VOL IL BELLEFONTE, PA. THURSDAY, NOV. 28, 1889. "GUILTY! HOPKINS MUST HANG! ——————— ACCOUNT OF THE TRIAL. List of Jurymen-— Who were Selected Evie dence of Witnesses—-The appearance of the Prisoner—Large Atiendance-Strorg Plea made by Col, Spangler, At 10:25 p. m,, on Thursday evening, after being out about two hours, the jury rendered the verdict of “Guilty of murder in the first degree.” The murder trial was called at 9:15 Tuesday morning. Sheriff Cooke brought the prisoner into court fifteen | minutes later. He is a slim, man. His face is thin and sharp with a | chin moustache He ing well and smiled as his counsel spoke | prominent receeding and forehead, nose, light sandy and hair combed pompadour, was look- to hum. He was slightly pale and limped somewhat, not dently from the paralysis resulting from the shooting. The prisoner is arraigned murder of his mother-in-law, er Wigaman, and Maggie, not mentioned in the indictment could be tried in the future murder of his wife, The Mrs. his wife, is the also for following statement of gives a good account of the murder of ‘w wife and mother-in-law. It was wade to officer J. M. Click and we publish it to give readers idea of the affray: our a clear HOPRINS' CONFESSION, “I left Houtzdale on Saturday night (Sept. 21, about 11 o'clock p. walked down the railroad until I came to R. B. Wigton’s brick yard where | left the railroad and took the walk to Philipsburg. Went St., to Second, then down Second to Rose Prines and went into the and then into the back of the I broke in the window of tne cellar and laid on the bank in the cellar all night. I could not sleep; heard them get up, (meaning Mrs. Wighaman and my wife); 89 m board up Maple alley waited a while and then went up steps | opinion: challenged by defendant. that lead from the cellar to the kitchen, but before going up took off my shoes 80 that they could not hear me. When I got in the kitchen my wife was wash. ing the dishes. I walked up to her and | ut my arm around her and she said Feo $— of a b—!get oui.” I drew my revolver and she saw it and said “Oh! Cele don’t.” 1 fired at her head when she screamed; I fired another and she fell. did not see whether she was dead or not. I then went up stairs and saw the old woman at the head of the stairs, I fired at her—she turned in the room, I followed her in, she was lying on the floor and begged of me not to shoot ber. 1 turned around and shot her inthe head again and then went down the stairs and out of the back door to Allports’ livery stable. There] TRIED TO KILL MYSELF. I fired “wo shots, the first did not | knock we down, but the second did. | Thought I had one more shot, but had | not, or I would havedied with them. | I gave my revolver to Mr. Eckridge | of the Telephore Company, of Osceola, on Wednesday so that it would not be found on me if I was arrested. 1 did not see the revolver again until Friday. I sent Charles Humphery for it from Wn: Fergusons' livery stable. I staid | at the stable until he came back. The reyolver is a seven-shooter, but had only six shots in it. This morning I had two | cartridges of my own and Charles Hum. | phery grove me four and that made six, | I got the revolver from a gun dealer | site the Reynolds's arcade, Roches. | r N. Y., when I was home, the price was §3.50, but it did not cost me any. | thing. The party told me he would make me a present of the revolver, i am well acquainted with the party from | whom I got the revolver. I also gut | nine cartridges with the revolver, I fired | two of them and Wm. Furguson fired seven which I got with the revolver, that caused me to get the other cartridges | from Humphery., The revolver is a British bull dog. tall young having recovered evi. | only for the | Esth.- | He | Seely | Hopkins, made at the time of hisarrest. | - { Al e- | i ter, asked the usual questions and was not house. | | ital { challe |lenged [ did not break the lock so wy after I shot Mis, Wighmman on the stairs. 