VOL. 32 BLOOMSBURG PA., THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 1897. NO. 22 THE TRIAL The Commonwealth's Case Closed on Tuesday, and the Defense is Now Being Heard. BOTH SIDES- CONFIDENT. At 4 o'clock Friday afternoon Court adjourned until Tuesday morn ing at 9 o'clock. This was because Saturday was Decoration day, and as the lawyers from a distance, and the witnesses, and jurymen were going home, Monday was given to enable thctn to return without traveling on Sunday. Last week the court room was thronged at every session, and at the opening of each session there was a great rush for seats. The case seems to attract a large number of ladies, some of them being in constant at tendance. , Judge Ermentrout presides with dignity and ability. He maintains good order in the court room, dis poses, of all objections promptly, and pours oil on the troubled waters when counsel get to wrangling. It is hardly probable that the trial will end this week. The defense will occupy three or four days in putting in their evidence, and there will, no doubf, be some testimony in rebuttal by the Commonwealth. There will be two speeches on a side, Graham and Scarlet for the prosecution, and Jacobs and Ikeler for the defense. These, and the Judge's charge will oc cupy at least two days, so that it is possible the jury may get the case by Saturday. Clifton C. Knorr proved to be a remarkable witness in two respects ; his memory of dates was wonderful, and the complacency with which he confessed himself to be the most unmiti gated scoundrel of modern times was astounding. He told of his willing ness to rob his sister of her stock in Irondale, of his willingness to shoot Mr. Waller, and of his final attempt to murder Waller and his family with dynamite, all with a simpering smile on his face, and as coolly as though he was talking of the most common place occurrence. He confessed that he was willing to do all this for the money he says he was promised for doing it. Dime novel villains are at a discount. Clifton Knorr's tale of his own total depravity, of his consum mate villainy, is the most blood-curd ling disclosure of, modern times. Whether there is another man equally as depraved, is the question now be- ore the court Last week's issue contained the testimony up to Thursday morning, and it is here resumed at that point Thursday May 27 th. Court opened at o o'clock. Exami nation of Knorr resumed. Beside Wintersteen, I met Richard Oswald and Peter Harraan. Winter steen spoke to Harman. Harman was in dining room. I did not speak to him. Wintersteen asked me if Mr. Harman knew me. Wintersteen looked at him and nodded his head, I met Wintersteen at Reading Sept 14, after the explosion. He said he had met a man named Jury, who asked him if he knew anything about the explosion. He said he did not. He gave me $50 and told me to leave Reading. Said Mr. Waller had offer ed $500, and the Town a like sum. If anyone asked me about the explo sion, I was to say I knew nothing of it He would see that nothing hap pened me. Met Wintersteen about two weeks later. Miss Sallie Cast was present. He talked about throw ing the detectives off the track. He said Mr. Waller had hired a watch man, and that he had his suspicions of a man who had appeared in his office that day. I next saw Winter steen in November in Reading at Oth and Elm Street, by appointment made through Sallie Cast.. He said I had better leave at once, as detec tives were after me. If I needed any money he would send it to me. To have somebody to address the letter. He registered his right name, as he had met Commissioner Swank. He said he had come away with $75 and bought a mileage book. He gave me $50. Was arrested on the 26th of December, was at 716 Cherry Street, Reading, at the time. Was searched. Had some letters on my person from Wintersteen when arrest ed, another letter was found in a drawer. (Witness identifies the letters as the ones mentioned.) They were written by Mr. Wintersteen. After explosion was dressed in black suit, full beard, and soft hat, seen ticket agent at Mainville, and few em ployees, was the only passenger to get STILL ON. on train at that place. Was in Win- tersteen's house on evening of De cember 25th. He asked if there wasn't some scientific way of dispos ing 01 my mother. He mentioned diphtheria germs. He gave me $1$ to go to New York, to see whether or not I could get the germs. I went and saw a man by the name of John Komcnikis. un my return I told Wintersteen that the germs would cost $5. He had no money, and he borrowed the $5 of Mr. Townsend, he instructed me to send money at once, by telegraph. I sent it to John Kothchild 394 Bowery, New York. Received the package a few davs later. He told me to spread them around in my mother's clothes and she would contract the disease. She did not get the disease. He wanted to know if we could not poison him and which poison was the hardest traced.4 I said " tartrate of anti