Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-07-14
MURDER TRIAL.

CoRpoRArloo CoURr-Judge E ~ Looe
o,,s ,liu0.-In the Corporation Court, to day,
IN, trial of the case of the Commonwealth vs.
S;Ias Beach, iudcred for he murder of Henry
Y Jones, at the restaurant OF Hi Petty, Oh the
.,>ih of March last, was commenced.
The prisoner was arralgucd aud the jury en-
n,urllrd at 1 0 u ck, after which the case was
nnenel on uehalf IF the Commonwealth by
.lnhn VI. johnson. Attorney for the Common
wealth, aud on bcha! OF the prisoner BY G. f,
Stuart, and the following testimony Of wit
ue>>es heard
Dr. Bedford Brown testified am a phys
can: was called on 10 attend Henry &. Jones
the 18th of Mach last; he had received two
severe wounds, one upon the abdomen and the
other upon the chest; the wounds were not
necessarily morta; the death was caused by the
wound in The abdomen; the wound appeared to
b.. made with al ordinary knife; all the medical
attention was given the deceased which we
could render aud the death could not have
resulted frOm want of attention.
Eli Petty testi6cd-l am prop rletor OF the
restaurant corner of King and Union streets; l
am acquainted with II. Z. jones and prisoner;
they were at my house on the 2S:h day OF
March last; | recognize prisoner; the prisoner
and Jones came iu with three others; when
dispute arose Us 10 some thing which Bach had
said; Jones told Beach he had said So, and
Beach denied it; whep Joues called Beach
liar; Beach then called Jones Cd d-n liar:
Jones moved toward Beach, and struck him
blow with his fist; the blow did not stagger or
knock Beach down; then l stepped up aud put
my lett arm in front of Joucs when Beach
struck at Jones and struck my arm my son
crl,d to me to lookout, that Beach had ku'fe
in his hand; jones was under the influence Of
h h,,Fl ID t,nt n
B ach was; Beach so lar as saw before this
difficulty behaved very orderly; when l saw
that Beach and jones we're likely to have
difficulty by reason of this dispute. | said to
Jones, leave the man Beach alone; Beach then
said il h. did not leave him alone he would
show hlm something; Jones said there was no
better time to settle the question than now, and
invited Beach out 20 settle ii; Beach was at
this time standing with ole arm resting upon
the counter, with the other hand in his coat
pocket; at the time the blow was struck MessrS.
M,uroc, Makeley, McCaun, Geo. Petty, Jones,
Bach and myself, We're IN the room.
The Court, then, at half past one, took Il re-
cess until hat-past two
Upon reassetubling James Beach testified
reside in Alexandria; did when Jones was cut;
live on Fairt,x street; don't kaow Beach per-
souaity; the uau in the box Is Bench; was with
him when jones was cut; met with him after
diuuer of that day: Mr. Beach, Mr.. W beatty,
Mr. Toler and myself went TO Coleman's res.
taurant, and there met Messrs Jones and Kid
well, and the whole party went from Coleman
to Petty's restaurant; did not hear any dispute
in the house of Petty; did not see any knife
iu Beach possession; could DOT say W ho was III
the restaurant of Petty when we went 10; Beach
had taken three drinks Henry Jones was 10
trxicaed; | saw him take a drluk; 1t Was
Oh
not present when the cutting took place; was
then over at Colemau's; heard Beach make
threats against some coorcd Wau: have seen
Beach otieu for about two years, but Was not
personally acquainted with him.
Vim. V beatty testified l. We in Alexandria;
know Silas Beach; have known HIM ever slucc
have known myself; met with Beach on March
Is. last, and went with him to several rcstau-
rauts, and flaly to Eli Prt!y's; nothing more
than drinking occurred at Coleman 5; several
of Us Went over to Pettcys; nothing traus
pred between Beach and Jones in my presence
at Petty 5; did not expect any difficulty and
heard no declarations of b ach of his intcuton
to kill any one
George Pe,tey testified Il reside in Alexan-
dria; occupation is keeping restaurant; knew
Henry &. Jones, aud know Silas Beach; on
the 18th day OF March they were iu my res
tauraut; Messrs jones, Kidweil, Javius ami
Wheatley came 10 first; afterwards Beach came
IN Beach refused to drink; Mr.. WheatIey told
Javlns that Beach said that he had said he
was no associate of his; Jones told Beach he
had doue wrong IN trying to raise fuss; Beach
said to JONES' IL was not asked to drink;
,joues called in Javins 10 prove that Beach Was
invited to drink; ZONES said TO Beach he had told
a d-n lie to raise a difficulty, and Beach said
Junes was a Cd d-n liar; jones then made
pass ut Beach; | do no, know whether he
struck him or not; father then stepped IN front
of Joues, when B ach struck at Jones; | saw
the knife in Beach hands, and said that he
had kuitr; B zach said yes he had knife; |
asked Beach after if he was not sorry he
had cut that poor Innocent man IN that way;
Beach replied he had done it and would
hang for it; the cutting took plack az the end
Of the bar next to Union street; did
not see Beach try to leave the room; he
had room to get out; Mr.. jones, Petty aud
Beach all Tell to the floor at the same time;
Mr. Joues being underneath and MIR. Petty ~
lug across him; did DOT hear Jones tell Beach
that he (Beach) had came their to raise dis
turbancr.
The Commonwealth rested their case here,
and the defence having no testimony to
"tter, the arguments OF counsel was opened by
ID. l.. Smoot for the prosecution. The case
,vil no rho inrv to-nipht