1 did that some time ago. Maggie went in there to 8. eep one night | and I wanted her to sleep with me, | which she did after I broke the the door The indictment was Prothonotary Schaeffer, answered “not guilty,” and ‘my God and my then read by prisoner wanted to be tried by * country.” ATTORNEYS IN THE CASE, Seeley Hopkins, the prisoner at the bar, has for his counsel W. F, Reeder, Esq., partner of Gen. D. H, Hastings. | Mr. Reeder is one of the younger mem. them he is a prominent figure. firm is one of the leading and in the past few years has been under his di. Hastings at Harrisburg. Mr. was the principal attorney for Andrew admired by all. Buranoski was con- man. Mr, by Mr. Quigley, his law student, | has assisted much in the preparation of Reeder is assisted at the table | the case, For the Commonwealth, f Spangler is assisting District Mever. Spangler foremost attorneys of his leg al train ing and render hi the of such Si Spangler has made a thorough lence : } nothir ol. J. Attorney Col. is f the batt wi vears of one « efonte, and i per. { lence in court capable for mn prosecution a case. Col prepara. legal px 4 J le ft Pil Attorney like efficient, alw; prosecutes the interests of the Com with a vigor that deserves praise, With suc try the will tion of the evi and mnt 1 volved i | done. | | Wise nd The District competent and is AVS h able be is any plea for the man’s strongly urged. We h men to CAS ’ Hn and if th life it hire aft nie " thing left undone wve condenced all the testimony give only the ated forn important facts in m abrevi CALLING THE JURY. alled was M. P. ward Sownship, Hol. Was The first juror « of Hi who challenged George Eckle, of Ferguson twp. challenged by W. F. the de. fendant's attorney J. J. Tobin, of Snow Shoe leeder, had he county papers, formed an opinior 4 but could render a verdict according to : he facts. Challe the defend. ant Abed ne stood aside, nged by go Stine, Half Moon twp Henry Vaughn, Philipsburg, hearing poor; stood aside, Frank D. Stover, Bellefonte, Greorge Gentzel, not opposed to punishment, no fixed opinion, gets no newspaper: unchal Saget James Turner, Mt. Eagle, opinion, not opposed to c. Pp. And, Glenn, twp., no fixed opinion as to guilt, not opposed toc, Pp. £ ape college ged. Levi Stump, Potter twp., opinion, not opposed to c. p.; challenged. W. C. Farner, Potter twp. ion of guilt; stood aside. Cornelius Houtz, College twp., opinion or prejudice; not challenged. Mark Mooney, Millheim. no opinion. hard of hearing: stood aside, no fixed no opin- no John Gunsallus, Snow Shoe, no opin. jon or prej not challenged, Henry Ellenberger, Philipsburg, udice; no | opinion or prejudice; stood aside, Wm. Harter, Penn twp., no opinion or prejudice, not opposed to c. p.; chal lenged. George Ocker, Centre Hall; challeng. ed, Simon Neyhart, Boggs twp., posed to capital punishment, opinion: stood aside. Ed. Moore, Ferguson twp., no fixed opinion of guilt, not opposed to ec. p.; stood aside. 8. E. Royer, Potter twp., no opinion prejudice or bias, not opposed to ¢. p.; not op no fixed { unchallenged. Balser Weber, Howard twp., had conscientious scruples against e. p, Elmer Campbell, Harris twp, no fixed {opinion or bias; challenged by defend. ant, John G. Uzzle, Snow Shoe, not op- posed to ¢. p., no fixed opinion; stood aside, Joseph Apt, Spring twp., no opinion, not opposed Loe, p.; not challenged, M. DD. Mooney, Snow Shoe, no opin. | ion, not opposed to e. p.; stood aside, John Meese, Bellefonte, no opinion or prejudice, not opposed to c. p.; chal. by defendant, Jonathan Parker, Boggs twp., no off the door lock off | to which the | bers of the Bellefonte bar, and among | His | rection, owing to the absence of Gen. | Reeder | Buranoski last spring and his masterly | | efforts for his client in that case were | sidered guilty, but he went away a free | who | L. | Was read | formed no | fixed opinion, not opposed to ¢. p. R. O. Way, Half Moon, opposed to ¢. p.; challenged. Frank Adams, Boggs twp., Hon, or prejudice; fendant, Wm. Hopkins, Howard boro., no