mony." He gave me $5 and I pur chased some at McKelvy's drug store in Bloomsburg, showed it to him and threw it away. I gave my mother some phenacal-mtro-chlonde on two occasions. It was to act on the nerves and I wanted to relieve her. Put it in a cup without her knowl edge. It was not poisonous. Register of MetropoHtan Hotel, Washington, D. C, handed witness. Reads Wintersteen's name off register. " L. S. Wintersteen, Bloomsburg, Pa. this was on November 24th, 1896 A short time thereafter I wrote Winter steen telling him to send me $10.00, that it was imperative. (This was ob jected to by defendants counsel, but overruled by Court). He answered and wanted to know what I meant by the word imperative. I wrote him that it was a mistake that I meant to use the word important. I received the $10.00 soon after. Register of Hotel Penn, Reading Pa., shown witness. Recognizes sig nature of L. S. Wintersteen. Register of Susquehanna House, Catawissa under date of October 28, 1806 offered in evidence land shows my signature in name of A. J. Lan ning. Registry in Union House Ashland, offered in evidence under date of September 15, 1896 and shows signa ture of L. S. Wintersteen. Register of the Espy Hotel offered in evidence and shows the signature of date of October 9, 1895, under name of A. J. Lanning, N. Y. Register of the Commonwealth Hotel, Harrisburg, offered in evidence and shows the signature of date of April 14, 1894, under name of C. C. Morn, Reading, Pa., and that -of L. S. Wintersteen, Bloomsburg. Register of Hotel Penn .Reading, Pa., offered in evidence and shows the signature of L. S. Wintersteen under date of November 24, 1896. Exhibit K was read by Mr. Gra ham. It was a letter addressed Miss Mame Wilson, 716 Cherry Street, Reading, Pa. This letter was written from Washington, D. C, and on stationery of the Metropolitan Hotel, the heading of which has been torn off. THE LETTERS. Miss Mame Wilson, 716 Cherry St., Reading, Pa. My Dear Friend : I came here yesterday on business and thought I would drop you a line saying that I expected to come to Reading during the month and will then see you. You know I had better not write from Bloomsburg, but as I am here concluded it would be all right. I think I can come about the latter part of the month and will try and stay a little longer than I did the last time. Yours very truly, L. S. Wintersteen. Exhibit "I." Miss Mame Wilson, 716 Cherry St., Reading, Pa. Bloomsburg, Nov. 18, 1896, My Dear Mamie : I received your note a day or two since but had no opportunity to man you a reply to day. I don't understand what you mean by the word "imperative Please explain when you write. You should not use the kind of envelope you did last. Use plain ones so they cannot be traced. Signed, L Exhibit "J." Bloomsiiuro, Nov. 19, 1896. My Dear Friend Mamie: I will be there to see you Monday or Tues day noon. May not reach there until the evening, but will call and see you sure. Very respectfully. L W. F. Roe sworn. I am proprietor of the Ashland House, Reading. Wintersteen was at my house, Tuesday September 15, 1896. Was there for breakfast, left before noon. He was at my house in July previous for supper but left some time in the night. Did not pay for supper. When he was there on Sept 15, he paid for the. supper. Knorr Cross Examined. Was arrested the 26th of Dec. 1806. Blew up the Waller building about 3.20 a. m. nth of Sept. I didn't tell any one that Wintersteen was impli cated before my arrest. Was taken to the Reading lockup by Mr. Hender son. Was in the lockup one day, came to Bloomsburg next day. No one was with me in the cell. Made a confes sion to Henderson and the chief police of Reading about three hours after my arrest. They did not mention Mr. Wintersteen s name. Mr. Goodman's name was mentioned, lenderson said that I had been seen in Blooms burg, and that the best thing to do was to make a clean breast of it. Never mentioned it to Sallie Gast, Winter steen told her himself. He said there was hell up in Bloomsburg. I met no man in front of Mr. Ikeler's house on Fifth Street, opposite Mr. Waller's house. I saw the first account of the explosion in a Pottsville paper, in afternoon of day following the explo sion. Sallie uast was a subscriber of the Reading Eatrle. but I did not read anything about the explosion in. Never saw it in any Reading paper. Winter steen came to Reading on Monday evening and showed me an account of it. He told me about blowing the house up with dynamite and where I could get it. Did not know where Armstrong's quarry was. Met Winter steen with a woman about eight o'clock one night on Light Street Road. Did not know the woman, was about one rod away from her, and a thick growth of trees made it too dark to see her, I saw Wintersteen the next morning. Told him that I had the dynamite hidden under the walk. He said it would be best to let the thing rest awhile, that I should leave town for awhile. I met him at Wilkesbarre. We roomed