The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-06-04
Es.EYRRi:::: !.
MURDER TRIAL.
Jim and Pinny Pierce Will
be Put on Trial For
Their Lives on
June 18th.

| Media, Pa, June 3-The coolest
and nerviest and apparently most
contented occupant of Delaware
County's graystone Jail here is
Jim Pierce, who with his brother
Amos, called Pinny, is to he put on
trial for his life Monday, June II,
charged with the foulest murder
even committed in this community.
If Jim Pierce had a hand in the
killing Of George Eyre on or near
Raccoon Creek, on the Jersey side
of the Delaware River, across from
Chester, three days before last
Christmas, he is most remark
able prisoner. There is no haunt
ing Of this man. who sleeps the
sleep of babe and eats with the
appetite Of growing boy who has
no care in the world except to find
time to attend school.
Jim Pierce expects to be set free
before the end Of this month. and
is making preparations to 60 back
to the fishing and hunting, from
which occupation he was rudely
torn by the hand OF the law five
months ago. All day long he sits
in his sell and knits, He is just
completing monster net of fine
make. which he proposes to use to
catch fish in the Delaware River.
Jim uses the few moments that are
given him to receive his re latives
every Tuesday in general CONVEX
sation. leaving the details of his
defense with his attorney.
The prosecution claims that its
chain of evidence pointing to Jim
Pierce as the murderer contains
every link. The confession that
Mary Cowan, the Wilmington wo-
man, swears Pierce made to her
admitting the murder and implicat-
ing his brother, is claimed. to be
corroborated, though it is said that
there has not been found either
Eyrc's sktf, in which the murder
was committed and which the wo-
man saws was sunk in Raccoon
Creek, or Eyre's stolen watch, ring
or gun.
What spare hours Pierce takes
from his knitting he puts in read
ing. He is not permitted to see
any newspapers, and asks the
warden once in while for What's
new about the case, meaning the
murder and trial. At such times
he reads the illustrated accounts of
the South African war in the maya
zines.
Pierce has picked up condider-
ably in health, Notwithstanding
that he has been undergoing soil
tary confinement, without any ex-
crcise at all. He could not be
bribed to leave his cell, because he
fears that by some hook or crook
some artist for newspaper might
secure picture of him. When he
was first arrested Pierce made up
his mind that no one should secure
likeness of him for reproduction
in the newspapers. At his pre-
liminarv hearings he persuaded
relatives and close friends to help
him obstruct the view OF artists
and photographs. A number Of
his friends constantly stood be-
tween him and the would-be pic
ture-takers. and when he was
taken on the street, where cameras
were pointed at him, he escaped
the dreaded fate by hiding his face
with his arms.
Warden Fields has tried to per-
suade Pierce to take exercise in
the Jail yard, but he has steadfast-
ly refused to accept the favor. He
used to 60 TO the bathroom in the
mornings to wash, but finally he
| became convinced that an effort
was being made to entrap him into
position where he could be photo
graphed. and declared that there
after he would not leave his cell at
all. Now he performs his morning
additions in the small quarters
which he has made his fort.
Pinny Pierce, who was released
on bail, and who is now working
| about the wharvcs at Chester, IS
| frequent visitor at the Jail. The
two generally talk earnestly TO-
gether. The brothers have both
improved considerably in health.
Jim is described by the few who
get to see him as the picture of
health, while Piney has lost the
look OF consumption that at the
time of his arrest foreshadowed
quick death if he were kept con6n-
ed long time. AS prisoners the
brothers were not at all alike.
While Jim has always kept to him.
self, Piney would talk to any body
and everybody who happened to
come along. Jim hardly ever re-
fers to the charge against him but
Piney continually asserted his in
nocence, and it is believed that it
will soon be established at the
coming trial of himself and his
brother.
Piney Pierce is something of a
genius for being of the untutored
masses. He has shown himself to
be very clever with the pen and
pencil, This rough riverman has
gfGn evidence of an ability to re-
produce likenesses that could be
easily developed. While he was
locked alone in Cell No. 2, in the
dilapidated Chester lookup, he
used common pencil he carried
with remarkable effect on the
| whitowa shed walls Jrs+a,d or
sitting and brooding over the terri
BILE charge that has been br ought
against him he decorated his mar
row quarters. OF course. the work
| WAS crude. hut the undeuelonad