prejudice, or scruples against ¢. p., not strong enough to be biased, not related, | set aside. J. M. Holt, Philipsburg, an opinion | formed, could not be changed, could { render a verdict according to the evi. de nee; challenged by defendants. W. XY. Gray, Philipsburg, formed an | opinion bul would be governed by facts, { opposed to ¢. p., could render a verdict | according to the law and facts; stood no opine challenged by de. | aside, James Harvis, opinion, | lenged. Joseph Schenck, Howard boro., no opinion or bias, not opposed to ec. p.; | stood aside, a. R. Quick, Boggs twp., no opinion or bias, not opposed to eo. p.; unchal. { lenged. Bellefonte, not opposed to ec. fixed chal. no Pi { Henry Gentzel, Spring twp., chal. { lenged by defendant. W. E. Irvin, Philipsburg, fixed opin. {lon of guilt, opposed to ¢, p. Chal. | lenged, Silas aside, 8. M. Crissman, had formed of guilt. Chal H. ed an Dixon, Burnside twp.; stood opinion lenged, (x. Norris, Patton twp. opinion. Challenged. Weiland, Patton twp., Challenged. John Confer, Snow Shoe, formed no pind Not chal. had form. (+00, formed no opinion. on, not opposed to ec. Pp. enged. James Houser, Benner twp., opinion, not opposed toe. Mm ed by defendant. no fixed Challeng. Wm. Ellenberger, Ferguson twp., fixed opinion. Challenged. John McDermott, Bellefonte, hearing bad. Pp. Stood aside James Frank, Miles twp ITRORS REX opposed toe : challenged ALLED ] Stine, challenged by de. Abed neg ) fend ont Hens monwealth Vaughn, challenged by com. bw defend. challenged. snl ger, challenged by de. bart, not challenged. ', challenged ool y¥, challenged Jonathan Packer, not challenged Morrison and Beckwith worn to take charge of the ustruction zie, challen Tipstaves then and were ury were given them as to their duty provided for them I House, : J | it | ments are Brockerhoff iy the Jud fge Apart. at the no fixed | i The following isthe jury as drawn | M. P. Holter, George Gentzle, | Farner, Corne Houtz, John Gun. | sallus, 8, E. Royer, Joseph Apt, G. R | Quick, Mark Mooney, Si. { mon Neyhart and Jonathan Packer. James HT a John Confer, All witnesses on all commonwealth | cases were then discharged except those { on the murder trial, and those the i case of the Penn'a. R. R. Co.. 1. I. McCafferty, TUBSDAY AFTERNOON. in pre hs be} | tor vs. ” The Trial Begun. The Court Room Crowd. od From End to End | called the afternoon session the room was packed from end to end. der trials are unusual in our county there was a general desire to bear it. the Sheriff and bore a pleasant and cheerful expression on his face, which was not to be expected of one who was arranged before a tribunal of Justice, charged with the crime ot murder, and whose verdict will, avidently, be guilty of murder, and the sentence, that of death, Court was called to order at 2p. m., after which the jury was sworn by Pro. thonotary Schaeffer, after which His Honor A. O. Furst addressed the jury in a brief manner, reminding them of their great obligations in this case. They also were reminded of their duties as jurors, The Judge then ordered that all persons under the age of 16 | years to be taken from the room and be excluded therefrom until after the trial, ADDRESS OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, The case was then practically begun when J. C, Meyer, the District Attor. nay, arose and addressed the jury. His opening remarks were made In a care. ful, clear and calm manner. He first specified the ckarges contained in the indictment and what their intent was in the eyes of the law. The ifisreuce between murder and carefully pointed out and especially the meaning of the charge of “‘premeditat no When the bell from the court house | As aur | Hopkins was escorted to the room by | ed murder” for which the prisoner is arraigned. The fucidents were then briefly related concerning the murder. EXAMINATION OF COM. WITNESSES, V. R. Willams, Philipsburg, sworn, and testified. Visited the scene of the murder and made a correct drawing