The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-08-07
PRATT HELD
FOR TRIAL.

Judge Butler remanding him to jai
for trial at the next term Ol Quart
err Sessions Court. OF the charge o
numbering his wife. The decis iol
was received with applause by tn
auditors, but it was quickly sup
pressed by Court officers.
| The courtroom was again crowd
ed to day to hear evidence in tn,
Pratt case, and the audience wa.
composed largely of women. Their
was the same curiosity on the par
OF the public to catch a glimpse a
the prisoner as was displayed yes
terday, and very large Grove
hung around the main entrance o.
the Court House as the pris
oner arrived and departed.
The accused man looked 4
little more cheerful than at any
time since be was placed under ar.
rest, aud he watched the witnesses
closely as they gave their testi.
mony.
A dozen witnesses were exam.
ined before noon, and OF those three
testified to having seen blood on the
prisoners face, hands and clothing
Harry Cochran. West Chester
cattle dealer. told OF having bar.
gained with Pratt for the purchase
OF couple OF cows, but, as Mrs.
Pratt objected to their sale. he did
not take them. Subsequently Rob-
ert Merrick bought the IN for $50 at
IL o clock on the morning Of the day
OF the tragedy.
Walter + Hail. member of the
Coroner 8 jury, told OF a CONVERSE
ton he had had with with Pratt
when the latter, in referring to re-
| ports about him in connection with
Mrs. Farra, stated that he was
sorry such rumors ever got into cir
cu!atlon, because they would inter.
tere with hin. gong in women's So.
eiety hereafter.
Willie Wise. the ten-year-old
berry picker, was called, and when
he appe AIRED in the witness box
there was a flutter OF exciteme ut
throughout the courtroom Ills
story was:
4 sometimes worked for Mr..
Pratt and on the day that Mrs.
Pratt died l went there vita
smaller Coy to pick raspberrles.
1t was about 80 o'clock when
we arrived there. aud we came
away about 3 O'Clock, While there
in the berry patch we heard Mrs.
Pratt cry out: oh Papa! Papa!
OUCH ] picked up seven boxes and
the other boy two, and started Tor
the house. Before we reached the
house we heard her cry again, but
not alter that. When we came up
10 the house Mr.. Pratt rushed out
ard went to the pumR,and washed
his face and hands. -
Did you notice anything on his
face and hand9 he was asked.
Yes. Sir: he had spot OF blood
on his forehead and blood on his
fingers. He brushed right BY me
when he came out Of the house
Willie got through with his story
very smoothly until he came 10 con.
tact with LAWYER Prices cross.
examination, when he was made to
say that ne had told a different
story to a newspaper reporter, TO
the effect that when he returned 10
the house from the berry patch he
saw Pratt carry the lifeless body
OF his wife into the house. The
boy said this story was not
true. as he had imagined it,
Mr.. Reid raised the following
points:
First From the position of the
powder smudge and blood mark on
the pillow she could not have killed
herself.
second-The assassin endcavored
TO make it appear case Of suicide.
Ihird-There could not have
been sut1iclcn, blood from the p!stol
wound to have gone from the top of
the back stairs 10 the bottom oil the
front steps because OF the loss OF
blood from the cuts inflicted at the
!ormer place.
Flth-Thc trail from the top of
the back stars to the bottom oil the
front stairs is inconsistent with the
theory OF suicide. 1t was not her
voluntary act, but the arm OF anoth.
er or assistance, that took her over
the course.
SlXth-Ihc position OF the BODY
was not, as you would expect to
find if she had cut her throat The
nature OF the cuts is positively con-
trary to the theory that it was her
own act.
seventh Four or five cuts on the
right hand arc more in accord with
the theory that her hand was
thrown up to protect herself.
ighlh-Contradlctions in Pralt's
testimony.
Ninth Blood marks on his fin.
gers under his nails and in the ear.
The DEFENDANTS counsel follow.
ed in brief attempt 10 prove sui
eide, alleging that the evidence
showed deliberate purpose on the
part of Mrs, Pratt to DESTROY her
self.
AS soon as Mr. Pierce concluded,
Judge Butler rendered his opinion,
peaking, in substance as follows:
The guilt or innocence Of the re.
iator is not involved at this time.
The question is whether the evi.
dence thus produced, standing
alone and unexplained, to a reason
able degree substantiates the
charge Of homicide. The guilt or
innocence Of the prisoner Will be
determined hereafter, when he has
the opportunity of presenting evil
dence in his defense. Until then
no opinion should be expressed.
We are Of the opinion that the