together. The principal arrangements for blowing up the house were made the next mornin. He went down to breakfast before I was dress ed. We talked the matter over out on the porch of the Exchange Hotel, he then left. I stayed at the hotel till about two 0 clock in the afternoon, went to the railroad station and came to Bloomsburg. Arrived at East Bloomsburg, stayed around till dusk, The first attempt was unsuccessful Went back to Quarry and obtained some more dynamite. Placed it on the step of the Waller house. Was a short distance away when explosion took place. I did not want to commit the crime of stabbing Mr. Waller. I was afraid of Mr. Wintersteen, and had been fooling him so long, that 1 thought I had better do as he asked, Had spent $6,000 in three years prior to explosion. I did not tell Winter steen that I was afraid to stay in Reading. Nearly every time we met he would talk about stopping the equity suit. Mrs. Wintersteen knew about my being in their house every time was there. I tried to poison my mother twice. The first dose did not have the desired affect. The girl said she threw the second dose out. Mother was sick for some time. She didn't want doctor. I sent to New York for diphtheria germs. Putting them in her clothes would have done no good, They were not contagious in that manner. I did not wish to harm mother. Wintersteen told me to place them in her clothing. Kept the germs for about half an hour. Told Winter steen I thought they were all right. Court adjourned till two o clock. Court opened t 2 o'clock. Cross examination of Knorr resumed. Mr. Wintersteen suggested the use of vitrol in the fore part of November, 1893. He said I could go to Sunbury and get it and throw it in Waller i face. He seemed to rejoice at the thought of a knife in Waller s heart Got the knife in New York. Did not write a letter to Wintersteen in 1894 requesting him to meet me at Reading It was at my request that he addressed the letters to Miss Mame Wilson. He wanted to stab Waller. He came to Reading and told me that Waller had said that I was a disreputable charac ter. It did not anger me as he thought would. In June, 1806, was the first I ever knew anything about dynamite. I know a Mr. Snyder in Bloomsburg. I never mentioned anything about dyn amite to him. Wintersteen did not tell me to put the powders in my mother's private cup. There was possibly other means of getting Waller out of the road, but I acted as Mr. Wintersteen told me. I began regis tering at hotels under a false name about October, 1895. The first time he mentioned about putting Waller out of the road was in October, 1895. The next time we met he said he would like to place a barrel of gun powder up against Waller's house. We met quite frequently and on each occasion he talked about getting rid of Waller. Since arrested I have been in Philadelphia and Reading. Some times Detective Henderson was in company with me and sometimes I was alone. I know a man by the name of James Lord. I never showed Wintersteen s letters to Mr. Lord. Redirect: I bought the revolver in Danville about the first of November, '95. All the money I got, which was about $3,000, was spent nearly as fast as I received it. It was paid to me in in stallments. After the $3,000 was gone I had no other means of support than that which Wintersteen gave me from time to time. I did not know where Armstrong's quarry was until I went up after the dynamite. This ended cross-examination. F. L. Shuman called and sworn. Live at Catawissa. Know defend ant Wintersteen. Left Catawissa for Pottsville on 8 o'clock train in morn ing. Saw Wintersteen. Can t say exactly what date it was, whether it was on the 14th of September or not. We both rode to Pottsville together. Can't recall positively what date it was. D. Warner testifies. Live in Bloomsburg, know Winter steen ; remember the explosion ; was in Wintersteen's a short time after the explosion cannot say just what date it was, but was about the time of the big wind storm in Sept. Went in to see about repairing defendant's build ing that had been damaged by the storm. Dont remember of anyone being in the office when I went in. Some man came in and went out while was there. Mr. Wintersteen spoke to the man, made an arrangement to meet him at 3 o'clock. Mr. Winter steen spoke about Waller's connection with Irondale Co. stock; said he felt rather mad at Waller, and that he would get even with him some day. Cross-examined. No I don t think would know the man who was in Wintersteen's office that day, if I was to see him now or not. I did not try to impress upon my mind what the man looked like. I might be able to indentify him and I might not. I wouldn't swear that I could. This conversation took place about a year ago in April. I told no one of the conversation. W. U. Jury sworn. Live on Third street, Bloomsburg Met Wintersteen about 7 o clock on morning after explosion; had a conver sation with him. I asked him if he had heard