Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-12-09
rHr coNv1crroN Of FIRTH.

The elimination OF the trlal Vi ~
| liam ]. Firth, married man, ana
former ticket seller in the PennsyiValiia
Railroad station at Chester Pa, who
was charged with enticlng 10 year,olo
Ethel MAY Pierce from her home last
sentember was given in yesterday
Gayette The accused was declared
guilty OF clipping with the girl. Miss
p;arco shot and killed herself with
F;rtb's revolver when the pair were
discovered, registered as man and wife,
IN hotel at Alexandra. The Judge
deferred sentence.
Throughout the trial Firth conducted
his case with the deliberation OF prac-
ticed lawyer. After cross-examining
William Pierce and his wife, parents OF
the dead girl, and getting Mrs. Pierce
TO admit that she had invited him TO
her home and there furnished him with
liquor. Firth took the stand IN his
own defense.
He said that he was under a severe
influence" exercised by Mrs. Firth,
and he denied being too friendly with
Ethel, though he testified that he and
the girl registered as man and wife IN
the Alexandria hotel.
Firth told OF parties" with Mrs.
Firth and her daughter, declaring that
they took him to Atlantic City two
weeks before the elopement, and that
Mrs. Firth had put her wedding ring
on Ethels finger.
She said the people would think
that we we're married and that it would
look right for us to be together" he
testified.
I'VE stopped in hotel at Atlantic
City, and Mrs. Pierce was aware OF
all that took place. She never made
any objection to anything that did.
When Mrs. Pierce took the stand
Firth asked her If she had ever been
with him and her husband in hotels
in Atlantic City. She admitted that
she had. To further questioning she
admitted that she had taken numer-
Gus drinks Of intoxicants on these oc-
casions.
Firth asked her il she didn't know
that he was married man and if she
did not know positively that his rela-
tons with her daughter were more
than those of a friend.
Mrs. Pierce made no direct reply to
these questions.
Firth then asked her il she had not
introduced her daughter, while with
him in Philadelphia, as Mrs. Firth"
The mother denied that she had ever SO
introduced the girl.
Taking the stand himself, Firth said
the advances bad been all from Ethel.
He said he tried to break with her, but
had finally fallen before her entreatie'.
"Our friendship" he said, con
tinued until one morning about 2:45
O'clock think it was September le.
Then / received phone call from
Ethel May saying that she was coming
10 me and that / must take her away.
told her not to do so, but she came
to the station. | again begged her to
90 home, but she implored me to take
her away, and / consented. "
After telling OF the trip to Alexan-
dria, he said: we registered at a
hotel as man aud wife, using my name,
but a fictitious address. During our
stay in the room Ethel May wept and
implored nae to take care OF her, and |
begged her to return home. Late in
the afternoon the proprietor knocked
upon the door and said l was wanted
in the oHiice. Upon hearing this the
girl tried to throw herself from a win
dow. We knew it was all up then.
81 had taken my revolver from my
pocket, and it was lying on the bed
when Chief of Police Goods raped on
the door. When he said he wanted us
/ heard shot, and turned in time to
sec the girl fall. "
Chief Goods who attended the trial
as witness returned to this city yes
terday evening.
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