Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-08-08

West Chester, Pa, Aug. 3.-William
II. Pratt was yesterday formally held
on the charge that he murdered his
wife Anna The hearing, which took
place in tho little reception room of
the jail did not last more than 10 min
utes, and only two witnesses were ex-
amined. but in that time the common
wealth showed that IL has in its rosses
sion serious evidence against the ac-
oused.
This, in the opinion OF the police,
has been greatly strengthened by find
of Chief OF Police Jelferis 10 the cellar
of the Pratt house last night Con
cealed under n coating Of dust on a
beam in the cellar he found the knife
with which it is believed the woman q
head was nearly severed from her body.
1t is similar in shape and size to the
one found in the hand OF the dead
woman, but, unlike that dull bladed
instrument. this shows signs OF having
been recently sharpened 1t had evil
IDENTIFY boen carefully secured before
being placed were it was found, but
despite that fact superficial examna-
tion shows on 1t numerous minute
spots. 1t is now 10 the possession of
Prof q. 3. Cochran, who will care
fully scrane itand analyze the scrap
ingH to determine IL they are human
blood.
Another important point disclosed ut
the hearing was in the testimony OF Dir.
Ellwood Patrick, one of the physicians
who examined the body Of Mrs. Pratt
aud searched the house Immediately
after the crime waa discovered. lie told
of the partial imprint Of blood
stained hand on the wal paper OF the
back stairway. lndistinct il was, yet ID
can be measured and used in identify
ing the criminal. Ono finger is per-
fectly outlined. it is said District
Attorney Baldwin will not reveal his
plans with regard to this evidence.
The hearing was held in the jail be-
cause oil the morbid crowd that sur
rounded the Justices office. Pratt was
Thomas w. Pierce. while District At
toruey Baldwin was assisted by Lawyer
A. +. REID, especially engaged. Pratt
watched every move and listened in-
tsntly to every word.
DR., Patrick told OF viewing the body
at the foot OF the stairs, OF the bullet
wound in tina head and the gashes In
the throat. lie followed the trail Of
blood which ran through the house
from the bed on which the woman had
been lying, and finally down tho back
etair, with wall paper splasbed ON oil
siies with it. Then it was the witness
spoke of the hand. 1t was a man &
hand, he was positive. A large hand,
ne eaid, larger than that Of a woman 8.
From what you saw questioned the
district attorney, do you believe Mrs.
Pratt committed Auicidey" II do not, 7
was the positive answer.
Waiter t. Hall, one of tine coroner'f
jury, was the last witness. He told Of
seeing the bloody hand and also the
other marks about the house. His mos
important testimony was contradic
tion Of the prisoners statement of whaI
he had been doing on the day of tbs
murder. Hall swore that Pratt tolc
them no was in thu field pulling VI
dock weeds. "We yisited the place, >
he declared, land no docks had beer
pulled that day.
After the witness finished the dis
triot attorney demanded the clothing o.
the prisoner in the possession of hi,
counsel This Mr.. Pierce refused t,
give uD