of the Hopkins homs and adjacent build. ings—drawing was then explained to Jury, showing the location of the house. T J. Meyers, of Philipsburg, said this house was 18x18, with two rooms on Ist floor and two on 2nd floor, Building had a cellar which was con. nected with first floor by stairs and door ; hogse and lot was owned by Mrs, Esther Wigaman about one year: is a sister of *witness ; the family living there were Mrs, Esther W. Wigaman, Robert, her son, Mrs. Maggie Hopkins, (her daughter) and W, Seeley Hopkins, the son-in-law. The murder was com. mitted Sunday, Sept. 22, 1886, at 10a, m. ; heard shots that morning and ran to Aliport'slivery stable 178 feet away; heard two distinct shots: ran from the stable to Wigaman’s house and found Maggie H. on the floor with a bullet hole in her head ; did not see Esther W.; heard Hopkins! say that he had shot these two women and that the reason I went there, Cross Examination: Saw Mrs. Hop. kins on Saturday; Hopkins told him Sunday that he had shot the women: saw Maggie H. alive on Sunday ing Wigaman alive urday evening at 10 Pe m.: next saw { her dead in the ho saw Hopkins at | the livery his k | bleeding is morn. : saw Mrs on able on Y. fi wounds om in | had on no shoes, « Maggie H bleeding ; [to her but received no | breathed once while | no conversation with { livery stable Redirect morning b Oat, vest or m the floor she had the answer I was thers : Hopkins at £X the vand saw Maggie H. and ten mi { later heard the pistol shots, I Re Wigaman, Philipsburg son of Esther Wignman and Maggie H H. also lived ther A Year: w Sat. night Cha short am bother Nie | ved with us; at he y Jhon. about AN from 11 p. m., son of Harrisburg was with me; got breakfast: to Clearfi day; saw my sister Sunday when 1 Sunday eve ning id morn came back told that went that About Sa. m was moth and # r were dead Cross ex! sister and mother were up ‘ before I leit hone on Sunday at about ent into the of morning to get the bread Maggie staid in the kitchen. Chas, Johnson, of Harrisburg he Wigam Sat. Nept., Mrs. Wigaman and Maggie H.; went with Maggie to an ovster saloon mother w and buitesg visited xX 3. "Nh wi, an home, saw on Saturday evening; returned at about 10p. m.; stayed with Robt. Wigaman that evening: Sunday moming I took breakfast at Wigaman's; Maggie went in the cellar with the butter at a. m,: I left soon after; in about a half hour heard they wereshot: went in the house and saw both lying dead-—about 10a m. Sunday; Mrs. Wig in the top of the head Cross ex: Mrs, over dining room, with her head [ round hole was in her head frow which ] the blood flowed: M wyie in the kitchn hole alongside her ear was shot Wigaman was in room lving the floor resting on pillow: a on a was lying on with a did not see Hop. Kins while in Philipsburg. Dr. MeGirk, Philipsburg Second st, { her side came up | that Sunday morning: sax a wan com. | ing out partly dressed, he run towards Allports livery stable; the man fired three shots and then fell; pistol dropped {out of his hand: was wounded in the | { head: was taken to the livery stable, | this occurred about 10:15 a. m. Sunday { morning Jthat prisoner (pointing to Hop- kin®) I recognize as the man. Cross ex: Hopkins held the pistol to hiraself; when the first shot was fired he dropped his hand; raised the revol. ver and fired the second time: the third shot he fell, dropping the revolver, but tried to getit when it was taken away; when Hopkins came out of the house he | appe pared to be frightened and in a hur. ry: when he snapped the revolver he dodged his head. John R. Aikens, Philipsburg : Plum. mer shop across from the livery stable: saw Hopkins on Sunday morning in front of my shop : Hopkins saw me and said: “Jolin! John! I ended their career.” Hopkins was about ten sieps from the livery stable; I walked on and looked back ; Hop ins had a revol. ver and tried to shoot himself, fired once ; was frightened by Iopking' was | pearance. Dr. J. H. Pierce, Philipsburg : Sun. day morning stood