The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-12
CROSSLEY TRIED FOR
A GRAVE OFFENSE
ON THE STAND HE MADE A De
NAL OF THE CHARGES.

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Jeffrey Powers and Thomas Ford,
Jr., Convicted of Keeping Speak
easy-several Pleas of Guilty En-
tered-Liquor Men Charged with
Selling on Sunday Escaped by Pay
ing the Costs--west Side Boys on
Trial for Breaking Into Foundry.
Other Cases Heard.
n, j. Crossley, a middle aged man,
was tried before Judge r. w. Arch
bald yesterday. charged with having
attempted to criminally assault Minnie
Marsh, a 9-year-old girl Crossley is u
veteran of the Civil war and was for
wears a commercial traveller and Is
widely known through this part OF the
state. His daughter, beautiful young
woman. sat in the court room all day
and listened to the awful evidence ad-
duced against her father. She was
stylishly attired and her face was par
TALLY concealed by light black veil.
Notwithstanding the terrible nature
Of the charge against her father she
still clings to him.
Crossley at the time of the alleged
offense, July 1 last. lived in half OF u
double house on Gibson street between
washington and Adams avenues. Mr..
and Mrs. S. j. Marsh and their chill
dren occupied the other half or the
house. Eva Marsh testified that on
July | Crossley attempted to assault
her at the Erie and Wyoming Valley
station. and that on several occasions
he exposed his person, took undue lib
critics with her and spoke in a vile
manner.
Minnie Hine. another little girl, cor
roborated everything Eva Marsh sald
except with reference to the attempt
to assault. Crossley had not attempt
ed anything Of that kind with her, but
otherwise she had the same expert
ences with him. Bessie Marsh, age .
years, also gave some testimony about
Crossley's improper actions toward her
and her sister. The girls said that
Crossley always gave them money
when he was familiar and told them
not to say anything to their parents
about it.
HE DENIED CHARGES.
Crossley went on the stand in his
own behalf. He has been in Jail since
early in July awaiting trial. He denied
positively all of the charges made by
the little girls and limited, rather than
stated, that the prosecution was due
to enmity Of Mrs. Marsh towards him.
He knew things about her he said. On
cross-examination he denied that his
wife charged him with the offense for
which he is now on trial in the pres
ence of the chief of police and threat
ened to shoot him. He also denied
that he had. in the presence OF
the chief on the night of his ar
rest, said he would beg Mr.. Marsh's
pardon and leave the city the next day
IL the case against him was not prose-
cuted.
In his charge to the jury Judge Arch
bald said that the evidence would
hardly warrant conviction en- the
first count of the indictment. that Is,
an attempt to commit rape. The Sec
cnd count charges assault. The case
went to the jury at AS p. m.
Charles Graham. Richard Allen and
Francis Winwood, members of the
famous yellow Kid" gang from Hen
messy alley. West Side, were returned
guilty yesterday morning for burglar
izing the stores of Florey & Brooks
and the n. I. Phillips estate, and steal
ing from Tobey's Penn avenue store.
David Davis, another member of the
gang, was acquitted of the charge.
Harry Hill pleaded guilty. Judge
Archibald will sentence the youths Sat-
urday. and they will in all probability
be sent to the reformatory at Hunting
ton.
BOTH CONVICTED.
jeffrey Powers and Thomas Ford, jr.,
two young men from the West Side.
charged with selling liquor without a
license and selling on Sunday, were
arraigned before Judge Archibald. Pow
ers and Ford are charged with being
the proprietors of speakeasy on
Scranton street, near Kelly's block.
The place these young men are charged
with being the proprietors Of was one
of the worst in the city.
The defense tried to prove that
Powers is not connected in any way
with the ownership of the place, that
Ford is the sole proprietor. In fact,
when Ford, who is a one-legged man.
testified, he denied Powers connection
and stated that he was the sole pro-
prietor, that he has a lease for the
place. Alderman John P. Kelly, who
is the owner of the buildings. produced
in testimony the separate leases of
Powers and Ford.
County Detective Thomas Leyshon,
George Reese. Vincent Carlucci, Jos.
Serti. Angelic Fertello, Arthur Keene
and Tim Jones testified that they had
purchased beer Of Ford.
Attorney NJ. F. Conry, in stating his
case for the jury, said the defense
would prove that Ford was the sole
proprietor, that he had lease for the
building, and that Powers, who keeps
barber shop in the front of the place
was In no way connected with the
speakeasy. Ford was the first witness
for the defense. He admitted being
the proprietor, said he sold liquor on
Sunday and without license.
Powers. In his testimony. said he had
nothing to do with the speakeasy. that
he was not one of the proprietors, and
that he did not share In the profits
The jury convicted both men.
PLEAS OF GUILTY.
Anton Stein admitted having broker
into a Delaware and Hudson freight
car, and was fined 81, costs and giver
six months in the county jail.
In the case against Salvatore Pen
dola and Givalano Pendola, wherein
Charles Aronson was prosecutor, u YER
dict Of not guilty was returned yester
day and the costs divided.
Mary Carey, of West Scranton