Evening journal., 1916-03-15
HANDSBER IS Held
FOR TRIAL BY JURY
Alleged Slayer OF P. G.
MattSon Admitted TO
$4,000 Bail
JUDGE ADMITS
MYSTERY IN CASE

William Handsbcr, aged 20 years.
vas held today in 5000 bail for the
Court Of General Sessions ON charge
Of the mnrder Of Percy C.. Mattson, of
No. 1901 Sycamore street, by Judge
1hafchman after hearing numerous wit.
nesscs. including the widow, Mis-. louisa
Mattson.
Judge Churchman said he could not
pass on the credibility of the Witnesses
that under the law the sole question for
him was TO decide whether under the
facts presented there was probable
cause for the crime. lie stated that
there was mystery in the case. He said
il was possible that the widow might
have imagined her story, but that she
was n little above the average intel
lecnce The court added that the ac-
ruscd had made certain statements
which he afterwards admitted were nm
true. aud that he evidently was the last
person to see Mattson alive.
The court said the proof in the cas.
was not positive and hc therefore woulu
not hold the defendant without bail lie
then fixed bail az 50. 600.
Nattson'- dead body was found last
Tuesday morning on the banks of the
Christiana river east OF Market street
bridge.
Caleb =. Burchenal. counsel for
Handsbor asked for tho mans dis
charge, claiming that there was no
crime proven and absolutely nothing
On which 10 hold him. He stated that
unfortunately he was the last one
seen with the dead man.
Dr. Henry w Briggs said he made
n post mortem examination OF the
body Of Mattson at the morguo on
Tuesday evening. March T. and
found that Mattson had been drown
ed. He stated that there were super
flcial marks on tho body which were,
in his opinion. post moptem marks.
There was a slight laceration OF the
scalp but no indication OF a strug-
gle whatever. Deputy Coroner Har-
vey e. Nichols told of taking charge
Of the body.
Mrs. Louisa Mattson the widow
repeated on the stand the story OF
the alleged killing of her husband
which has already been published In
THE EVENING JOURNAL. She said
that Handsher came home alone
shortly before . o'clock last Tues
day morning and she then aske'
where her husband was and Hands
ber said. "That is all right. Don
worry. You are mine and will loo
after you and your children. Every
thing Is all right"
She said the defendant made n
further Statement except that h
had fixed everything"
Mrs. Mattson said she had opene
fhe door for Handsber and that sh
tainted at the door and when sh
came to She found herself in he
bedroom She stated that she wa
in Mysteries during the remainder o
the night and that Handsber place,
his hand on her mouth and told hel
TO keep quiet or the neighbors would
call the police.
Mrs. Mattson said that shortly be
fore noon on Wednesday Handsbel
told of the alleged killing; that he
stated that MattsOn was going Il
throw him into the Christiana river
and that he (Handsberl then strucl
Mattson on the mouth several times
and then held him head down In tn
water Mrs Mattson said shc ha,
iiOkIIM- aNNIh0A luNArHiA anu AAe'
not been familiar with him. She salt
she did not tell the story told b.
Handsber 20 anyone until after tn
funeral on Thursday, when she toll
her nothcr
Upon cross-eXaminauon Mrs. Matt
son said she disliked Handsbcr an
had attached his wages for board se'
erai times She said she thought sh
Leard her husband call her about
O'Clock Tuesday morning She al
miffed that NattsOn. before leavin
home on Monday evening OF lass wee
said he felt like killing o niger
She said her husband had worked II
fhc Topeka Paving Company. and th'
she company had promised to kee
him in work al winter. but had kel
on col0red man all winter 10 waiC
a machine IN South Wilmington. M
far from Warmers wharf. where Mat
sons body wss found
Mrs Mary Smith. who lives nel
door 10 the Maffson home said Mr.
Mattson came 20 her home on Monds
evening of last week 10 await n
coming Of her husband. and returne
home AZ II O'Clock
According 10 Detectives Benson an
MahOney. Handsber told three diffe
cnt stories The first two were TO n
effect that he visited a barber shu
at Sycamore and Van Buren street