Bridgeton pioneer., 1909-05-20
do was his reply.

Kinkle, Donegan got talking about
carting gravel for Mr.. Ackley, and
said he had carted five loads of gravel
when he should have carted but four
loads. That he had been living with
Mrs. Kinkle and that Somerfield had
got in between them, and that he
wanted to wipe out Somertield and
George. This was on Thursday, and
that on Friday he went to Champion
Hoffman's store to buy revolver, but
that he knew Hoffman would not sell
him pistol because he had no money,
but that he merely went there to get
the location of the revolvers so that he
would know where they were when he
went after them at night. That he
went to the cabin and saw, throuhg
where a window pane was out, Joseph
Somertield sitting in front of the stove
and he knew it was Joe
These statements were admitted in
evidence as voluntary admission and
with this the State rested.
In opening the defense, Mr.. Ward
said the defense was that Donegan was
irresponsible, that he was degenerate
and of incorrigible disposition. He
told the jury all that was asked was
that verdict of something less than
first degree might be found.
Mrs. Catherine Higgins, an aunt of
Donegan on his fathers side, of Phila.
| delphia, was the first witness called.
She said his mother died when he was
| about three years old and she took him,
and he lived with her until he was IL
years old, when he ran away. She had
| kept in touch with him. As a child he
was simple and had delusions and has
always had them Did not know that
| he used morphine or opium; didn t
| know that he drank liquor. AS boy
he was not bad boy, but he never
had any sense, she said.
Frank Sergeant, of Philadelphia,
testified that he had known Donegan
for about 8 years. Knew he had fits,
and was nervous and cigarette fend.
Mr.. Sergeant is saloon keeper.
Christopher Donegan, of Penn s
Neck. Salem county, cousin of Rich.
ard, was sworn. He said he saw him
when a small boy, and seven years ago
| was the last time he saw him until to-
day. He came to witness house and
remained three or four days; his wife
got afraid of him, and she sent him to
Philadelphia.
Mrs Mary Donegan, wife of Chris
topher Donegan, testified that Donegan,
when at her house seven years ago
made her afraid of him by following
her about the house and telling her
his troubles, and looked wild and ex-
cited. Asked her husband to take him
away.
Philip Donegan, another cousin of
Richard, from PENIS Neck, testified
as to the same visit that Donegan had
made to his home and the home of his
brother Christopher.
Rudolph Riess, Philadelphia, En-.
gineer of the Board of Education, said
ne has known Richarn Donegan fifteen
| years, but could not give much in
formation as to what he knew about
him. fs-~-
George Donegan, of 1911 Palethrope
street, Philadelphia, a brother Of
Richard, said he was an officer in
Philadelphia. There were four children
in their family, he said, himself,
Jame Eugene. (now dead) and Richard
From the brothers description, Richard
was always a cigarette and morphine
victim. He said he was in the Norris
town Insane Asylum twice; he escaped
once, and was arrested charged with
larceny, and the authorities notified
the Insane Hospital officers.
''Was he ever tried for that larceny {?
asked Mr.. Ward of the witness.
IT object" said Mr.. Fithian, "what
relevancy has that to this case?''
II think we ought to show every.
thlng the man did that will help his
case"
The Prosecutor said that if counsel
had anything like that in mind, il
should be discussed with the court al
side bar, and not before the jury.
After this conference the court sus-
tanned the objection
To questions the witness said his
brother was in the Insane Asylum in
1901 and 1902. Didn't know what wear
he escaped from the Asylum. Regard
ed his brother as insane without a
doubt
Wednesday Morning.
With the introduction of the eyi.
dence OF three unimportant witnesses,
the defence rested its case this morn
ing of the trial of Richard Donegan.