The Hand Trial

The trial of Clifford Hand contludedV, uccupy the attention of the Circuit Court throughout last week. The account of the same in our last issue closed with the testitnony of Samuel Russell, up to which time nothing new had been brought out, the evidence in all essentials being the same as on the preceding trial. The examination of witnesses for the prosecution continued until Saturday, their evidence. differing but little from that given before.. Chas. Morgan testified that he heard Hand in Max's saloon saysomething about getting even with the foreman. Samuel Champlin swore that he knew Hand. Met him the week preceding the murder in Neat House and heard him teil someone that he would get even with Superintendent Colvin. Nicholas Max testified that he saw Hand on the afternoon of the day of the murder and after supper playing pool with O'Connor. Hand played until about half-past seven o'clock. Hand left saloon twice before going home. Was gone but a few minutes each time. Did not know how many times Hand drank during the afternoon, but he had four pony glasses of beer during the evening. John O'Connor testified to meeting Hand in Max's saloon on night of Pulver's murder. They left the saloon together about 10:08. Hand was not drunk and could walk straight. Ann Hogan Tremple, the next witness, had worked with Hand in Hay, Todd & Co's mili for seven years. Saw him about eight o'clock the morning after Pulver's murder coming out of the mili yard. He did not speak. Anna Kragan said she knew Hand. Kept boarders who worked in the mili. Said defendant called at her house the day before the murder with a lapboard, talked about the mili. Han,d said if the fire apparatus should get out of order at the mili he would have to be hired to rix it, or they would have to send to Chicago. He also said if they even opened the gates of the dam the mili would be swept away and he hoped to God the gates would be opened. Saw him after the murder and he said he thought the murder was not done by an eneniy but by tramps. The first witness called on Friday morning was Herbert Smith, who testified to seeing Hand leave Max's saloon on the night of the murder. Robert Hayton, who lives near Grob's saloon, said there was an unusual barking of dogs in the neighborhook of the mili on the night of the murder. John Gilbert, the day watch., was here introduced as the first new witness by the prosecution. He testified that he had seen Hand about the mili twice at the noon hour, the last time on the day the murder was committed. Hand claimed to want to get some tools, but neither time went where the tools were kept. Wm. Henninger, bartender, testified to seeing Hand in Max's saloon on the afternoon of the murder. He was there again in the evening and went away about 10:15 o'clock. Said Hand drank six or eight glasses of beer during Saturday evening. Mrs. Grob was another new witness for the prosecution, but her testimony was of little help to that side of the case. She said that about 8 o'clock on the night of the murder, two tramps came to her house and asked for something to eat and drink. Jacob Grob testified that he had known Hand for some time, told of O'Connor's coming to his house on Sunday morning after the murder and telling of his find at the mili. Grob and several others went to the mili and afterwards returned to Grob's. Grob remarked to others that it did not look as though a stranger committed the murder. Deputy-sheriff Eaton testified to the turning over to him of the clothing worn by Hand on the day after the murder. The tongs with which Pulver was killed were also taken possession of by him. He also made comparisons between the nails in Hand's boots and the scratches on the window sill at the mili. Zina Buck, a deputy-sheriff related the facts as to the arrest of Hand. Saturday morning Sheriff Brenner was called to the stand, and told of being sent for by the mayor of Ypsilanti and how he'aided in the arrest of Hand, and Hand's manner as he was being taken to the jail. Saw spots on Hand's pants and exarained them and pronounced them blood spots, but Hand said they were red paint spots. Went to Hand's house and while waiting there noticed a thread of wool yarn on Hand's overcoat hanging on the wall. The yarn was afterwards found to be identical with the peculiar kind of yarn at the mili. Took possession of Hand's pants, boots and coat. Brenner said Mrs. Hand told him that Hand got home the night of the murder about 9:30 or 9:45. He noticed that Mrs. Hand's clock was all right. Hand never suggested the Superior butchering to the offïcers until after Mrs. Hand visited him in jail. Said he had been at Grob's when they killed a heifer. The cross-examination of Mr. Brenner was largely devoted to showing the open and free manner in which Hand and wife answered all questions of the officers. In the afternoon Dr. Gibbes repeated his testimony given on the lirst trial regarding the finding of brains and blood on Hand's clothing. He was not allowed to testify 'as to his opinión whether or not the brains were human brafns. The jury were not allowed to look through the microscope as the prosecution desired. The defense did not ask the doctor any questions. On Monday morning some surprise was created by Hand himself going on the stand. He told of his discharge from the mili and of the interviews had with the Superintendent and .Mr. Adams with the object of getting his old job again, and of his borrowing money at several different times of Mr. Adams, in all about $15. Told about the excitement on the morning after the murder, his visit to the mili, and his being asked by Mrs. Pulver as to whom he thougfrt committed the murder. Said he thought it was done by tramps. Said he was left handed, but began to use his right arm after having left arm broken. He testified as to the burning of his arm at Grubb's brewery, the butchering at Superior, eight days before the murder, and helping Hickman kill and dress a beef. Also related his doings during the week before the murder, and of the happenings on the eventful Saturday evening, all of which agreed pretty closely with the evidence of other witnesses. He said he got home about 10:15 o'clock on the evening of the murder, and did not leave the house again that night. He related the happenings of ttie day followinü; the murder, and his arrest and lodgment in the jail. He was still on the stand when court adjotirned at noon. i