of the explosion. He an swered no. I told him some one had tried to blow up Waller's house. He said, is that so ; too bad. L. E. Waller recalled. Recognizes papers of bill and ans wer in equity case. Cross Examined. Don't know how many other papers there are. I have produced all I have as attorney. Mrs. Mary A. Knorr sworn. I am the widow of Col. Knorr, and Executrix mentioned in the bill in equity. Know the defendant Winter steen. He called upon me about the 22 nd of May 1894. Gave me a check for $17.44 for rent of property. He began to talk about equity suit, offer ed me $1000 for my share of stock He asked me to sign a paper which he had. I told him to take the papers to Waller and if he said they were all right, I would sign them. He said Waller would only laugh at me. He shook the papers at me and asked me if I knew what he could do with me if he was not an honorable man, and respected the memory of Col. Knorr. I told him I didn't know where my boy was. tie said he did, that my boy always came to him when he wanted money. He said I shouldn't employ Mr. Waller as my counsel, that Mr. Waller was his enemy. My son Clifton was at home part of the time. He brought two papers to me one day and asked me to sign them. for the purpose of selling my stock. refused to sign them. Then he said if I refused to sign the papers that Mr. Wintersteen would do Mr. Waller up. I asked him what he meant by that. He answered blow his eyes out. Why said I does Mr. Wintersteen talk that way ? and he said, yes he does. Mildred Smith sworn. I am one of the parties mentioned in the bill in equity. I parted with my stock in January 1895. My brother Clifton negotiated with me for the sale of my stock. This took place in New York City. He said that if I would sign the paper Wintersteen would give him $1,000. He left me in great anger, for the reason that I refused to sign. Some time later he called on me again and urged to sign the paper, telling me that Wintersteen would exchange some Harrisburg pro perty for my stock. I parted with the stock in January. I knew I was not getting as much as my stock was worth, but under the circumstances I let it go. I signed the paper directly to Wintersteen. Isaac Hennio sworn. Am a resident of Reading. Step mother died 31st of August, last year. About two weeks thereafter I was at my daughter's house. It was in the evening j met Wintersteen there j had a conversation with him. I next saw him at my daughter's house in Read ing, 7t6 Cherry St., the latter part of Nov. I arrived at my daughter's house about half past eight in the evening. I found Wintersteen there as before. I left the house before he did. Court adjourned until 9 o'clock Friday morning. FRIDAY MORNING. Court opened at 9. 1 5. E. B. Tustin sworn. Live in Bloomsburg. Am the Cash ier, of P'irst National Bank. Know defendant Wintersteen. Has had an account at the bank for many years. There was a check from Wintersteen to Clifton C. Knorr tor $2,000 cashed at the bank on April 17, 1895. About July '96 met Wintersteen on the street, he wanted to borrow $6,000. He stated he would give me good security if I would help him get the money. I told him I would help him get it. He wanted the money to buy the Knorr interest inIron Dale. He said his father-in law J. j. Brower would go his security. The loan was made. Cross-examined. Mr. Wintersteen did not show me any letter that I remember of. Z. Gross sworn. Am Recorder of deeds and clerk of Orphans Court, Dauphin County. Papers in Samuel Knorr h-st. handed to Commonwealth's counsel, and offered in evidince. Objected to by defendants counsel. Exception grant ed. Mrs. Sallie Gast sworn. Live at 641 Walnut St. Reading. During '95 and '96 lived at 716 Cherry St. Know Mr. Wintersteen, also Clifton Knorr. First met Winter steen about three years ago. Met him in summer of'9oat7i6 Cherry St., can't recall exactly what time Clifton Knorr was present at the time. 1 hey were together in tne nouse, taiK ing, can't recall the conversation. I hadn't been living there vefy long when I met Wintersteen. We went on an excursion over a railroad 5 four of us, Wintersteen, Knorr, Jennie Hutchins and myself. This was his third visit to Reading. After return ing from the excursion we all went back to the house. Knorr went up stairs and brought down something that had the appearance of rope, and it had the smell of tar. Wintersteen looked at it and said it would do, whereupon Knorr took it back up stairs. This was the last visit before the explosion. There was a little con versation between them. Wintersteen said he was going to get Knorr some money. He said he would have got it tor him before but that a man named Waller stood in the road. After his third visit Knorr received some money t it came by a note, (The question was asked witness as to what kind of a note it was, but detend ant's counsel objected to the question on the ground that witness had already sworn that 6he could neither read nor