More Sensational Statements (continued)

James A. Abbey

The main feature of yesterday’s evidence in the Hearne-DeYoung case was the testimony of James A. Abbey, who recited the horrible story of the finding of a bloody gown.  Other witnesses testified regarding the connection of Dr. Hearne and wife with the murder by  common repute.  Following will be found the testimony in full:

James A. Abbey testified as follows:

Mr. Mahan:  What is your name and age, and where do you live?  
James A. Abbey.  Live in Hannibal.

Did you know Amos J. Stillwell?  
Yes, sir.

And Dr. J. C. Hearne?  
Yes, sir.

Prior to the year 1888 and possibly during that year,  what were you engaged in - were you in the secret service of any railroad?  
I had been.  Yes.

Under whom?  
I worked about four years under the Missouri Pacific under Thos. Furlong.

Were you living in Hannibal in December, 1888?  
I was.

What were you engaged in then?  
I was driving a team for Mr. Thomas J. Cousins.

Did you become aware of the murder of Amos J. Stillwell?  
Yes, sir.

Were you employed in any capacity with reference to that murder?  
I was.

What capacity?  
I tried to find out who committed the murder.

State whether or not during that investigation you made any search of the Stillwell residence or the adjoining property.  
I searched the vault.

When did you make that search with reference to the murder of Amos J. Stillwell - how long afterwards?  
On Monday, January 7th.

Was Mrs. Stillwell at home at that time?  
I don’t know.

Had she not left for Battle Creek, Mich.?  
I think so.  I cannot swear, as I am not positive.

What time did you make this search?  
About 9 a. m.

Who went down into the vault?  
I did.

Where was the vault located with reference to the house?  
It was directly in the rear of the house.

How far from the wood shed?  
I couldn’t be positive - not very far; I did know; I measured the distance, but could not find the book yesterday when I looked for it.

How far was it from the door that entered the wood shed and the door that led to the alley in the rear of the Stillwell residence?  
I could not say.

Was it as near the back door of the house as the wood shed was?  
Very near it, about the same.  It seems to me that the corner of the vault was right opposite the edge of the door.

Going into the wood shed?  
Yes, sir; the east edge of the door going into the wood shed.

When you entered the wood shed was that door you entered opposite the door going into the alley?  
When I went in, I went through the alley.  Mr. Wood went through and opened the door, and I went through the wood shed.

How did you make a search of that vault?  
I got down on a ladder and got an iron hook.

How deep a vault was it?  
I should say at least fifteen to sixteen feet to my best judgment.

What did you find there?  
Well, I got a good many things in the way of pieces of sheet and cotton things.  I pulled out a pair of men’s drawers, and the last thing was a night-gown.

What kind of a night-gown?  
It seemed to be a heavy night-gown.

A lady’s night-gown?  
Yes, sir.

What, if anything, was on that gown?  
There was blood on it.

What did you do with the gown?  
Mr. Wood made me put it back into the vault.  He had charge of me and the rest of us that were at work.  We did so.  He was a detective.

Did you do as instructed by him?  
Yes, sir; after we had quite an argument over it.

Apparently how long had that gown been in that vault?  
I could not say just how long.  The blood was still on it and had turned black - looked black-like.

You were absolutely certain that it was blood, were you not?  
Yes.

Judge Hendrick:  How did you happen to make that search?  
I made it on my own judgment from a report that was given me at the Government building on the Sunday morning previous.

Who gave it to you?  
Mr. Wood and Mr. Kelly.

Were you employed to assist in the search?  
Yes, sir.

Who employed you?  
I consider that Mr. Kelly  and John Stillwell did.

Was there anything about the gown by which its ownership could be identified?  
Not that I could see.  I didn’t search it  as I might if I had had my own way.

Did you unfold it?  In what condition was it - folded or unfolded?  
Unfolded.

Was it pretty much covered  with blood or just sprinkled?  
It had considerable blood on the left arm; it was covered with blood.

Was it as though some one had used it to wipe up the blood?  
It didn’t look that way to me.  The blood had rum down.  The streaks from the big splotches had run down.

What condition was the gown as being torn or untorn?  
It was ripped under the left arm.  And where there was a slot there was a ripped place.

What would cause that?  
I don’t know.  I have never seen it since I put it back.

What is your race and nationality?  
I am called  an African.  I am an American citizen of African descent.

Have you ever been indicted for any crime?  
I believe I was once.  I think to the best of my knowledge I was once accused of killing a hog through mistake and they acquitted me.

Were you ever indicted for a serious crime?  
No, sir.  I was arrested and brought up before the police judge once, but I was acquitted.

Were you tried before a jury?  
I was tried before Judge Porter.

Were you on the police force here at any time?  
Yes, sir.

Were you not discharged from it?  
I served my time out.

Do you know A. L. Clarke?  
I have met him.

A correspondent of the Chicago Times-Herald?  
I have met him twice with this morning.

Have you had any conversation with him in this case?  
He asked me about the case.

Have you given your testimony before in this matter?  
Yes, sir; before the grand jury.

Mr. Mahan:  Abbey, with reference to this serious charge, you mean that the charge was filed against you and on a preliminary examination before Judge Porter[30] you were discharged?
Yes, sir.

You never were indicted for anything of that kind?  
No, sir.

Judge Gilchrist Porter was the officer who discharged you?  
Yes, sir; and the prosecuting attorney himself told me that he knew I was innocent, but he had to prosecute me.

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