Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1908-05-21
Dietrich CASE
Goes To LUZERNE

9th inst. to show cause why change
of venue should not be ordered in the
case of Commonwealth VS.. Peter Diet
rich was held at the court house Mon
day. The examination of witnesses
took place during the forenoon. The
addresses by the attorneys occupied
| the court between 80 and :45 O'Clock
The application for a change OF
venue created good deal of interest
and there was quite body of spectat
ors in the court room. Court convened
at 10 O'Clock and the taking of testi-
mony began Immediately. His honor
Judge Evans and Associates Blee and
| Welliver were on the bench.
Peter Dietrich was in the courtroom
and sat beside his attorneys, Thomas
! 9. Welsh and Hon. Grant Herring.
Hon. H. NJ. Hinckley was associated
with the district attorney and took an
active part
! The witnesses subpoenaed by the de-
| fendant were called frst. They were
examined by Mr.. Herring, Mr.. Hinck-
| ley COZ 'Gcting the oss-examination.
EXAMINATION OF WITNESSES.
Wa. er o. Greene was the first wit
ness ca lied. He had heard the matter Of
| Peter Z ietrich's trial very extensively
! discussed He does not believe that
! the defendant can obtain fair trial
| in Montour county. He believes there
exists prejudice in the minds of the
| people against him. Nine or ten out
\ of dozen that have discussed the mat
ter in his hearing have expressed
! themselves against the defendant. He
/ himself had not heard the testimony
| but he had formed an opinion from
reading the account of the trials in
the Morning News.
William Fallon was the next wit
ness He had heard many men express
| themselves as to the guilt or innocence
of the defendant a large proportion
of these people were from the coun-
| try. Their prejudice was clearly re-
vealed by their severe and intemper
ate language used in expressing them
/ selves as TO what ought TO be done
with the defendant. Clearly the pub
/ lie feeling is agains. Dietrich and the
! witness feels sure that he can not re-
/ citve fair trial in Montour county.
OF I. g remarks heard many more were
/ against him than were in his favor.
Joseph Lechner, was sworn. He had
heard the matter discussed by hundreds
of persons ever since the unfortunate
episode that occurred when the defend
] ant was out on bail. After that occur
red, the witness said. even some Of his
friends got sore' on him and there
has been a deep feeling against him.
/ This prejudice, he believes. is so deep
that it will be impossible for the de-
fendant to obtain a fair and impartial
jury.
NJ. H. Schram was called. He had
heard Dietrich's trial discussed by
people living in the country and in
the town. The opinions expressed were
generally unfavorable to the defend
ant This adverse sentiment, he explain
ed, in his opinion might operate against
securing an impartial jury rather than
to prevent a fair trial if jury were
obtained.
f. NJ. Gotwalds of the Morning
News Staff, was called to the stand
His testimony related chiefly as to the
scope of the reports printed during the
former trials and the extent to which
the court proceedings were made pub
lie.
Fred Mayan was called. He had
heard several hundred persons talk on
the subject of Dietrich S trial and they
nearly all seemed against him. He
does think he could obtain fair trial
in this county.
Francis Hartman, a teamster was
next called. In his work about town
he has heard the matter freely discus
sed and the sentiment, he said, seems
to be almost wholly against Dietrich.
He does not think that he could Sc.
cure fair trial in Montour county.
John Doster was sworn. He has not
heard the matter very generally dis
cussed, but the sentiment seems gener-
ally against the defendant. Owing to
the small size of the county the wit
ness thinks the prejudice against the
defendant might operate against fair
and impartial trial
Andrew Schatz was sworn. The
sentiment Of the people, ne said, is
against Dietrich. Owing to this pub.
lie prejudice, he believes it would be
difficult to secure jury for Dietrich.
Charles Hilcher, a paper hanger,
who gets about town great deal,
testified that he hears a great deal of
unfavorable comment on Dietrich's
case, which convinces him that there
is deep-seated prejudice against the
defendant.
Andrew Smith, butcher, who drives
through the country couple of times
a week, and is therefore acquainted
with the views of the country people
! testified that the prejudice against
/ niatrich at,oonO ba 70 Sc 1ao,N