Evening journal., 1903-06-26
CORNELL ASKED FOR
KEYS To WHITES CELL
Chief OF Police Black and
Warden Meserve Saw
Him With Lynchers
DISMISSED BY MAGISTRATE HOLLIS

The office of Magistrate George II,
Hollis was crowded to the doors this
morning when Arthur Cornell was ar
raigned on a charge of manslaughter I'm
connection with the lynching Of George
White. Attorney General IL. II. Ward
and his deputy, Robert II. Richards
represented the State, and former
United States Senator l.. Irving Handy
and former Deputy City Court Judge
Sylvester D. Townsend appeared for
the defendant.
Alibi for Cornell
State Detective Theodore Francis
was the first witness called, and testi-
ned that he heard the defendant hold
ing an argument with a man named
Saunders relative to the lynching in
the saloon Of Michael Sharkey No. $40
Market street. He placed him under
arrest
Saw Man at Workhouse.
Chief of Police George Black deposed
that he. saw Cornell on the night White
was executed at the first gate in the
workhouse while it was being battered
down.
The Chief was asked il he saw any
reputable citizens in the front rank of
the crowd that was forcing its way into
the prison, and he answered, Il did not
but noticed some in the rear Of the
crowd"
'Is there any doubt .in your mind
that you saw Conell?' asked Mr..
Handy.
There is no doubt in my mind as TO
the identification of the defendant"
Did you notice the color Of his
clothes?"
mo, sir"
What kind of a hat did he have
on?"
"A light, soft one"
Asked Meserve for Keys.
Warden A. S. Meserve was then call
ed, and testified that he saw Cornell in
the third vestibule Of the west wing OF
the prison.
Il was approached by the defend
ant" said Mr.. Meserve. "and requested
by him that in order TO prevent un-
necessary destruction, to give him the
keys leading to Whites cell"
Il refused, and someone then patted
me on the back and said: Preserve
your honor, old man, just keep quiet
we will get the nigger.'
Il heard Cornell give instructions
to the men in the crowd and am posi-
tive he was there"
What kind of hat did he have on?
asked Mr.. Townsend.
"a dark, soft one"
nj ..T-F..
mony regarding the color of the hat
1 Cornell is alleged to have worn on the
night in question:
mo, sir: / did not hear his testi-
mon-."
At this point Mr.. Ward announced
that the State rested.
The evidence produced by the de-
fense was a surprise to the States at
torney but was heard with evident de-
light by the spectators present
A number OF witnesses We're called
and rebutted the testimony Of Chic
Black and Warden Meserve. Their evi.
dence was similar and TO the effect thaf
Cornell was at ShellDot Park betweeI
II and u o'clock on the night White
was iynched.
Francis Arrested Cornell.
George Shuler secretary Of the Fra
ternal Order OF Eagles, testified tina
he rode in a car from Shellpot Parl
to Eighth and Market streets with th'
defendant on Monday night, AZ abou
II o'clock. The trolley arrived a
Eighth and Market streets at IL min
utes past IL o'clock.
Evan Alnscow deposed that Cornell
came into his brothers restaurant a
Eighth and Market streets, between I.
and 1 O'Clock on Tuesday morning 70
a plate Of beans, and noticed him par
ticularly because he objected TO paying
fifteen cents for his order
Robert ]. Black. John A. Newell
Charles Fl. Boyle and a number of othe
witnesses deDosed that they saw IN
defendant on the night Of the lynch
ing at the time he was supposed to hav'
been at the worl1housc.
Former State Detective Walter Wit
sill testified that he was one OF the dep