in my door and saw a Nat. | Was | head : i : saw | spoke | Sunday | nutes | of | ne | mother | about § | bullet opposite Wignman's house | the left side of hea! and tried to shoot | kt amu ari an ryiog to stioot himself near All wag lying on the ground bleeding ; had | severe wounds ; 1 stopped the bleeding ; went immediately to Wigaman’s, Mag- gle H. was lying on the kitchen floor; Mrs. Wigaman was In a room up stairs | lying on her side at the bed; made | shot under the jaw which was broken ; under the scalp a bullet hole was found above ihe left ear; the ball passed | through the main portions of the brain, | the spinal column and produced instan- taneous death ; Dr, Bue ingham assist. ed me in making the post mortem ex- amination at about p. m. Sunday | morning: the first shot was fired from below, and the second shot, t hrough the | head, must have been when Mrs. W. was upon her knees, Dr. H. W. Buckingham : 9 - Assisted | tion upon Mrs. Wigaman. The mony was similar to the above, Mrs. Blanche Meyers: Am wife of Dorsey Meyers, the brother of Mrs. Wigaman ; I found Mrs. Wigaman that Sunday morning lying in & room up stairs with a pillow in her hand ; she had a wound in her head from which blood was oozing. Mrs. Haines, Philipsburg Wigaman that Sunday her th ran d Ww | LWO women (same a dish pan fil testi. Naw Mrs, dead in 10 a. m and found the as described above), Iving room, is was about wn igamans led with warm water {0 1} 4] table al } dishes were Maggie's Mrs. Wigaman® Sheriff coroners inquest | dog” | he rec alongside | A hands were still warm 8 body was col Cooke: was present at . & sevenchambx was ident 1 Lifled as the his there were six empty t and one empty Mever, Dist. | revolver from the sher | Sam Rhule WEDNESDAY MORNING H rexd T A IDOLS stable Sunday morning: saw of H kins pit ked iL uy A to Samuel Khu reset bile revolver at the {| SORSI0N Sinoe; IVed inquest, in charaber, Al: received iff or produced it at the hie Ie Weex ago hearing odd was | aside 4 ut Mrs and Esther Hopkins wife Hopkins said f Maggie ti | Wigaman | nan visited | Nov { ence HE in the © pres. kili Mrs, Maggie went home soon af. | ter ; Hopkins went away ; Hopkins and wife came to my house to relate their family troubles : Hopkins said he would { kill T. J. Meyers, Esther Wigaman Mrs. | Clarkson or anybody that would inderfere between him and his wife: Mrs. Hop. { kins said her husband her and | Mrs, Wigaman ; Hopkins grew | walked about the room it he would 1% abused put { on his hip pocket and said, * | Mrs. Wigaman, the 4 | He looked especially angry when he | spoke of Mrs. Wigaman., 1 advised [ thetn to move into a separate Md mn house, | alone; Hopkins said he con tget a house, Mrs, Wigaman, wife of tlw | above witness I visited the Wigaman { home last May: Hopkins told me at | that time that they were having trouble in the house, Mrs. Wigaman was | mean, stingy was there in July; | sent for me to hear their troubles ; Hop | kins, Maggie, Mrs. Wigaman and my. { wal were there: Mrs, Wigaman said that Hopkins cursed about the house, ill.used his wife ; Hopiina went out and came back and said: “Yeu od bewes! have you told your story; Mrs, | Wignman said she told the truth: then | Hopkins choked Mrs, Wigaman severe. ly; Mrs. Hopkins told how he | abused her; Hopkins went out, came back ; grabbed the poker and ran after | Mrs, Wigaman to strrke her; Maggie run bftween them : Hopkins said he would blow her brains out, placing his hand on his hip pocket ; Hopkins said Mrs. Wigaman was mean, stingy, dirty, and did not pay him what she owed him, I took Mrs, with me, as I was afmaid be would injure her: I was very much afraid of him; Hopkins used a great deal of profane language; Hopkins once fuvited Ed. Hughes to his house and told his wife to ask him in; Hopkins was outside and looked in at the win. dow, cate in and he accused his wife before Hughes of being intimate with Hugnes; Hopkins never spoke ill of his wife but of Mrs, Wigaman. Mrs. Agnes McCulley, Spring