National Republican., 1876-10-31
TEE srRopE1-A11nAN HOMICIDE.
Trial Of strobel for Manslaughter- er-First Day
in the Criminal Court

| A. hAO SVuI
The case of Charles strobel, indicted for the
murder of VIM. Altman, in South Washington,
on the Goth of June last, by cutting him in the
abdomen with knife, causing death within
few hours, was called in the Criminal Court
| yesterday morning, Judge Macarthur presid-
| ing. District Attorney Wells and II. H. Wells,
| jr., appeared for the Government, and Messrs.
N. F. Cleary and W. W. Boarman for the de-
| fense The prisoner sat with his counsel, and
| appeared much interested in all of the pro-
ceedings of the trial. He is about twenty
years of age, and rather good looking. During
| part of the day his mother and two sisters sat
| near him.
The selection of jury began Immediately.
| John 7. G. Bowen, John Rover, Geo. Green,
Jos. s. Stettinus, Arthur Fowler, Richard NJ.
Allen, John B. Crowley, Walker Lewis and
Jos. c. Beckett were selected, when the panel
| was exhausted.
The District Attorney stated that the Gov
ernment would not ask for a verdict Of muir
der, but of
| MANsLAUGHTER.
Upon this the Court said that those who had
| been excused on account OF Conscientious scru-
Piles concerning capital punishment might be
recalled.
Messrs Samuel C. Middleton and Charles
| G.. Ball, who had conscientious scruples, and
| had been excused, and Mr.. Robt. Beall, who
had been excused on account of an opinion as
| to the grade Of the offense, were recalled and
accepted. The jury was then complete.
Mr.. Fl. Fl. Wells, jr., in opening the case,
stated that the prosecution expected 10 prove
that the deceased attempted to put stop to
a prearranged fight between his brother and
strobel, when the latter pulled knife from
his back pocket and inflicted the death wound.
TESTIMONY.
DR.. Ham T. Leach was first called, and testi-
fed that he attended the deceased and found
penetrating wound an inch above and to the
left of the navel, the direction being upwards.
He died the next morning, the cause of death
being shock and hemorrhage, caused by the
wound.
DR.. ]. T. Hartigan described the wound,
which he said caused the shock and hemor-
rhage which produced death.
THE CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
Henry Altman, brother of deceased, testi-
fed that the affair commenced from dog of
deceased barking at William Raley. The
latter said, "Meet me at the hall and fight 1t
out" Witness did not 60 there that night,
but did so the next night. Witness struck
Raley and ran, when Raley threw something
at him. Witness went back and said to
Charley Strobel, "You gave him that to
throw at me-" Witness struck at Strobel,
and he struck back, when William (deceased)
took hold of Strobel, saying: "Don't you hit
him; lie is too little for you. If you hit him,
you will have to hit me-" William and
Strobel tusseled, the latter trying 10 get away
from William to get TO me, and Strobel got
the knife and--cut him, and also cut at wit
ness. They sisn took William to the drug
Witness admitted that when he struck at
Strobel the latter was sitting down, and wit
ness was armed with piece of lead with a
string to it.
Frank Howard testified that he stopped to
see sham fight between Raley and young
Altman, and in the main corroborated the
preceding witness. When Altman was cut he
called to witness, saying he had cut him.
Witness replied, 81 don't care q d-n if he
has cut his id CUTS out" Did not then
know that he was cut.
Tobias Brown corroborated the preceding
witnesses in the main, except that he said he
did not see William Altman strike or strike at
Strobel, nor did he see anything like a black
jack or slung- shot In William Allman's hands.
Sergeant Mullhall testified to arresting
Strobel at his house on the morning of June
so. On the way to the station Strobel said he
did not do it, but afterwards said he did it in
selfdefense; that the crowd had attacked
him. Witness identified the knife, common
butcher knife, with the blade ground down to
point, about So or six inches long. Wit
ness did not see any marks about the pris-
oner.
The Government then closed their evidence
in chief, stating that they had other witnesses,
but as their testimony was cumulative they
would not call them.
sELF-DEFENsE.
Mr.. Boarman, for the accused, stated that
they expected TO prove that the killing was
done in selfdefense. The court then took
recess.
On reassembling VIM. Rally was first called
for the defense. He testified that he met
Strobel at his house, and they went over to
Island hall together; Strobel laid down on the
cellar-door, and some one said draw chalk
mark, and witness said, never mind. "Dutchy"
Altman struck at witness, and the crowd got
after him, and he ran off.
Miss Louisa Strobel, the prisoners sister,
was called, and testified that on the day of
the killing she came home about Q o'clock,
and when she came home Charlie was standing
at the door in his shirt-sleeYes talking to a
hoy; witness went through the house, and
when she came back heard Charlie say, "Yes,
III CO." He then took his coat and went
away, stopping at the gutter and rubbing his
hands with dirt or sand. A few minutes after
ward Charlie came back running, followed by
a crowd OF boys who were swearing. Witness
was about TO state what Charlie said on his
return to the house, but the prosecution OBJ
jected. Charlie looked as though he had
been pretty roughly handled: his wrist and
mouth were wounded, and he complained of
his side.
Miss Agnes L. Strobel, another sister, testi-
fed to Charles coming back to the house with
wounds, which were dressed by witness. She
recognized the knife which was shown to her
as the one that belonged to her father, and
had been used for table purposes for many
years.
Mrs. Strobel also testified to the identity of
the knife, and said that she left Charles at
home that night cleaning fish.
Edward Strobel testified toseeing the fracas,
which was begun by Wm. Altman, who struck
his brother and dragged him out into the
street. Henry Altman followed them, crying
Ekill him."
Mr.. Richard Densmore testified that he
went to Mrs. Strobels house about $50 or .
P. m. on the night Of June 20. Some one was
standing at the door in his shirt-sleeyes, but
1t was too dark for him to distinguish who it
was. Afterwards Charlie passed through the
house and went away. Witness heard him
say something about rubbing his hands with
dirt or sand, he could not say which.
DYING WORDS.
Mr.. Thos. J. Thompson was called, and
offered to relate what was said by Altman
after he was stabbed and lying on the floor of
Boswell's drug store in excruciating agony.
The prosecution objected to this as not a
part of the res gestG.
The Court admitted the evidence, and the
store with the dying Altman, the latter said
"Oh my God, am dying; give me drink of
water" Witness asked him what was the
matter, and Altman replied: ~ struck Charley
Strobel and he has cut my CUTS out"
Mr.. James NJ. Eichel offered testimony
similar to that given by Mr.. Densmore.
Mrs. V. A. Abel, Thos. Dixon and Mrs.
McCook testified to Strobel's good character.
The counsel for the defense offered series
of prayers. Certain of the prayers were re-
fused by the Court and the defense excepted.
Mr.. Wells then opened the argument
for the Government, and when he concluded
the defense asked that the prisoner be admitted
to bail, since the Government was not prose-
cutting him for murder. This was refused,
and after the usual iDjunctions to the jury
were given the court adjourned until 10 o'clock
this morning, when the defense will proceed.
COMPETITION IN CLOTHING.