Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-03-15
The Double Homicide.

after our report closed, Dr. W. w Potter, the
Coroner. gave his testimony IN the case of
his wife, Lucinda Nicholas, and her mother in
September last. lie testified IS to the character
Of the wounds. which ~iE his opinion, produced
death, described the appearance of the room,
DR.. j. r. Reilly sworn Witness was called to
the house at the time of the murder, and saw on
entering the room the old woman on the floor,
apparently in the agonies of death. but not
entirely lheless; respiration lasted about twenty
minutes; she died about II O'Clock; previous to
her death she was placed on the bed, where they
found the body of the daughter covered up.
On examining the room he found the brick
(Which was on the witness stand) on the floor; he
picked il up and laid it on fhe mantel piece;
driven in These remain on the brick vet and
were shown to the jury.l
The Jury were respited and sent to the United
states Hotel in charge of Bailiffs Sprague and
Coakley, and the court adjourned.
SECOND DAY.
The trial was resumed this morning the pris-
oneI from the jaiD and the jury (rom the U.
>. Hoten coming into court promptly at the
hour Of ten. The courtroom was quite crowded,
but was not 80 densely packed yesterday.
the courtroom, except the one under examina-
ton
Ss-Seaht Samn,r b. Clements was the first wit
OF the murder he met officer Hill with the ac,
rdsed. carrying q Ratchet, knife and handle
Officer Hill told him what had happened; went
the mother-in-law on the floor, but still living
This was between and o'clock. Witness de-
seribed the room with the bed in the southern
which had been taken from the floor, from
which it appeared the blood had been washed
in . bucket Of water. The water was bloody,
AZ If some one had washed in it. The
half way to the elbow, were bloody
The bed in the front room did not appear To
have been disturbed. Witness had a CONVERSE
ton with the prisoner after the homicide; Of
ferred no inducements, nor made no threats to
him 10 induce him to speak about the affair.
Witness asked Nicholas what in the world did
q little tight the night before: that his mother
in-law told his wife not to sleep with him, and
he would not allow any one TO interfere between
IL he had not Killed them, they would have
Killed him. Witness identified the hatchet,
handle, and knife, which Mr.. Hill took to the
Ratchet, don't recoliect now that there were any
marks Of violence about the prisoner, nor
whether he complained OF having received any.
CIoes-examlned by Mr.. Miller.-There was
some hair on the corner of the brick.
Ofcer J. J. Hll testified as to the arrest of
Nicholas in the front room Of the house where
the murder occurred Witness asked him Mich
olas) what he had done the deed with, and he
satd with brick; that he had washed it, that he
DID not use anything else. Witness found a
was lying; found the Ratchet I'm the front room.
and after some hesitancy the prisoner said he
had used that also; the handle was afterwards
found by Lieutenant Gessferd; the Ratchet WAS
bloody. Witness then took him to the sta
tion. Witness then described the house
and said the wife was lying on top OF the bed in
The bed in the front room did not appear to
have been used. Did not observe any marks of
violence about the accused, nor did he complain
OF any. His hands were bloody; neither of the
women were dead when he left the house about
s-i5 O'Clock; spoke to the old lady, but got no
answer; she did not appear 70 be conscious. On
tN.r foff -l.,,o
said that the women might die and he 1.-THE pri-
sonerl would get himself in q scrape, and he re-
piled, well. tLey threatened To kill NE last
night and this morning"
Cross-examination failed to elicit anything
new.
Ogiecr C.. a. O-ens sworn:--witness wen. to
The house and meeting Mr. Hill they went then
together, witness going TO the front door and Mr..
Hill TO the rear. Nicholas come to the door AMI
Get him in and oficer Hill followed; saw what
had been done; asked Nicholas who done it? Aud
he said he did not know. Hill said you had bet
ter say what YOU killed them with.
Mr.. Miller objected because 2 threat had been
used. and the Court sustained the objection.
Witness continued saying that Nicholas
brought to them the Ratchet and brick. He
ccrroborated the testimony Of the preceding
witness as TO the appearance OF the room, SC.
He acted and talked as ii he had been drinking
and his breath smelt OF liquor.
Mrs. Rose Nntsescs sworn:-Witness lived in
the adjoining house, and recollects of hearing,
between SIX and seven O'Clock, tnat murder was
cried more than once. Recognized the voice Of
of the other woman. Next she heard the
mother say, "Ch. Nichols, the Lord is looking at
you," and then che called murder again three
times, then a sound a. if some one had fallen;
did not hear Nichols: went round to the house
and found IL fast; went after the police; then
shook the window and opened il, and the little
child ran towards her, and she lifted il out. The
child was taken to her house, and she was asked
what was the matter, and she said, "Oi Sissy,
Nichols has killed grandma" This was ru, d
out.I Witness heard him talking the night pre-
n nm tn Iaax fr,o
house, and she replied that she was not Shaving
with him, but with her child. This was about
child.
Mr.. SfIlyard. colored, was sworn but no new
facts were elected.
The Court here suggested that az the facts
were not disputed, much Of this evidence was
unnecessary.
The prosecution here rested their case. and
recess was taken.
The defence called
Moses T.bLs, colored, who was examined nv
Dr. Snodgrass- He had known the prisoner
from the age OF III years 10 manhood in Caroline
county, Va; they were slaves together
Question.-'.W hat was his general reputation
As TO his mind?r DIR. 5. said he wished 70
prove insanity.)
The Court. You cannot prove insanity by
general reputation
The question was modified and witness testi-
he'd that before the war accused was
frightened and ran out, saving Mat has gone
mad Witness went m the house, and the ac-
eu.ed was going in the iiTe; They had as much
rope aud tied him. When a hit was coming he
would scream and tremble, and when tied
would stu trembe. From that time he ALWAYS
acted strange, but was not SO crazy afterwards
rs he Was then. Witness then described the Tits
at some length.
Questionable You know any occurrence TO
Which the accused attributed the ut.
Dr. SDodgrass said he wished to prove that
aims man received one Of the most severe scour-
Zipgs TO which the back Of q slave was ever
subjected to-
The District Attorney objected to the cues
ton, and the objection vas sustaised; the
Court saying that IL did not follow that a whip
Psng was the cause Of epilepsy.
MT: Snodgr ass--"How thea are we to prove
The CoOIt:-"By putting q medical GENTLE
mah on the stand SUPPOSE you take the
Affer some further aiscussion The ro,.,
that il they would follow it up by proxins 1 hv
scientific witnesses that logging nav be- An 10y ~
citing cause ID epilepsy they might now prove
that he had been logged.
The witness resumed, saying that this man
ran away, and when he retained they took him
TO Richmond. and returned with him and tied
him and whipped him with o stirrup leather
very hard
Nv Lesis Ss'iR sworn, ard examined By Mr..
Miber:-Wtness has known the prisoner Tor Is
years IN aroiine. Va; he was q outlet boy, but
with clntrent WAYS than other mem He could
saof count hundred. The Court.-Some white
people can't do it He knew he had ouarter
S 10 was in one piece, but when IL was I'm Il We
cent pieces he did not know how much IL waS