write.) I knew it was money because I opened the letter. I sometimes opened Cliff's letters just for fun. had the money in my hand. Cliff read the letter to me; it was from him This was a few days before the ex plosion, witness handed a piece of coil and asked if it looked anything like what he had showed Knorr on his third visit to Reading. Yes it looked like that only whiter. Knorr was away for a few days, but I di not know he was out of town till received a letter from him, written from Wilkes-Barre, I can not read The letter was read to me by a friend Miss Lizzie Heck. Knorr returned " home, on the evening of the same day I received the letter. Winter steen was at my house the following Monday, about, eight o'clock in the evening. Knorr was at the house when Wintersteen came. They met in the kitchen. Wintersteen looked very much excited. vHe looked differ ent from any other time I ever met him. He refused a glass of beer say ing he had a sore tongue. He said he hadn't been feeling well. He told me there was hell up in Bloomsburg. I thought he wanted to have a pri vate conversation with Knorr, and so I left the room and went out in the yard. I asked him what there was hell up iii Bloomsburg for, and he said some one 'had tried to blow up Waller's house, and that they suspect ed him. He said he guessed he had better get out of town, as he was afraid some one had followed him to my house. He told me to be careful not to give away the whereabouts of Cliff. After Mr. Wintersteen left, Cliff showed me $50 that he had given him. Cliff had a newspaper, which he said he had given to him. He read the paper to me. It con tained the news of an explosion in Bloomsburg. Just before Winter steen left my house, he told me that anyone asked where Cliff had been should swear that he had been at my house all the while. His wife he said would swear that he was at home. can't remember the date of Winter steen s next visit, but it was not very long after the former time. I met him on the porch. He asked me if Cliff was in and I told him he was. I heard him tell Cliff that there had been a man in his office that day, and that he was afraid he was a detec tive, but he didn't pay much attention to him. He made an engagement with him for three o'clock that after noon. 1 heard him tell Clitt that Waller was a son-of-a-bitch. He said that Waller had hired a watchman. He said that he believed the man who followed him to Reading was the same man that had been in his office. I don't remember that he said anything to Cliff about the way he had come from Bloomsburg to Reading. The next time I saw him at Reading was on Tuesday before Thanksgiving in November. He stayed at my house Tuesday night. Cliff was not at the house that night. It was about half past three on Tuesday afternoon when Wintersteen arrived. Cliff had toid me that he was coming. He asked where Cliff was. I told him where he could find him. He said that he would go down to hotel Penn and register his right name, as he had met a man from Bloomsburg. He said "damn it I didn't want to see him." I don't remember the Blooms burg man's name. When Winter steen came back from hotel Penn he had a satchel. He didn't have it the first time. He went back after it. He talked some about money. Said he had left Bloomsburg with $75, that he had given Cliff $50, and bought a mileage book for $20. In talking, about the explosion up in Bloomsburg asked him how the devil they had found it out. He said he had give Cliff money to get out of town. Cross-examined. My name is Mrs. Sallie Gast. I sometimes went under the name of Miss Mame Black. Sallie Hennig is my maiden name. My house in Reading is known as the Gast house, it has no other name ; I have no business. I decline to an swer the question as to how I obtain my living. Before last Christmas I kept a sporting house. I believe in a God and a hereafter; I never told any one that I didn't believe in a God. I know J. R. Phillipy, I never told him that I didn't believe in a God, and that taking an oath was a pure form. I know Mrs. Lydia Bishops, but I did not tell her that I didn't believe in God or a hereafter. I never talked to Mrs. J. R. Phillipy on the above subject I know Sarah A. Brown, but I didn't talk to her about God. Yes, Cliff had a dressing case in the attic of my house ; it contained his false whiskers and some other things. There was no dynamite in the satchel. I never saw any dynamite till I came to Bloomsburg. Mr. Wintersteen made seven trips to my house. I swore at the hearing before the Justice that he had only made six trips, but I found I had made a mistake. Cliff had been living with me about two years. He had been in business before this. I never had anything against Wintersteen ; I thought he was a nice man until Cliff told me that he was trying to make him leave me. I felt a little sour at Wintersteen for that. I didn't want continued on face a. 1
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