twp.: Jennie as « Ble, 3 i i | EE — visited Mrs, Wigaman in August; Hop. an examination of Mrs. W,, she was | . {his wife's conduct at the ¥ struck the vertebrae and went down. | ports livery’; ran towards the man who | were there; kins, Esther Wigaman ah Mage was , ute Dio Meyer's | Thursday evening; (he. W igs ly were there, Hopkius came | wife; asked her where she bud | evening; Maggie said right 1 i kins said “like hi" he : | home with him; they quarrellod | house; heard Hopkins say, be { | | “cut your hearts cut;” shoot some one, heard frequent | rels, Mrs, Nettie Meyers, Philipsbu wife of T. J. Meyers, (live on the a lot) often visited Wigaman’s; bea: | Hopkins make threats, from our doo ‘during the past summer; recoguins | Hopkin's voice; heard him say would often saw Mes Wigaman run out of house and Tess | him quarrel; Mrs. Wig. begard Hay me in the above post mortem exam ina | | every time he went into | €XPression { Aman, wi butter; | tion day and said I would smash him { put him in the lock-up; | wanted him to be let free to hunt ball kins not to kill Maggie; they were oun | tinually quarreling; could fisting raid their voices at that distance; arm the house $e would quarrel; repeated frequently He en 4110 R hearts out: I never believed Hops was wicked enough to commit such &8 deed; They quarreled ever sings uk : marriage. pid 4 Robert Wigaman. son of Esther Wig Three weeks belo a Grad that morning @ he was arrested returned recalled the murder, on Sunday Hopkins SWOore on mother : Squire Gorton ; Hopkins and sister; did nel abuse mother then ; lived at home the past year : Hopkins always quarreled, threw fu ure around. Swors id kill mother: cross ex. —Sister and Hopkins hada because sister 1k bill and he wantad Te onev: I havi him frequently choke mother because ” table in would kill Tuesday beat my mit ently that he wy SWOre frequ i Hopkins avoided me 48 aid the m house, mother used her knife at the the butter Dorsey Mey of Esther Wigaman rested T bef Ri] Hopk ns ran out aught him in the hb Hn ne gos lipsburg, brother Hopkins was a3- bout three weeks ward them gquarrdl, of the house; § mse and choked and came back, und ers, we the murder AWAS was arrested Mrs, Blanche Mevers recalled: three ks before ler on Tuesday, heard of the assault: went down anf 4 Seely quarrel in thelr bed room lot: Seely made v threats against Esther Wig.: wad old black b- I'l et if it were rot for the | kill you:” she said dom hang: Hopkins wanted money. sha sai he ought not to ask fer money when he lived there; Seely hd the mun saw Maggie an live on same man , you'll | & hatchet ip hand and said “vou d—— black biteh, if it were not for the law 1 would kill you:” often choked Mis. Wig.: once for using her knife in Gm he abused Robert on Decors over the head with a poker if he would behave, Hopkins threatened to kill Wigaman a vear before the trag- not Mrs. edy. D lay before the | , Allports livery and sad would sign as a &i take his Fr Pierce lod me ve: Hop Lill Ms last year lel her @ » woukl rom threatened oth. « down and kill er people, J. MA him on Wed. psburg: arrested and gave him y El eK. "il evening over to officer Gorton. A. J. Gorton, Philipsburg: constable; took the prisoner Fi) the justices offior; Mrs. Wigwman as he might leave town for good, 1 de 80 and he left, Frank Humphery, Philipsburg: ssw Hopkinson Sat. before the shooting, asked mw for 32 calibre cartridges; gave | im four and he placed them in a ™ volver like ode in court; ssid he was | going away: puliad two more from Ms Wigaman along | pocket and put them in his revolver also. Blanche Miller: stay at Philipsburg saw prisoner at Osceola Sat. before te shooting: took him along to nes Houtedale at 2p. m.: said 1 should not mention anything of him, Ed. Perks, Jr., Philipsburg: saw Seely at Houtzdale that Sat. at 4 p.m. Wm. McCoy, Osceola: saw Seely there that Sat, at about 1 p. m.; gave him a lunch. QI, UU ta CONTINUED ON LOCAL PAGE.
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