The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-11
DR.. c. R. KNAPP
WAS FOUND GUILTY
wEsTcoTT ExoNERATED ON
THE GROUND OF INSANITY.
He Went on the Stand in His Own
Behalf and to Prove That He Is
Not Unbalanced Wanted to Read
One of His Own Poems-"Yellow
Kids" Treid for Burglary and Lar
ceny-Action Taken in Number
Of Liquor Cases-Pleas Of Guilty.

After court opened yesterday morn
ing verdict of guilty was returned
in the case of the commonwealth
against DR.. C. II. Knapp, of Forest
City. 1t is generally understood that
the case against Mrs. Ames will not
be pressed. and that a reconciliation
between herself and huband will be
effected.
Edward stone Westcott was return
ed not guilty yesterday of the charge
of disappearing, on the ground that he
Is insane. He was given until Satur-
day to arrange his affairs, and some
action will then be taken with REFER
ence to his case by the court. The
witnesses examined yesterday on be-
half of the commonwealth were Coun-
ty Detective Thomas Leyshon, PATROL
man kiah Peters, A. c. Heiser, Mrs.
II. Phillips, c. Il. Daniels, William
Fowler, A. S. Wagstaff and William
Marsh. They testified to the blaspem-
Gus language of Westcott on many oc-
casions. He wanted to examine the
witnesses, and his attorney. c. e. Bal
lentine. had great difficulty in restrain
ing him.
WESTCOTT ON THE STAND.
Westcott went on the stand in his
own behalf, but would neither take
an oath nor affirm. He said he thought
it wrong to ask any man to take an
oath. In a mumbling way. he told
that while he did not admit that he
had blasphemed, he felt he had the
right to If he so desired, and that the
foremost legal minds of the country
would sustain this view. He told Of
his arguments against christianity.
Of his Introduction to people as Rob-
ert lngersoll's eldest brother, because
Of the way he argued to show that
Christianity is a delusion.
1T is said that l am unbalanced"
continued Westcott. land to prove to
you that l am not l want to read you
a poem I wrote" The court declined
to hear it, but Westcott was not to be
suppressed. and before the court sue
eceded in stopping him. he had recit-
ed a stanza.
Dr. John O'Malley and DR.. j. c.
Bateson were called Both are we'll
acquainted with Westcott. and gave it
as their opinion he is insane.
David Davis. Charles Graham, Rich.
ard Allen, Harry Hill and Francis
Winwood, members of the yellow
Kid gang of West Scranton. were
tried for burglarizng the stores of
Florey & Brooks and the d. I. Phillips
estate and stealing from Tobey's Penn
avenue store. Harry Hill pleaded gull
ty, and told all he knew about the bur-
glaries David Davis tried to establish
an alibi. The jury retired at 4:30 to
consider the case.
In the case of Henry Rush. of this
city. charged with selling liquor with
out a license, a verdict of not guilty
was taken by agreement upon pay
ment of the costs by Rush. 1t was
one of the Mems Union cases.
Anna McHale, who was indicted or
selling without a license at the in
stance of the Mems Union, entered
plea of guilty.
John T. Kennedy, charged with SELL
ing liquor on Sunday, and Patrick
j. Glynn. charged with selling without
n license. entered pleas of guilty, and
court suspended sentence upon pay
ment of the costs. These were Mems
Union cases.
Mrs. Margaret Kennedy, who is
charged with selling liquor without a
license, is ill, and the court allowed a
mol pros. to be entered upon payment
of the costs. Robert Wilson, agent for
the Mems Union, was the prosecutor.
In the case of NJ. ]. Gilbride. of
North Scranton. which was tried Tues
day before Judge Love, a verdict of
not guilty was returned yesterday.
George Beiscl pleaded guilty to
charge of selling liquor without Ii
cense, preferred by Robert Wilson,
agent of the Mems Union, and was
sentenced to pay fine Of $780, costs
and spend three months in the county
Jail.
Michael j. Horan entered plea of
guilty to a charge of selling liquor
without a license, preferred by Robert
Wilson.
A mol pros. was entered in the case
of William Roth, charged by Con-
stable j. w. Clark, of the Eighteenth
ward, with selling liquor without
licansa