The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-05-30
Haines Was ACQUITTED.


No trial in the Burlington county
courts has created. more interest than
, that in which Alfred Haines was the de-
, PENDANT on the charge Of attempting to
kill William p. Bryan. The main part
of the story of the state was told in THE
News last week. The principal witness
, for the prosecution, was Mr.. BRYAN.
When the shooting took place he and
Haines were the only persons in the
room. Haines, according to Bryan's
story, asked for paper, and when the
latter reached over on the table to get it
the shot was fred from behind, the bull
let going drought the lower end of
cap that Bryan had on and striking the
wall some distance away, failing to pene-
trate the lath and dropping on sewing
machine near by.
In addition to this testimony some
witnesses were called to make connect
ing links in the story and the defence
was opened on Tuesday. Robert Pea
cock, who represented Haines, declared
the whole affair was frame-up on the
part of Bryan, who wanted to create
sympathy for himself and get out of
paying Haines money that he owed him.
J Mr.. Peacock even went so far as to
charge that Bryan had done the shoot
ing.
Haines took the stand. He said wages |
were due him for work on the Bryan |
place for seventeen months. He had
not received any cash since September
and that was for the first six months of
the two years he had worked on the
place. This was paid to him by Mrs.
Bryan and she has not been on the
place since last December. He did not
deny having revolver but said it was
given him by Mrs Bryan's son for the
purpose of killing chickens. He had
never used it.. He said he was in the
house when the shot was fired. He was
looking out of window when he heard
the report. When he turned he saw
Bryan with revolver in his hand. The !
holes in the cap were not shown to him
until the day after the shooting and he
did not see any holes in the wall until
the next morning. He slept in the
house all night and the next day was
sent by Bryan to a place about two
miles away to fix some roads. In the
meantime detective Parker had arrived
and had made a search. Haines ad-
mitted having a revolver and that it
was in drawer in the house where any
body could get it. How there happen
ed to be an empty shell in it he could
not say. Bryan had a revolver all the
ime and had frequently said he expect
ed he would shoot himself some day.
Mrs. Bryan had expressed the same fear.
After the shooting Bryan searched
Haines but did not find any revolver on
him.
Several witnesses were called to testify
to the character Of the two men. They
said that Haines had always been
known as truthful, peaceable citizen,
and they also testified that Bryan 'srepu-
tation for truth was somewhat shady.
One of the character witnesses caused a
laugh by his answer to the question, {
what is his reputation for truth and
veracity?" This witness asked that the
word "veracity" be explained, and when
that was done he said st could not be
worse"
In his argument to the jury Mr.. Pea
cock laid much stress upon the condition
of the cap. The bullet holes, if such
they were, were through two thicknesses
of cloth and there were four perforations.
Then the bullet had gone several feet to
wall. Attention was called to the fact
that the hole purported to be made by
bullet was not Jagged but was nearly
square as if cut out. Mr.. Peacock also
asked the jury tc, pay attention to the
powder marks which Bryan exhibited.
The shot, according to his testimony,
was fired from the rear, and he showed
powder marks could not get on the inside
of the ear if the saot came from behind II
He also called attention to the fact that
Haines was asked to remain all night in
the house as protector to the man he
had just attempted to kill.
The jury retired Tuesday afternoon
and came in about half-past ten in the
evening with a verdict OF not guilty.
Mr.. Peacock was warmly congratulated
on his success. The prosecutor CT the ,
pleas had for his assistant in this case
former prosecutor Atkinson, and Mr..
Peacock stood alone. The general i'm