New-York tribune., 1907-05-23
FAMILY AGAINST BELL.
Father Refuses to Testify-Prisoner
Changes Counsel.

Much progress was made yesterday in the trial
| of John Bell former trolley car conductor. who
| is being tried before Justice Abbott, at Rich
! mond, Staten Island, for the murder of DR..
Charles Wilmot Townsend District Attorney
Kenny closed his IN the afternoon and an
adjournment taken until this morning The
| defence wifi begin its this morning and X
| is expected that by tonight Bell will know his
| fate Two sensational! instances marked the
| trial yesterday. Frederick Millegan. who had
been defending the prisoner. replaced by
Edward O'Reiy. of Brooklyn. Bell, it is under
stood, was not satisfied with the way Mr.. Mile
gan conducted his case Tuesday, and decided
TO make change.
Soon after court opened. Claus Holtermann a
baker, of Richmond, who had been constant
attendant at the trial, dropped dead in front of
the courthouse DR.. pevin, of New Dorp who
was summoned. examined Holtermann and said
he died from apopeXy.
The courtroom was crowded when Justice Abb
bott finally called the case Justice Abbott's
wife and two daughters were interested spec
tatOrs. In the opinion of many, Howard Bell, a
half-brother of the prisoner. proved the prose-
cution's most important witness. He testified
that on the night OF the day Dr. Townsend was
shot John called at & barber shop in which he
was waiting to be shaved and asked if he
could see him for few minutes. When he went
outside he said, John told him:
/ went to Staten Island to-day and I did the
trick. killed the doctor. 1 was in the house
for over half hour and hestated for some
time. But then l said to myself finally, He cid
not think about me and my wife: why should
/ worry about his children?"
The witness said John told him how he was
held up by policeman his way TO New
York. He said the policeman wanted to know
where he Jrba he
that he was on his way home he was allowed
TO proceed.
on cross examination the witness said John
had never told him the name of the physician.
he testified he often heard John say he was
gong 10 get revenge on doctor for his wife's
death. The witness said that at the time John
told him he had killed a doctor he did not pay
any attention TO it. he had often told him
untruthful stories
Mrs. Samuel Bell the prisoners stepmother
who the stand at the close of Tuesdays
session, was recalled wheuzcourt opened vester-
day morning. She said ID since Bells wife
died he had been living witHher at No 64s Hart
street, Brooklyn, and roomed with his half
prother, samuel On the morning Of the shoot
ing of DIR. Townsend Mrs. Bell said. John had
come nome about II o'clock He had been drink
ing but she would not say he was intoxicated
The woman said he told her he had been TO a
theatre in New York, and after the performance
I had 1;.1 met some friends. She had often heard
MN say he was going to get even with doctor
for the death OF his wife, but she did not know
what doctor he meant
During the Cross-eX eXamna tion II was brought
out that Mrs. Bells testimony before Coroner
Cahill. Inspector Schmittberger and District At
torney Kenny had been obtained from her
against her win. She said some one told her
that If she did not answer the question the way
the police wanted her TO, she would be sent to
prison.
Samuel Bell sr. father of the prisoner upon
taking the stand. asked by District Attor-
ney Kenny If he objected to giving testimony
against his son. With tears trickling down his
cheeks. he replied that he would not answer
any questions put to him. He excused.