Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-10-03
LOCAL NEWS.
A TRIAL FOR WIFE MURDER.
The Case Of George w. Jenkins.
PrOessdfngs tH the Criminal Court To.
Day.

This morning, the trial OF George w. jenkins,
cOlored, charged with the murder OF his wife,
Lavinia jenkins, on the 18th OF May last, was
resumed in the Criminal Court, Judge Hum
phreys. The crowd outside the bar was fully as
large as 1t was yesterday, and there was q gem
eral tip toeing to get view OF the prisoner,
who did not appear to be 50 light-hearted as he
was yesterday, He took seat near his counsel,
Messrs: R..111,e and Thomas.
The ten jurors rejected yesterday appeared,
and alter the usual preliminaries me names OF
the ten persons summoned as talesmen were
placed in hat anu drawn as follows james
A. TAFT, had formed an opinion; John q. Aud,
cepted and sworn; Frederick Schneider, ex-
cused; ID. b. Clark, excused; Ohio L. Cant,
absent; .. b. Bestor, absent; 4. II. Bates, eN-
cused; Henry Brawner, accepted and sworn
Thus at IL O'Clock the last juror was sworn,
completing the special panel, and the indict-
ment was read to the jury.
MR. HARRINGTON OPENED THE CASE
for the government, calling the attention of the
jury to the importance of the case, both to the
prisoner and the community. He adverted to
the numerous homicides which have lately
startled the community, and asked for prompt
time the defendant ought not to be tried by the
passions and prejudices Of men. Organized by
law, the jury must carry the prisoner in their
human charities, and may not touch him until
his guilt has been made to appear. Mr.. Har-
rington then stated the facts in the case, as fol-
lows: George w. Jenkins, the prisoner at the
WAS m6rTleu the CeCcdSeQ ABOUT nye
years since. For at least two years the union
proved a happy one, and children were born;
but In time there came Engagements and
finally separation. After time they lived
pleasantly. 1 shall show you that the prisoner
repeatedly threatened his wife's life and
as far back as last April drove her from his
no. of the immediate quarrel that led to
morning of the lith OF May the prisoner, at about
the hour Of five, went from his house across the
street, to the store OF Mr.. Beckwith, and there
borrowed . large butchers cleaver. Shortly
after the prisoner was seen to leave his house
and walk rapidly away, aud In the course Of
few minutes the wife was discovered upon her
sd and
the cleaver, despatched with the blood OF his
victim, while on the floor sat his mute and IN
conscious children. shall be also able 70 give
you the prisoners declaration when In the Gus
tody of the officers Of the law. With these facrs
proved, with the Law as 1 conceive It. Il viii be
myimPerative duty TO ask for verdict of guilty
length the different kinds Of homicide knoTn -
our Law. W
when Mr.. Harrington described the AMMAN.
~ opf fS o. sne ooGy several OF the female relatives
anected to tears, and the exclamation G1eb -,
Wa heard from several parties outsde thu Ia,
Inc oeience reserved their opening.
TIE EVIDENCE.
~. =. r. Hdrtiqdn was the first witness swo-,
ano ne testified to the autopsy on tha hoa.'
h. neIe were twelve wounds. and death must
Wou 1 sns w almost instantly, Is ave OF the
S Svun1 we're mortal; they appeared to have
o, neen made BY an axe or cfeaver; would Judge
49, snst sne MSs asleep when tho wounds were in
hss Inc weapon was here exhibted-a
,ng perhaps hve pounds-and witness said t6af
SUCH an instrument would have made the
01toer ,. ?. Guy, sworu-saw the bodv .. A.
scfioed by the preceding witness; cav the cieavsr
ln9 eharp butchers knife lying on the fioor
4 . nicn were picked mp by Oiacer Burns. In
Af'" previous TO the murder witness srrosted