Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-03-11
THE PERJURY CASES
Stephen Ball on Witness Stand When Court Adjourned to Monday.

Court Adjourned to Monday.
 Toward the close of the perjury cases in the superior court yester- day afternoon a good deal of new es- idence began to pour in and dispel the monotony that was gathering around 1t. The defense got Woicoft to make number of admissions, some Of which rather contradicted his pre- vious testimony, and succeeded in get ting him to laugh at the idea that there was hanging over his head complaint for assault with intent to murder. This the defense considers a big hit, for it shows that while Wolcott may not have been promised anything for letting the cat out of the bag" to quote himself, he still felt pretty safe he would not be prosecut- ed for assault with intent to murder, or for any other offense in connection with the famous Faber's switch case, If he testified for the state. The de- fense's idea is that no one will laugh at such serious charge hanging over his head if he has the slightest idea that he will be prosecuted for it.
 On the other hand, the state is con vinced that the crime with which van denmark is charged has been fastened around his neck by Wolcotts evidence alone, because whatever doubt ne may have had regarding the presence of others at the switch, he has none about Vandemark's. All through ms examination Wolcott displayed self possession that be did not show when on the stand during the other tridAs.
 All doubt about the position of Ghe boys in the case was removed late III the afternoon when stephen Bau was put on the stand and testified with out any hesitation. It was the lacK of the evidence they are expected 10 give now that saved the strikers, was the general belief at the time of tnear trial last June. More or less of tn1s evidence came out during the Doys own trial last fall, and it was upon the strength of this that the accuseo and Marsh were arrested on Wal rants issued by Judge Wheeler. It is supposed that the boys made staLe- ments after their commitment 10 the jail which placed the authorities Ill possession of the full facts of the as sault. Yet there was no malcdlion of such a happening given by stepnen Ball in his evidence at the ciose oi the hearing yesterday. !
 Tha pith of the case will be shown in the evidence of Ball, for his know ledge of tho assault is substantially that of the others. The ruInors re- i garding the unusual treatment accord ed the boys during their detention m iail will be inquired into by the de- fense. and Sheriff Dunham may be put on the stand in defense of this alleged treatment or denial of 1t.
 Wolcott was on the stand at press hour yesterday. calm and collected, with one leg thrown carelessly over the other. The brass knuckles ehat have figured in the other cases were shown him and he denied they were his though he admitted owning two hairs at one time 1t did not look Familiar enough, he said, to nave him caM them his property. His had burr on them. These had not He also admitted having the weapon with him at the scene of the assault, but did not use 1t.
 Did you attempt to strike Merna or Morrissette?" he was asked, ana he said he did not know what was meant. Then he said he did attempt to use it. ,,
 "What did you have it for, thenW
 "'Twas my intention to use It, he replied.
 ssHow do you mean?"
 .To strike if got the opportun- iy."
 Again he said he did not recognize the knuckles as his property and he denied that at the first trial he swore that to the best of his knowledge It was his. He was positive that Van demark, the accused, was at his pooi room about 8 or 10 o'clock the night Of the assault and also at the switch. Then he said that though he might be mistaken about Vandemark being Tt the pool room. The was at the switch all right" MT Kennedy again tried to get him to admit that he struck at the car crew with ms ms knuckles and he positively said he dld not He also said that he did not testify at the first trdaa.
 .Yes. sure, did try to get in blow at them," and he added that he sup posed he would have struck at them had he the chance. There were no other brass knuckles in the crowd but his. It will be recalled that MOTT1SSGLL4 ICSL1AGu thAb AO "1~S struck on the forehead with what he thought were brass knuckles.
 The scene of the assault was left for a while and Wolcott was taken back to the question of reward for testifying, and he said that he went to work for the trolley company in Bridgeport as strike breaker in July, after the close of the first cases here. He said he had to get work some where, though he did not ask any body else but the trolley company for it and that he did not know whether or not he will be prosecuted for as- sanlt with intent to murder.
 MT Kennedy asked him If five or six witnesses had not testified at the first triaI that his reputation for truth and veracity was below par and the question was ruled out. Wolcott smiled and MT Kennedy asked him what he was smiling at. He denied emphatically that he was the leader N.~o IA H,tr4a TlrS