.
The defense was accidental homicide,
and insanity. The story that was put
forward in support of the first theory
was extravagant to put it mildly, but
nevertheless we'll within the bounds of
possibility.
1t was alleged that Van Horn and
Mrs. Westcott were intimate; that he
had been sleeping in the cellar Of the
boarding house for a number of nights
that he and Mrs. Wescott met there
on the night of the killing by appoint
ment; that she brought him some food
as had been her custom and sat be-
side him while he ate it.
Then he proceeded to strop his razor
| intending to shave. Mrs. Wescott still
sitting beside him, chided him for his
drinking and shiftless ways and he
| plaYfully drew the back--as he thought
| of the razor across her throat. In
his terror at his awful mistake he fled
| and realizing that he would have great
| difficulty in having his story believed.
stayed away.
! The insanity plea was mainly sup
ported by the evidence of his first di-
vorced wife. 1t was to the effect that
| he was struck by a railroad bridge
| while 4 brakeman ON a western road
| fifteen years ago, and that he was
! "never the same" since.
| Judge Archibald, in his charge to the
! jury. punCtured the first theory by
asking If 1t was within the bounds of
reason to suppose that a man would
| halt in the midst of an engage ment
such as Van Horn alleged brought
him to the cellar to shave himself in q
dark cellar without mirror or lamp?
The theory of insanity was not sup
| ported sufficiently to warrant it serious
consideration, the judge said.
| The jury was out only Il short time
in arriving at it's verdict. Van Horn
heard it with his stolid composure and
! Indifference.
Unsuccessful efforts were made for
new trial; the Supreme court of Penn
sylvania and the Supreme court OF tht
| United States were appealed to in tn,
effort to upset the finding of the jury
| and as a last resort vigorous figh
was made before the board of pardon
| for Communication of sentence on tn
strength of newly discovered evidenc
bearing out the insanity allegation, bu
it was all in vain.