Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-10-09
LOCAL NEWS
ON TRIAL FOR MURDER.
stabbing Of Michael Hussey by Hope B. Slater
Opening Arguments and the Testimony Today.

Opening Arguments and the Testimony To-day
Yesterday afternoon on the reassembling OF
the Criminal Court, Judge Macarthur, the trial
OF ID. H. SLATER, charged with the murder Of
proceeded with. and five more Jurors having
been selected from the talesmen summoned,
at 4:25 O'Clock the jury being complete, was
called as follows:-william Lucas, Samuel
Bacon, John Brent, ST., George W. Calvert,
John j. Cook, John II. Brown, Thomas Bruce,
George w. Ballenger, Benjamin F. Morsell,
Thomas +. HALEY, William Jones, p. p. Little.
The clerk then read the indictment to them,
and placed the prisoner in their charge.
ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY HARRINGTON
opened the case TO the jury, stating, in the
course of his remarks, that "upon the ca Of
August last, Michael Hussey, young man in
the vigor OF his manhood and the prime Of his
visit his friends in Washington. He arrived
here about three O'Clock in the afternoon, aud
with some friends went out during the evening
eleven O'Clock that night Michael Hussey was
returned to his friends wounded, bleeding
dying. The facts of the case, as sm enabled
TO CLEAN them, are substantially these Going
to the Schuetzenfest and entering into the
restaurant of MIR. Will, he there found seated
Slater, the defendant, girl by the name of
friends of the defendant. Hussey was intro
duced to Slater, and believe they took a glass
OF wine together. While they were in con
,eft tbe sHis young gIa retarneG Sshe hsd
wine) and asked Slater TO 60 with her He
remained seated, and believe she came the
second time, and, reaching over, said some
thing in his ear; believe asked him to go with
with her. Then the remark was made by some
one in the pavilion that if the defendant was
a thorough bred he would not go. There
"Why, if he is not a Thoroughbred, 1 will
take him by his ears and butt his brains out"
Here, gentlemen, from all / can gather, the
stories may diverge. The counsel upon the
other side claim that these words were said in
an angry manner. Immediately upon the ut
terance of these words, the defendant-Slatter-
jumped up from the chair where he was seated
and rushed towards Hussey, giving him some
blows. The deceased stepped back, throwing
off these blows with his hands, till, when about
fifteen feet back from the place where he orig
inally sat, he fell, saying, 'Pm cut" 1 think
the post norton appearances will indicate to
you, gentlemen, that this blow was inflicted
hope to be able to prove to you satisfactorily
from the post norton that this blow was in
ficted with knife similar TO that known in the
parlance of New Orleans as "thug." He here
produced knife known as a "thug" and exhib-
tied the same.J The deceased received two cuts
In his abdomen, and believe two or three on
his hands. He never struck the defendant, and,
as believe, made no attempt SO to do. This is
about as fair a statement of the facts as can be
given. have looked over this case with a great
deal of interest; must say have looked over
IL with great desire to see ~nether, under the
lesser crime; yet feel, il this state of facts is
proven, that must ask at your hands a verdict
of the highest crime known to the law"
Mr.. Harrington then explained the definitions
Of murder and granddaughter, quoting Lord Holt
and others, and closed by saying: "It seems
to me, under these circumstances, there
can be no question of self-defence as PROPOSE
ton Of law interjected in this case, for the de-
PENDANT not only did not retreat from the pres
ence of the deceased, but followed him up and
slew him ten or AAn feet from the place where
he first sat; and the law will not permit man
TO Kill another, when he not only failed to make
use OF all the to preserve his
- ..uu els adyersaryis IRE, put rvnv- -. u I'D
up. While all the charities of the la9
ought to be extended to the defendant, yet all
the protection of the law should be extended to
United States against Hope II. Slater as If he
did not exist. They tell you that the accused
has friends powerful, strong and wealthy. Ii
ne mas them he may well use them 70 defend
him elf here. Here, as God knows, intend 70
treat him as any other criminal who has Offend
ed the dignity of the law. see not this defend
ant, but, looking across the newly-made grave
and the shadows of the death which he has
caused, see only what L conceive to be the
hideous form of the gravest crime that God has
permitted to come to curse humanity. 1 give
him to you in all tenderness; L give him to YOU
In all kindness; give him to you in all justice.
trust we shall be able TO mets out the law to
him without fear or favor"
GEN. HENKLE, FOR THE DEFENCE,
prleny opened the case, saying:-"It is only for
the purpose of discussing your minds OF the
Impressions that may have been lodged there
District ATTORNEY, that rise at ali. We e2nect
to show YOU, gentlemen. NOT onlv that The ststa
OF 1acts as they have been detailed by the Dis
t'ct Attorney does not exist, but we propose to
show you state Of facts from the evidence that
will justify, nay, impel you to the conclusion
that our poor client Is not only not guilty of the
highest crime known to the law, but that he is
innocent of all crime. We ask
nothing for our client but what law and Justice
will give to the poorest and meanest criminal
arraigned at this bar, and upon the principles
JDat appIy to the n tn fha ma Wi
connections the man witbout infiuence or with
out money we shall invite Won TO try our client.
but we do not ernect Won h he hj:sed rar,in,
men nv The suggestioy oa ~ pe gentle
sn, ron1din1 th3s me n ,vh;,h Iii ~ et ..
to he tbrow5 nnon Sour ,nInS van pe steempted
to trv him inst as onr fiarS We want you
atto;nev ssss he iii, III ,r ,ionu, sne prosecuting
notbinG mors anG nro ~ ,h q tovr man, we ask
dos ,o{ iL al 80 ts ~ .nat tlai, II our client
sha mo -, WAN oa. Oh tnis courtroom acquitted,
NsA"A Nv ivy $500 u.saPPoineeos"
hsr "IFA1s5.
DR.. yokns,oa -,,;.. - I'D .ast;Sao
that ono Ettot was sxor1, AM .es., -.
Of tne WOUNDS 9 , .,a d; on Mns w. ~
-yr or nve incnes rom sne meaian inc, 10 .ne
LETT, below tne riosi sne o.ne, wounu was pos.e
rior, little further BACK; tne 'front.' one caused