The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-09-26
TIL-

| llSlOn on Ounuay, May Sun, SWOIe lud
| Sommers and Sassaman hired the
horse to drive to Catawissa. The ami
NAL driven was "Chester," IL years
old, and used to the track. He hat
been driven in 2:23-he was not hard
TO handle and the witness could have
stopped him in one hundred yards
Witness considered the horse safe and
had hired him out right along. The
defendants returned with the horse
and buggy at quarter after IL o'clock.
They said they were at Catawissa.
Below Rupert they said horse at
;ached to a spring wagon had taken
fright and ran away. A man, they
SAID, was "dead or dying" and that
they would give fuller account in the
morning. The whip, the carpet and
one of the side curtains of the buggy
were gone. The left hind leg Of the
horse was cut and there was a mark
on the inside hub of the right front
wheel as if struck by tire.
A number of other witnesses were
called for the purpose of proving that
the defendants were intoxicated on
the night of the accident.
Among the witnesses who testified
were John G.. Voris, Daniel Cotner,
Elijah Hartman, William Price, Pat
rick McBryan, James Mullen, J. P.
Bare and DR.. Curry. The latter, who
assisted at the autopsy on the dead
body of Wellington Hartman, descrb-
ed the nature of the injuries, which,
he said, were sufficient in themselves
to produce death, although death in
all probability resulted from the shock
AT 2;45 p. m the Commonwealth
rested. William Chrisman went to the
jury, outlining the defense.
Miles Sassaman was placed upon
the stand first He is a laborer, AZ
years OF age, married and the father
of four children. He holds the office
of constable in Catawissa township.
He described the ride from Catawissa
TO Danville along the river road and
the ride to Bloomsburg along the
Valley road after stop of about one
hour in Danville. Sommers drove.
The horse was trotting fast. Witness
wanted Sommers to hold him in, but
the animal was hard to hold. They
did not see Mr.. Hartman's spring wag-
on till they were within IS feet of it.
They tried tcttop, but collision oc-
cured. The right front wheel Of the
buggy struck the left hind wheel of the
spring wagon. The buggy was upset
and himself and Sommers were thrown
out. He denied that they were under
the influence OF liquor. They had but
one drink he said and that was beer,
obtained in Danvile.
George Sommers was next called to
the stand. His testimony mainly cor
roborated that of Sassaman. He did
not see Mr.. Hartman's horse and wag-
on until within IS or 80 feet of them.
He pulled in on the horse, but the ami
NAL shot ahead all the faster. They
were only trotting at an "ordlnary road
gait" He denied that the horse he
was driving leaped into box of the
spring wagon.
The right front wheel of the buggy
driven by the defendants was produc-
ed IN court and mark on the inside
of the hub, alleged to have been made
by the tire of the spring wagon, was
placed in evidence TO show that the
collision occurred as described by the
defendants.
A number of citizens of Montour
township, including Lincoln Boody, of
Rupert, testified as to the general
good character of George Sommers,
who is the constable of the township.
The deliberations of the jury after
the case had been placed in their
hands, was brief Theyreturned about
half past three o'clock with a verdict
of voluntary manslaughter.
Upon the announcement of the ver-
dict William Chrisman, attorney for
defense, moved for an arrest Of judg-
ment and new trial, reasons TO be
filed within three weeks.
Both Sommers and Sassaman were
under $1,000 bail. In view of convic-
tion Judge Little stated that he would
have to demand additional bail. In
the case of Sassaman, who was recon-
mended to the mercy Of the court, the
judge was content to let the bond re-
main at its former figure $1,000. Som
mers' case was different and the court
asked that he enter bail in $1,000,
both men to appear at December
term of court.