Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1901-09-26

|
The trial of George Sommers and
Miles Sassaman for voluntary man
slaughter has aroused a great deal Of
! interest and the attendance at court is
unusually large. Upon the reconven-
ing of court Tues lay morning examina-
ton of witnesses for the commonwealth
| began.
Jacob Hartman testified as to his
knowledge of the road and described
the spot where the accident occurred.
William Hartzell Iiveryman, of
Bloomsbury, of whom the defendants
hired the horse that figured in the col
lison on Sunday, May 9TH. swore that
Sommers and Sassaman hired the horse
to drive to Catawissa. The animal
driven was Chester" 12 years old, and
used to the track. He had been driven
in 2.23-he was not hard to handle and
the witness could have stopped him in
one hundred yards. Witness consider
ed the horse safe and had hired him out
right along. The defendants returned
with the horse and buggy at quarter
after - o'clock. They said they were
at CatawisSa. Below Rupert they said
a horse attached 10 q spring wagon had
taken fright and ran away. a man,
they said, was "dead OF dying" and
that they would give fuller account in
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
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cognized each other In the converse
tion following he learned that the other
man was Sassaman. Qdenttled one OF
the defendants as the mani. He de- !
tected the odor of liquor about Som
mers and concluded that he had been
drinking. The road, he said, was SO
feet wide with shallow cutters on each
side. A board was broken in bottom of
Mr.. Hartman's spring wagon; there was
also an imprint of horses shoe just be-
hind the front seat.
Among other witnesses who testified
were John q. Voris, Daniel COtner, Eli
iah Hartman, William +. Rishel, Martha
Righel. William Price, Patrick McBryan,
lanes Mullen.J. p. Bare aud DR.. Curry.
The latter, who assisted at the autopsy
on the dead BODY of Wellington Hart
man, described the nature of the in
jures, which, he said, were sufficient in
themselves to produce death, although
death in all probability resulted from
the shock.
At 2:45 D. m. the Commonwealth
rested. William Chrsman went to the
jury, outlining the defense.
Miles Sassaman was placed upon tie
stand first. He is laborer, 43 years OF
age, married and the father of four chill
dren. He holds the office of constable
in Catawissa township. lie described
the ride from CatawlsSa TO oahVllle
| along the river road and the ride TO
Bloomsbury along the Valley road after
a stop of about one hour in Danvllle.
Sommers drove. The horse was trottlng
fast. Witness wanted SommerS to mold
him in, but the animal was hard to hold
They did not see Mr.. Hartman's spring
wagon till they were withlh 10 leet OF IT,
They tried to stop, 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
tanned IN DahVil'e'
George Sommers was next called to
the stand. His testimony mainly cor