The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-09-11
KiSer Murder Trial.

]
The trial of Charles S. Murphey for the
murder of VIM. Kiser is still going on in
Clarion county and may last greater
| portion of this week. The Common
wealth attorneys have rested their side of
the case for the present and the defense
has been offering testimony since Satur-
day. Monday Charles Murphy, the ac-
cused was on the stand in his own be-
half during which great interest was
manifested by the spectators and court
people.
lie denied almost every statement re-
garding himself that had been male by
the witnesses for the Commonwealth ex-
cept that he had driven to Iron City
about June 20 with Henry Burket and
the latter had talked " ith Mong. Did not
know what the conversation was about
but one of them spoke of plan to ROD
Kiser. One OF them (Mong and Burket)
said he knew where to get burglar tools.
"Mr. Burket said to me What's the mat
ter with you going along?' was aston
ished and looked at them. There was
not another word said. We then started
a sck 10 Byromiown and there was not
word said on the way. Alter the murder
l saw Burket and asked him if he had
anything TO do with the Kiser murder
and he ripped out an oath and said he
hadn't. 1t has been perpleXing quest
ion with me to solve the problem as to
which Mong it was. Didn't meet Will
lam Mong until he got out of the PEN
itentiary in 1898. 1t was the only trip
ever made with Burket. My mind is
not very clear concerning my trip with
Burket to Iron City. Had been drinking
the night before and perhaps had two or
three drinks that day"
The witness denied specially ever hav-
ing talked with Barnacle or Shope about
the murder. lie also denied all the state
mentS made by Thomas in the witness
stand connecting him with the Kiser
case.
COnsid srable time was spent in going
ovel the letters purporting to have been
written by the prisiOner-w witness. Parts
of these letters he acknowledged writing
but claimed parts of sentences had been
erased in the original and other words
written in to replace ihem, Continuing,
he said
"I am 6l years of age. During my
life have been engaged at work inside
and outside. Had little store at Gut
onvlle good many years ago. Went to
Byromtown. Kept livery stable there
a while. Did not keep livery in 1899.
Cross examination: 81 saw some ex
hibits at the penitentiary. Some of thest
may be them or part of them. Did no
examine them very much. Mr.. Cribs
handed me one there and | saw il
was Thomas Immediately and handed il
back. Thought it was too Gead open and
shut who wrote it and would keep tha
to myself that it would be a good thing
for the court and jury, at that time l de-
MED had written any of them. Didn't
know whether or not the district attor.
ney was present. Cribbs talked to int
more than once in the penitentiary.
"Heard Burket and MOng talking
about robbing Kiser. One of them sale
he knew of a set of burglar tools over a
Hickory and that he would get them anC
they would rob Kiser some Saturday
night. One of them, | can't remember
which one, said we ought to have some
one else go along. Burket said to m,
What's the matter with you goinl
along | didn't say anything, just look
ed at him, one of them said they woulC
go on Sunday night, that Kiser would bt
at church. that it wouldn't take long to dc
the job. II told any one | told Thomas
first about it, and Henderson next. TolC
Thomas somewhere about Byromtown
Think 1 told Henderson first, he wa
boarding at may house, working on th
pipe line. After l came back from th
show business in 1899 swapped one o
the horses. Traded with Hugh Hanni
afte. came back from the show wan
to say right here that never had any
conversation with Shope in regard to thi
matter. Talked with him about our sen
teuce in the chapel of the peuitentiary
He said he had Is years. 1t would no
take three minutes to do all the talking
did in the church. | was acquainted
with Frank Sarvey. He was not relate,
to the Mougs. | do not know ifhe was
brother of Cyrus Sarvey. do not know
, Samuel Sarvey."