The Wilmington daily Republican., 1901-08-02
william Pratt, c,othlus.

s,sa. 4f9N
w. West Chester, Pa, August 1.-The,
Commonwealth today solved the lnys.
tsry of the dlsappearance Of the
clothing Of William P. Pratt, which
he is supposed to have worn on tho
day on which bis wife was found
done to death. After the Coronsr's
jury had rendered its verdict last
Thursday evening and 1t became a
certainty that the husband would be
arrested on the charge Of killing hts
wife, Maurice Pratt, q cousin Of tho
accused. and clerk in the National
Bank of Chester County, approached
District Attorney Baldwin, 80 the
latter alleges, and promised that III
the arrest was not made until after
the funeral on Saturday nothing
whatever would be removed from the
Pratt house and he would bold him.
self personally responsible for every.
thing that 1t contained from that
time (Thursday). Tha District At,
torney convinced that the accused
man could not escape, and satisfied
that nothing would be removed from
the premises accordingly deferred the
arrest until Saturday.
Last night however he learned that
Maurice Pratt, contrary to bis prom.
Use, had removed as late as last Sat-
urday, number Of papers belonging
to his cousin and several articles OF
wearing apparel. As soon as Mr..
Baldwin learned this be sent Chief Of
Police Jetferis with note to Maurice
Pratt, reques ting him to deliver the
clothing he had taken from the house
This Pratt refused to do and this
morning District Attorney Baldwin
had subpoena issued which sum.
moned him to appear before the
Justice at o'clock this afternoon
and bring with him the clothing TAX
en- by him from the Pratt house and
whatever other articles he may have
removed. William H. Pratt, the
accused, was brought from the jail
by Chief Of Police Jetferls to attend
the hearing.
Maurice Pratt was called to the
stand Immediately sworn but he re.
fused to prod,ce the articles: OF
clothing which the Commonwealth is =,
so anxious to get hold Of. He testl-
fed that lie had taken two shirts and
pair of trousers, with suspenders
attached, from the house, acknowledg.
Ing that they were handed to him by
the prisoner, already wrapped up,
and stating that they were In the
hands OF the latter's counsel, Thomas
W. Pierce. He refused to hand
them over because the latter advised
him not TO. This informa ton caus-
ed sensation. among those who were
listening to the proceedings and 1t Is
the chief talk about the town to.
night.
The prisoner listened to bis cousins
testimony with stolld indifference
and appeared to take nc interest
whatever in what was going on ex.
cept when bundle of papers be.
longing to him was produced by his
counsel as among the things taken -
from the house. While the papers
were being opened Pratt became
very much interested and looking
over the shoulder Of his attorney,
S scrutinizcd them closely as they
passed between the hands of the Disc
trict Attorney.
Among tile papers was the will Of,
the murdered woman. It was exc.
cuted in 1892 and was witnessed by
NJ. B. Pratt ana Jane II. Pratt.
Besides leaving everything to the
husband it made him the executor oi
the estate. There were also half a
dozen due bills given by Pratt to his
wife in amounts ranging from s25 to
500, showing that the husband was
a frequent borrower from his wife.
1t is commonly believed that the
shirt and trousers which Maurice
Pratt carried away from the house
are the ones worn by Pratt on the
lay of the tragedy. About dozen
witnesses kaye been subpGned for
thc hearing before Justice PaXson
tomorrow afternoon.