Year: 1875

THE PRISONER ON THE sTAND-HTs EVIDENCE


IN HIS OWN BEHALF-DENYING THE IMPoR-


TANT TESTIMONY OF MRS. PEERS, THE BROOK,


LYN LADY.


PHILADELPHIA, Sept 13, 1875.


The feature of the trial of William H. westervet to-
day was his own evidence he being allowed to 60 upon
the stand. At the opening of the Court Mrs. Wester
welt called to answer a few unmportant questions
which concluded her testimony Immediately after
she retired, the prisoner William Westervelt,
called.


The preliminary portion Of his examination referred
to his age his early life, his marriage and his business
and his answers given readily and with but few
clutches" 1t appeared from his testimony that he
had undergone varied experience. His dismissal from
the police force in January 1874, rehearsed. The
charge which he dismissed he said. was for fail
ing to report lottery Office under its proper
ber; but the actual cause of his dismissal his
refusal to subscribe $40 for political purpose


Weservets removal to Philadelphia after leaving thu
police force his dscouragements while search of c-
poyment here and the effort TO sell improved gas
were next rehcarsed the whole time of his resi-
dencc here until his New York with his
lily in April being gone over.


Then followed recital OF the vain search for employ
ment in New York. and the attempt May 10 make
money by the sale of moth powder


Witness was next questioned TO the interval be-
tween the time OF his return TO New York the
26th Of June and the 1st of July Nothing fixed
any particular date upon his mind except the con-
versalions with hs wife about the means OF paying
the rent and the pawning Of articles for that pur-
pose. On the LIST of July he In the house all day,
as he distinctly remembered He might have been out
for little while at tme but not for any heightened
absence. AS TO the % he could not speak positively
There were days when he went out to sell the moth
powder and he could not tell what days they we're
The 3D. of July was next asked about and explained in
part and of the 4th and 5h the days Of the pioncs


wEsTERvELT's BIRTHDAY.


In regard TO the momcntous 9th Of July the
animation minute and the detailed.
Witness was not 50 positive regarding the history
Of the day as TO suggest evidence that had been
cooked" but was positive that he OF
the house any important errand, and was under
the impression that he did not go out of the house at
all; the day Mrs. Westervelts birthday
and partly on that account and partly account
OF being very tired witness stayed home all day; he
perfectly positive that he was not in BROOKLYN
at all during the day; he had no recol-
lection of getting into a street car at CITY Hall
Brooklyn, on any day he certainly did on that day;
he was not ON that day any other day seated In
Brooklyn with child answering to the description
gwen by Mrs Peers of the child she the 9th Of
Juy he had no recollection of riding in a Brook
lyn car with any child except in 1870 with his own
little girl he nrst Mrs. Peers in last June when
she visited him the prison that was the only limo he
ever saw her until he saw her IN the court room.


SWEARING ALIBI


witness testified IN the positive terms that he
was not IN Philadelphia July 1874; that he was not
In Germantown IN that month the beginning OF
August He volunteered further that he never was in
Germantown IN his HE, and did the way 90
there.


The arst meeting with AIosher after witness len
Philadelphia in Juno stated taken place
the l4th OF August; this meeting preceded bya
visit from Gil MOsher at the house Of witness (Ihis
visit was described in deta) Witness and Gil Moshei
went out and stood the corner, the visitor having
told witness that no wanted TO see him on business
lhe witness then went TO state that in consequence
OF this and other interviews with Gil Moshcr ho wrote
TO William Mosher, stating that friends were looking
Tor him and anxious 10 see him; he also sent TO him
letter written by Gil Mosher, and In consequence Of
these letters Moshor accompanied by Dougiaaa oAIna
70 witness house on the lain VI August