Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-30
FRIGAR LAWYERS
OPEN BATTLE FOR
CLIENTS LIBERTY
Ask Boland Slayer's Re-
lease on Bail-Inquest
Delayed
MISS SYKES IN COURT

Ellis d. Frlgar self-confessed slayer ot
Edward Boland, Miss Amanda Sykes, his
iancee, fguratlvely at his side. began his
fight for freedom today. Through his at.
torneys he appealed to Judge Monaghan, oi
Common Pleas Court No. 8. for release on
bail until a jury should decide what pun.
lshment he deserved for shooting Boland in
defense Of his betrothed and himself.
Through a misunderstanding between the
Coroner and the District Attorneys office,
the inquest which had been announced for
this morning was not held. 1t probably
| will be called next Tuesday. The Coroner
explained that no one had discussed with
him any plans for an early inquest and
that IL they had he certainly would not
call It because the case deserved "a thor
ough investigation first"
There Is no reason for such haste" said
Coroner Knight "In other cases inquests
| have not been held for week and longer
after the death. ! am in no hurry TO con-
| duct this inquest. If Mr.. Frigar is released
on bail before the inquest it will surprise
me more than anybody else in Philadelphia
1t has never been done before"
| Nevertheless the attorneys for Frigar
| went before Judge Monaghan at 10 o'clock
| and appealed for their clients release on
bail. Attorney William Clark Mason, who
| is assisting Attorney Franklin Spencer
| Edmonds explained to the judge the mis-
| understanding about the inquest and asked
| that the hearing be called
While Frigar's attorneys were holding the
conference in the Coroner's office. his fiancee
sat on a bench outside. Her mother sat on
her right and John Frigar, father of the
prisoner. sat at her left. She chatted with
them until presently they were Joined by
William Hatrlck her cousin.
While waiting there, policeman en-
tered the door and brought Miss Sykes
a note. 1t was from Frigar, who had spent
the night in a cell and had not seen her
since they were In court together yesterday.
Miss Sykes read the note and. smiling,
folded It and tucked it in her white silk
waist.
About twenty witnesses who had ap.
peared to testify at the inquest were in
the room. They were dismissed by the
Coroner after being served with sum.
monses to appear at the hearing.
Miss Sykes went with her mother and
the father of Frigar to the Common Pleas
Court They chose a seat in the fourth
row, Miss Sykes sitting near the aisle,
where she could see all the witnesses as
they took the stand and her fiance as he
sat back of the lawyers.
BRoUGHToN ON STAND.
Walter NJ Broughton, 1858 Canton
street, who was with Boland when he was
shot, was the first witness called to the
stand His first testimony was an identifi-
cation Of the scene where the shooting oc-
Cured. He was shown photographs of that
part of Hairpin Turn in Neil drive. AS
Broughton looked at the photographs, he
turned them toward the light. Frigar, who
was sitting behind his attorneys at the
table before the bar, moved in his seat so
that he could see tenn.
Broughton was questioned by Assistant
District Attorney James Gay Gordon. Fri
gar eyed him closely and Miss Sykes, back
among the spectators, leaned over resting
her elbow on her knee her chin in her palm
and watched the witness
Broughton, in answer to Gordon's ques-
tions, first outlined the events leading up to
the shooting. He answered questions about
the spots on the scene where he stood
where the automobile was where Boland
was.
He said that Frigar was In the auto
mobile and standing up when he shot
Frigars statement to the police after he
had surrendered himself was that he was
out of the car fixing its engine, which had
stalled.
Where was the man when the shots
were fired?" asked the attorney.
He was in the machine" answered
Broughton.
Are you sure?"
yes" asserted Broughton, "I am positive
of that"
Miss Sykes appeared interested in this
testimony. She had been relaxed, leaning
back on the court bench, her right arm limp
over its back. Once or twice she had
yawned. She sat up when Broughton said
that her hance was in the car with her.
A detective passed down the aisle with
the photographs which Broughton had been
looking at The crowd watched the pic
lures as they passed. Then they looked at
Miss Sykes, She, too, was trying to get a
glimpse of the photographs.
SAYS LARK" WAS PLANNED.
Broughton said he had left his home early
the Tuesday night of the shooting and had
met his friends at 1880 o'clock at the bridge
over the Schuylkill at Ridge avenue. He
said that they had there discussed going
out on lark"
What do you mean" asked Attorney
Gordon, by a larlS?'
I'VE planed to play a joke on Martin
Pinyard."
What kind OF a joke?"
We were going to play ghost, We
thought II would be a good joke"
Before they started, the witness said
Boland the victim, went to his home and
got sheet AT saloon near the Falls
Of Schuylkill he obtained bottle of beer
After Broughton had testified, Martin
Sadler, 22 years I'D, 155 Arnold street,
another Of Boland's companions, was called
to the stand. His testimony corroborated
Boland's.
1t has been learned that Frigar the
morning after the shooting, went home and
packed his trunk, planning TO return i'm
mediately TO Tampico, Mex. The night of
the shooting, II was said, he spent at the
home of brother-in-aw Austin Sharp
less, at Concordville, Delaware County, Ave
miles beyond his own home.
He drove TO his own home the next morn
ing and told his mother. Mrs John Frigar.
She pleaded with him to give himself up
and confess the murder to the police
FAIL WEATHER TO CONTINUE