Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-07-03
The STEVENSON SHEA HOMICIDE.
Murder Trial an the Criminal, Co.-s


Charles Stevenson, colored, charged with
the murder OF Cornelius Shea. by shooting
him with pistol on the night of May 9Th.
N the abdomen, causing death on the q Tn of
May. closed. the government called
Henry SeibeTt. who testified that on the
night OF May IL he went into Shea's store
about half past O'Clock; Stevenson and
another colored man came in between 10 and
1922 O'Clock; heard loud tai liking between
Sh,a and Stevenson, and finally heard Shea
tell Stevenson 10 go out, and be quick about
II; Stevenson went out, followed by Shea,
and Mrs. Shea asked witness to go to the
door and cali in her husband; witness pro-
ceeded to do so, but before reaching the door
heard several shots fired; observed no weapon
OF any kind on Shea, neither saw him st,1n
witness said he did not hear Shea call Ste
vensOn "a Cd id yellow YOUTH
1NdtoSre Murphy corroborated the previous
witnesses, and stated in addition that after
Shea went out the door he saw him either
strike or shove Stevenson; saw the side of
SteVensons hat go up, but saw nothing
more; very few minutes later witness
heard three shots fired, and saw the flash of
the last one; saw no weapon i'm Shea's hand
Cross-examined:-Whe the third shot was
fired Shea and Stevenson We're across the
street. Stevenson was retreating all the time
while the shots were being fired, and She
was following him: Shea's arms were nc
lively moving all the time. but witness do.
mol Know whether he was striking Stevens On
or not.
By Mr.. Darlington The motion OF Shea's
arms indicated as though he was trying 10
knock something out OF StevenSon's haIIS
Cross-examinatiOn continued:-Wh Shea
was shot for the third time he placed his
hand TO his side, and entering the store eX-
claimed, I'm crippled and disabled for lifl."
At O'Clock the court stated that in or r
TO conclude the case this week it woull pro-
long the session until o'clock. and wp:ld
SIT to-day until the trial is concluded
Another short recess was taken, after which
UmidHt ID. Chichester was sworn. He tcsti-
ned that he was the clerk in Shea'S store on
the night of the homicide; saw and heard the
difficulty; did not see the shooting at first;
did not see Shea stri Ike or kick Stevenson; is
positive that Shea was not armed: saw The
flash of the second shot: when the third shot
was fired saw that the parties were in the
middle of the street; four shots were fired;
Stevenson walked rapidly away after Shea
re-entered the house. ON cross examination
witness said that Stephenson was going
backward, firing, and Shea advancing on
him, trying to grasp the pistol.
The government here rested the case.
TESTIMONY FOR DEFENCE
Inc defence waived their opening and
called GeOTge BTCUTi, who ties titled that he
went 10 Shea's Oh the night i'm question by
appointment, to have an agreement drawn
III relation 10 the house; witness took Ste
venSOn with him to witness il. They walked
back into the bar room and got two gIaSSe;
of ale; came out and went to the counter
where Shea was; Shea said that he had not
the agreement ready, and asked witness 10
call the next night; Stevenson said some
thing by witness permission. when Shea
asked him what he had to do with il. Ste
VeuSOn replied nothing" Shea said. ..yeII
then. keep your id mouth out of III
witness went out with Stevenson, and after
converSing few moments, Stevenson re
turned and asked Mrs. Shea for ten cents
worth Of crackers, Shea ordered Steven>ol
out. and when he was out of the door Shea
struck MIN on the forehead. Knocking him
back four or six feet; stevenson then while
retTeatlng. fired three shots, Shea each time
eXcldlTulng. that's nothing" until the thiri
shot was fired, when Shea re-euterrI tn.
store Nhea struck Stevenson with his left
hand and put ais right on his hip pocket ~
III 10 draw some weapon; Stevenson had no
opportunity of getting away from Shea
oSS-eNamined.-Have known Stevenson
for thirteen years; belong to the same Lodge
of Odd Fellows that he does. did not ten
either Shea or DOheriy that stevenson was
actlngas witness friend; Shea did not order
stevenson out OF his store the first time: dii
not tell stevenson that he had better 90
home.
The court, at $50 O'Clock, adjourned until .
CLOCK this mOrnir@.
THIRD DAY.
TIE trial was resumed this morning at
O'Clock, and .iOha Bel was called for the de
fence. He testified that he lived ON f. street
near 20, and on the night of the occurrence
about 10 O'Clock, as ne was coming down 81
street, and when opposite Shea's house. he
heard "A fuss. in which he recognized Sbea'S
voice; heard Shea say as he passed the door
on l. street, Not for such a id dirty val
Ter puppy as yOu;' witness went home three
doors from Shea's) and stopped: saw three
men nave mold OF Stevenson at the door. and
Shea pushed Stevenson off the platform of
the store heard Shea say something and
Z shea
MIN, knocking him from four to six feet To-
wards the curb; Charley appeared To have
been stunned, and Shea rushed unoD him
when Charley shot him; Shea said, "Oh
d--m, that aint5uOthing." and rushed al
him second time, when Stevenson again
hIed, and Shea repeated the remark ..pb
d-m, that amt nothing and when the
thlTd SHOT was Dred Shea said nothing. ont
turned and went in the house; during the
firing stevenson kept backing, and Shea fol
lowed up very closely until the third shot
fire laf trnv-
near the opposite SIDE, and Shea turned AMI
walked III the house; Stevenson went or
CroSs-examined:-Did not see Charley draw
the pistol noticed his hat fall or drop or
Charles ". GOOjyich testified to being in the
STORE; seeing Shea in rage, heard him curse
Stevenson, seeing him follow him to the door
saw Shea draw his hand bacK 10 strike
Stevenson. when Brown stepped between and
no blow was struck. They all went back.
witness cOrrOborated preceding witness as
to Sheas refusal to sell crackers tn Steven
son. He further testified that Shea took hold
OF stevenson on one side, Murphy on the
other, and Chichester showed him. After
they put him out he saw no more of then,
but heard the firing.
Re-direct-Stevenson had no chance to get
away after he was struck.
U@T ID. PlotTtteH, swon.-WitneSs testi-
fed that about 81. or 90 O'Clock on the night
IN question he was at the pump opposite Mr.
Sheas; heard loud talking and swearing
Witness stepped over; saw Shea and another
man come TO the door holding one man, and
another behind him. They thrust him Off
the stOop, and Shea struck at or struck the
man, and followed him up TO the awning
post, where the firing commenced: saw Shea
put his right hand behind him and strike
with the other. When the second shot was
fired Shea said .'Oh, Cd d-n it, that's
nothing Shea put his hand behind him
before the firing commenced. Two of the
party followed him to the middle OF the
street, and one TO near the opposite curb
At this point Mr.. CaTTingtOn submitted a
diagram of the premises and vicinity To the
jury, that they might better understand the
teStimOny.l
Witness resumed Shea was the party
who turned back, and this was after tie
Third shot. After the first shot was fret
Shea said "Oh, Cd d-n it. that's nothing"
Heard nothing more until the third shot was
nred, and some one said "Catch him - ana
Shea said Hush, don't make any noise"
The other party was tail Oue-taIler than
Shea--it was not Mr. DOherty, nor Nun phv.
but man named Wall.
by JurOr.-StevenSOn did not advance ar
ter he was showed Off the platform, but kept
backing.
BY the COurt-The tan man kicked at
Stevenson, and =. fell, but recovered aud
took TO his heels. Stevenson could not have
got away. i would not like to attempt 10
turn with two enemies behind me. | like To
face my enemies.
Judge Fisher-YOu had better make I'M