The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-10

well advanced IN years, oI ilarNeu eI -
centricitles, who Is one of the noted
characters about town, was put on
trial late yesterday afternoon before
Judge r. w. Archibald, in the main
court room, on the charge of BIAS
phemy. County Detective Thomas
Leyshon is the prosecutor.
Westcott was at one time a lawyer
and is noted about town for his ar
guments against Christianity. He
boasts of the fact that he in an inf
del and he has repeatedly stated that
when he was practicing attorney in
the Eastern state he frequently Of
fered a reward to any person who
would prosecute him for blasphemy,
and apparently what is his dearest
wish is now being gratifed, although
he has not seen fit to offer a reward
here.
When the court opened in the morn
ing, Wescott asked permission to con-
duct his own defense. This the court
granted, but later in the day the
permission had to be revoked by the
assigning of counsel to look after
Westcott's case. He was bobbing up
before the court every time there was
a lull in the proceedings with some
motion, which he delivered himself Of
in loud tone Of voice. 1t required the
combined efforts of half the court off,
GERS to keep Westcott in a seat and
likewise to keep him from disturb
ing the court.
WANTED IT QUASHED.
When Westcott appeared before the
court in the morning, he asked that the
indictment against him be quashed,
for the following reasons:
Believing that man Of conviction, who is
ready to answer and be responsible for every
word he ever uttered, has right to fair treat
mcnt in any court when words he never uttered
are put in to his mouth. Believing this he asks
for this rule. Because on the face of this indict
ment, the words and their meaning were never
spoken OH the face Of this earth by any man or
dreamed to be spoken of in the brain of any
man. except some base inforncr of the old in
QUESTION, as by detective living low enough for
the work.
Further, because in the manifest perjury on
the face of this indictment, the highest work
CT the court at this time in this case is the
work OF placing this informer where he can have
advantage Of his own wrong; and inquiry into
his methods, and the removal of such menace
to the liberty Of Lackawanna county and this
state.
Because (although the defendant never uttered
these words) there is nothing in these words, in
any sense, to constitute the crime blasphemy.
Therefore your petitioner prays the court to
grant rule to show cause why this indictment
shall not be quashed.
Dated at Scranton, Lackawanna county, this,
9th day of October, 1900.
Edwin Stone Wescott, Defendant.
This paper, the court said, contained
a statement Of the way the defendant
looked at the charges against him, but
contained no reason why the indct-
ment should not stand, and the motion
to quash was therefore overruled.
THOUGHT HIM UNBALANCED.
Toward the close Of the afternoon,
when Westcott's case was called for
trial, he was again before the court
and read a request that witnesses be
subpoenaed in his behalf at the en-
pense of the commonwealth. Judge
Archibald directed that the desired SUBJ
poenas be issued. Westcott continued
to talk, and Judge Archibald said:
This man seems to be unbalanced,
and I believe l ought to assign some
one to assist him in the trial of the
case" He thereupon named Attorney
c. Ballentine.
Westcott was on his feet in an in
stant, and in his deepest tones was de-
claring that If he must have a lawyer,
he wanted to select him. Activity on
the part Of court officials landed West
colt in a chair, where he continued to
protest that he wanted a say in select
ing the lawyer who should defend him.
Mr.. Ballentine was anxious to be le-
lieved of the responsibility, but the
court said it would be pleased to have
him perform the duties imposed, and
the work of selecting jury was taken
up. Mr. Jones had completed his OPEN
ing to the jury when court adjourned.
THAT old gentleman. instigated by
the devil, went out in the public streets
and uttered the most blasphemous Lam
guage," said Mr.. Jones. "He takes
pride in saying he is an infldel and Il
blasphemer, and he has become
nuisance in this community"