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•HtintndjheInf 'll IDT1HOUSEJURY WILL GET HASTINGS CASETHIS AFTERNOONDefendant Denies Manslaughter Charge; Rebuttal Pleas Early Today*1William Hastings, Sandusky resident, stepped down from the witness chair in common pleas court late Thursday afternoon, after denying that ho struck H. J, Pritchard telegraph company employe, over the head with a bottle, which blow caused the man’s death, and defense attorneys rested their case. Hastings Is charged with manslaughter.The state this morning will summon one or more rebuttal witnesses whose names are withheld, after which arguments to the jury are to be presented by noon-time. Judge W. L. Pleslnger will charge the jurors at 1 o’clock in the afternoon, he indicated.Hastings’ story in brief is that he was ill and dazed when he left the house on N. Depct-st, where a party was in progress, and where he is said to hq0fe received a blow on the head or neck with a bottle. He was too weak to'drive his own automo-I bile, he testified, and went across I the street to a motor car which he believed was owned by Justin (Jess) Neill, who was also at the party, and who will also stand trial in connection with Pritchard’s death.When he reached the other side, two men, who Hastings claims are William O. Rogers and William Ho-sack, both of whom are Important state witnesses, assaulted him, ac cording to testimony, and knocked him down. Hastings arose, and started for his automobile, but was again attacked, he claimed. He escaped, however, after grappling with his assailant, got into his automobile and returned to the N. Depot-st house, the scene of the party, to inquire the names of the men who assaulted him, he said, It was in the house then when Hastings was arrested by police, Hastings claiming that Patrolmen Scherer and Parker orrested him, wh!% the state contends Desk Sergeant A1 Tremper made the arrest.Rogers, one of the men whom Hastings claims assaulted him, test! fled Wednesday that he saw Hastings and Neill come acrdss the street to Pritchard, and that he saw Hastings knock Pritchard down twice, strik lng him over the head with a bottle,A1 Huber was recalled to the stand Thursday morning to give testimony as to details of the party in the N. Depot-st house. Prosecuting Attor-new C. E. Moyer attempted impeachment of the testimony on grounds that Huber had changed his story from the version given at preliminary hearings. Dr. H, B. Frederick testified concerning dressing a wound which Hastings received at the party from a thrown bottle.Mary Zingale and Vivian Kronk were In the courtroom Thursday, but were not called to the stand. These girls were present at the party preceding the attack on Pritchard, and have been under bond as material witnesses.The courtroom was filled again on Thursday by large crowds ol both men and women. The trial came to a sudden halt late Thursday afternoon when Miss Idamae Heesler, stenographer In the County Com-mlssioners' office, fainted in the courtroom, probably overcome by the close air. She was removed to another office, where she was revived,
Newspaper Details
Sandusky Register
Sandusky, Ohio, US
Fri, Feb 03, 1928
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Sandusky P.
OH, USA 11 Sep 2023
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