Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-12-27
Ant Testtmeny OF defective
MeDeyitI.
A. Says Wright Tsld her ne Killed
the Pessdier sO Get q Little
christmas Money,


He is Held for Appearance Before
the Grand jury.
Thomas Wright. the eo,esed desperate, sr-
rested on Wednesday night. charged with the
msrder Of the Polish petaler, Samuel Roeerski,
Whose dead body was found In An alley Mon
Cay night, horribly ma.gled as heretofore stated
in TIE starr had q hearing at The Police
Court this morning, and was fully committed
for the action OF the grand jury.
PICTURE OF THk ALLEGED ASSASSIN.
The prisoner, who had been confined in one
OF TIE cells At police headquarters, was brought
into the front once OF the detectives this morn
inc, about hall. past 10 O'Clock, when his de-
scTiption was taken. He measured feet p.
inches in height, and stated that he weighed 30
sounds. From his height he appears rather
singular shape, me assuring from the chin to the
crown fully one half more than from the base
OF the skull n the back OF the neck to the upper
line Of the forehead; in fact his head is what is
known as ''coon shaped" His eyes appear a
little bloodshot, and large upper tooth being
ont III front, while the upper ones shut over the
cious animal In answer to questions by the
officers, he stated that he was born in Rich
mond, Va, on 18th St, uear Carey. Sept. 3, 1852
A small scar was found on his neck ne ar the
right ear, apparently made with q knife. No
other marks were found on him. Major Richards
asked if jim Burnett had not some time ago
thrown him and hurt him. He denied that Jim
Burnett or any Of &" the boys had ever thrown
him; he would like to see any one get away with
him, he said. When told that they were going
to take his likeness, he asked what 1t was.
Ohcer Berkeley stated that IL was usual to take
the hksnesses Of thieves and such characters
Wright responded, "Oh! yes, you think that
am murderer" CHIEF Clarvoe placed him in
charge of Detectives Coomes and McEifresh
and OGcer Cornell, and they took him to
Gardner's, where he sat for his likeness and a
very good picture Of q very homely man was the
Court and placed
IN THE PRISONERS DOCK.
A few minutes Afterwards Mr.. Harrington
stated to the court that he desired to call atten-
ton to the case. There was certain informa-
ton in the possession Of the police Ulcers which
was not fully developed, but on consultation
deemed best to call the case, 50 that the accused
could be fully committed.
Judge Smell" MIR. Wright, stand up You
are about TO be arraigned on a very serious
charge. Have you any counsel?"
Prisoner, stepping to the front, rather
absshed.l-" Yes, sir; 1 have two-Mr. Hinkle
Judge" 1 do not see them present; we will
suspend until they can be sent for"
A messenger was cent for them, and I'm the
interim the prisoner retired into the back part
OF the dock until the arrival OF his counsel
when he was given seat beside them. The
clerk, Mr.. Dawson, read the charge, and the
prisoner pleaded not guilty.
THE TESTIMONY.
Detective McDevitt was sworn, and testified
that acting on information received on Tuesday
last, he, in company with Lieut.. Gessford and
the house where the prisoner lives. on the cor
ner Of 10th and T. streets southwest and took
all IN the house (TOm Wright, Margaret Woods,
= eOloTed man named Bembry, and George
Woods, the boy,) to the first precinct station
house. After questioning the woman, the same
officers, together with Sergeant Pierce and
and proceeded 10 search for the goods
belonging to the peddler, and after
locking about for some lime Officer Leach
discovered under a pile OF lumber that the
nd al Ehau raI
and dug up the pack containing the goods; they
then went into the house, and on search found
blood smeared on the side of the closet also on
floor and fIebosrd, and found a Ratchet under
the bed and some other hatchets in the Kitchen
and an oyster knife, which, in his opinion, was
used in lnilictlng the blows ON the head of de-
a she'd inside the enclosure, and the sacking
used TO wrap up the goods answered the descrip-
ton OF that carried by the peddler which wit
ness obtained from the companions of the de-
MIR. Hinkle.-"where did you get the inform.
alton that Tom had killed the msn?'
Witness.-"From the woman Margaret
Woods, who lived in the house,
Counsel--''Nho did you arrest frst?"
Witness-''Tom Wright. Margaret next, and
'bem B%Sy snS the boy George as and
Counsel-"WhO gave the Information that
u goods were concealed in the yard under the
wItness.-"The woman herself"
Counsel.-"What led you to suspect this
house."
witness.-'I had information which l re.
pect it."
COunsel.-"who was it?-
Wjtness.-"I decline to answer "a II il M.
material 10 the issue"
COunsel.-"Wher did you find the prisoner?D
Witross.-"He was setting by the stove ia the
kitchen and when told that he was wanted he
stood up and the nippers were put on him"
Here the witness stated that on Tuesisy last
alter the murder, he. in company with Others
were tracing marks OF blood in the direction of
this house, when Tom came out through the
rear gate into the common and called TO a
coiored man over towards 10th street. and wit
ness asked him if he had seen a peddier about
ness, with others, then went into the house and
took hasty glance about there, the prisoner
oherlDg 10 show everything, but nothing was
seen at that time, and on coming out the door,
prisoner asked Detective Coomes several times
II he was SAITH fed. Mr.. Coomes replied no he
was not, and would not be until the murderer
was discovered: Witness spoke up and said: |
Yes, he's satisfied so far you are concerned,
Mr.. Coomes then said: ayes, so far as Won are
concerned" and they left. The prisoner fol-
lowed them out on the common and aided in
the search.
Counsel-"Did you examine any clothing in
the bouse?" ~
Wltness.-"Yes, we examined the clothing
Ter the arrest and found pair of pants be.
upon them"
Counsel-"where did you find the pants?p
the woman told US that they had been hanging
up in the closet"
Counsel-"Did you find any blood on the
prisoners clothing"
Witness.-"The prisoner had on two pairs of
pants, the under pair being light colored aud a
dark colored pair outside, on both OF which we
discovered blood"
CouEsel.-'Are you sure there were marks of
blood"
Witness.-s'I believe so, and SO did All otba-,
who saw it. Ofcourse / am not an expert, but
judged the marks to be blood"
THE WoMANS DREADFUL STORY OF THE
MURDER.
Counsel-"How came you to ask the woman
TO make a confession?''
Witness" Because she had confessed 70 an
other party. from whom they had received the |
Counsel.-"How did you question herr"
Wltness.-"l told her that a most serious crime |
had been committed in her house, aud desired |
her 20 tell me ali she knew about il. She said |
she would, and went on to say that she returned
home on that day about IL O'Clock and found /
Tom scTubbiDg up the floor. She said Tom
what have you dOne?' He replied that he had |
killed that id old pedder to get some Christ |
mas money, but had only got S."
Oounsel.-''Did she state what time she went /
away from homer"
Wltness--'Ste did not, but said She left Tom |
alone. She also stated that on the Monday pre- |
ylous she bought shawl from the peddler for |
y, and paid sl75 ION 1t, leaving gu AFTER owing;
IN lat when Tom came home he did NOT like ~ |
Nk had w..r.N Il