Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-01

\ new and important witness in the case
OF Ellis u. Frigar, on trial for killing Ed
ward Roland on August 90 last on Neil
drive, Fairmpunt Park, is being sought by
Congressman John u X. Scott counsel for
the defense, Congressman Scott has asked
the court FOR a bench warrant for Edward
cannon
Scott to!o ne court that he had already
served cannon With two SubDoenae. but
thai the latter had failed TO put in an ap-
pearance. judge Vessels issued the bench
warrant, Scott refused to divulge the ad-
dress of cannon, and declined to tell what
connection the now witness had with the
case. II was rUmorcd, however that Can
non had some surprising evidence" in his
possession which is distinctly favorable TO
the defendant.
SCOTT GRlLI.S WITNESS
Later Scott gave an inklng of Edward
'annon's connection with the case when he
Oss-cxamincd Miss Claire Lyons.
Scott led off his cross examination by
asking Miss Lyons why she did not inform
n Park guard or the police Of the events
which she alleged she had seen in the Park
the night of the Staying of Boland She re-
piled that she did not know.
Have you always been known as Claire
Lyons" asked Scott.
James Gay Gordon Assistant District
Attorney, objected, but his objection was
overruled
~ have always been known as Claire
Lyons" replied the girl when the question
was put to her again.
"Do you know Edward Cannon
Did you 20 with him to the Clinton
House, 1910 Ridge avenue. the night Of
April 29, 1872
Mr.. Gordon objected again and then be-
gan long argument, which he supported by
reading five decisions from Common Pleas
and Superior Courts of the state to en-
clude questions relating TO the girls char
aCter on the ground that il did not aifect
her Credibility as a witness. This was the
only question involved, he declared. The
decisions adiured upon future courts the
necessity for guarding witnesses against at
tacks on their characters or questions di-
rected at them. which if they were an
swered, would tend to degrade.
GIRL DECLINES TO ANSWER
Judge Vessel finally ruled. after hearing
five decisions read by Scott in behalf OF his
contention that questioning the girl about
her character was proper; that Scott could
ask the questions, but that Miss Lyons did
not need to answer them If she did not
want to.
Mr. Scott then had the questions as TO
whether Miss Scott had not been in the
Clinton House, Sixteenth street and Ridge
avenue, in April, 1913. with Edward Can
non. read by the stenographer. She de-
clined TO answer. Judge Vessel then ad-
journed the court
GIRL TESTIFlES FOR STATE
The State, through James Gay Gordon,
Jr.. placed several witnesses the stand
this afternoon, the most important of
whom was Claire Lyons 4257 Ridge ave
nue. Miss Lyons testified that she was
walking in Fairmount Park near Neil
drive on the night of the shooting of Ed
ward Boland last August. Her companion,
she said. was a young man named Jerome
Eagle. She said she heard somebody make
a remark in the vicinity of Neil drive and
this remark was followed by a revolver
shot
She and Eagle ran to a little bluff over
looking the drive and arrived there just in
time. she said TO see a man fall face down
ward to the driveway. There was an auto
mobile standing nearby. she said. and the
lights of the machine were on. The ma
chine sped away. and then Miss Lyons testi-
fled that she heard somebody call; Hello
there, Soup, where are you?' Soup" was
the nickname of one Of the young men who
had accompanied Edward Boland into the
Park.
The jury was completed shortly before
! o'clock today after many hours had
been spent In selecting the last two men
Two special panels were exhausted this
morning, and but one juror, August Quell
OF SG3 North Tenth street. was added to the
ten already selected. conscientious oh.
iections delayed the trial and Judge Wes-
sci just before noon, ordered the doors
Of the oyer and Terminer Court closed
and the twelfth iuryman taken from the
spectators.
SHOOTING DESCRIBED
Mr. Gordon reviewed the details leading
up to the shooting. He sketched the scene
of Frigsr sitting quiescent in the automo-
bile. while seven boys among them Bo-
the Philadelphia Country Club, and when
they saw the machine cried Turn up your
lights or you'll be arrested"
1t was at this moment, Gordon declared,
that Frigar stood up in the car and fired
three shots, one Of which struck Boland
and killed him. The case of the Common
wealth showed that Boland was hit in the
back of the head and, therefore, could not
have been hit during the fight that Frigar
claims he was forced TO make In self-de-
fense.
Instead OF stopping after this" con-
tinued Mr. Gordon this man started his
automobile and ran OFF al full speed, with
out even waiting to find out whether he had
caused any injury" The charge brought
of whether he would ask for murder in
the first degree or be content with man
slaughter verdict. He said he would later
ask that conviction be made from the serl-
BUSINESS Of the testimony presented
Miss Amanda Sykes. the defendants
hancee, was In court today along with
Frigar himself. She sat 10 one side
In the audience. while Frlgaf sat with Con
gresham John r. X Scott and Franklin
little concerned in the proceedings. flushing
sIiehtly. however, when the Indictment