Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-01-12
The 4 rsOn Trial-DiX Acquitted.

examination of James Richards, resumed by
Mr.. Beach-Wilness testified that The fire
was lighted ten or fifteen minutes before 9
clock; hever had any difficulty with Dix, nor
made any threats against him; recol!ectsd the
.imc be (wituess) got into difficulty and was
arrested BY Dix. but pever at any time, made
any threats against him; knows Edward SopeF
and oseph Haynes, but does not rec ,llect hav
ing made any threats against prisoner to any
person. but would not swear that he had DOT.
s'io5-Wcre you ever Oh the chain
gaag Objected TO by the prosecutifo o.
The Court Inquired if The defence had any
authorities to submit in support OF this meth
cd Of impeachiDg witness.
Mr. Beach said they had not, but relied on
tn general prociplc Of the right TO mpeach.
The Court ruled that 10 particular acts could
be introduced to dscredit the witness, but evil
dence Of a general character zas admissible for
that purpose, referring to Wells case. Ii Graft:
Mr. Beach said the object Of the cross eZ-
animation was to show the character OF the
witness, 10 order that the jury might know
wha! cff ct 70 give the testimony.
The Court ruled that record evidence should
| be Introduced.
The prosecution admitted the fact that the
witncss had been Oh the chain gang.
Witness resumed and said he had been Oh
the cnaia gang twice, once for assault and bat.
terry, acd oUc9 for being connected with the
:
Cross examined by Mr.. Stuar,-ttas lived
in tits city all his life; is al oyst:r s'uckel; The
night OF the fire vas dark; Wltuess could col
rtcolcct 5hat he swore TO before the plag's-
tTatc; there vas ~ agreement when they weht
AVA rom Dix the frs. time, pear the cngloc
house: does not know how Dix got 10 the
bou.r: Cltfo..i did not 90 ID the house; did
! 1st zee Dix II co he set fire to the h0uSe; Wit
ue,s sd u t lzke auy part in the fire. w=ot
/ wit:l Dix aoI Clifford Tor 40 specific purpOse;
toyh 10 par, il The burning; was with no ore
! c-. buc Clifford; rs with JOHN Bright; first
saw the waste on Union street, bctWscp Came
! ran aud Oucan: CD the morning OF The arrest
tic fir; ,..rsJu witness saw wa5 bis S;ap-ta!her,
! who ro!d Wiluess 10 tell the truth; doe. uoi cx
D, Ct 10 get clear; expects 10 70 10 the Peuit o.
| t;ary i! The others -; the police officers tyiQ
wi!u:ss after the arrest that they had >u>?i-
| ,,u h started he tir did not meet any aoy, 90
Oieeu street. but SH some siahdios 81 the
! cu:nrr: CoD't ;cUiicc, vi seeing an, body as
| they came up The street hat cgcGlng: did not
So Dix any more that night after thcy sepa-
| raid: ss,y HIN the Il Y morning Ut he station
house; wa with no ou= else that hight except
/ DIX and Clifford; knows 10 man who iln'ps,
and was with uone such the Dight OF the fire;
DC sucn man called unon witaess at the JAIL ~
! one u! witne>s' father has called at the Jail;
| vas uot Oh intimate term, with DIX; ID x called
! Clifford in the Stable AID witncs> went with
| niu,
! FraDk Harper was called and testifad-Fhas
| he knew Thomas DIX ADD William Clifford;
know Hills warehouse; saw three mcu ~
/ doTn tIrr.; the first tncee men were 10 the
sey coud GOT tell how the mcn were dressed
! wn5 yer stand ng DeaE the uy0r Ut the st4b'e;
! the uac GEAR TIE mouth OF ;hc alley was dressed
! IL Ia:k Clothes; the men were dong noihltgi
Brown ana witness We're together: afterwards
lutt three men c>miog up !rom there; enc ct
them VAS roul DIX aud tho other was WI.
! Clifford; B.Gvn passed between Clifford aud
! Dix, and Ditu.ss passed Oh th3 ou:slde the
l.ircc mec 10 the alley c0rrespo1dcd with the
three wi.oess and Brown met; did not notice
Hhcre tuey went; witness auu B:JHn came up
! thn street aud mt yourg Monroe; va kei down
I that way and >:aeI: smoke. and heard SOM
| thing ike E caude t4!!; game up the street
ana saw ID Y leaning aga0si lamp pos
this occnrreI before S clock; met three
mau corresponding 10 size to these same
u % going drwu Qnaen t. Lee: does not know
whether they were DIX and Cliff RI or not; did
No: ka9w of the fire until the next moruiug;
saw !. fourth standing pear 81. Mays Academy
wGo had % Iighl s.ouch hat with white
cloth around bis Dccs does not know who he
was.
Cross-examiued by Mr.. Beach: Saw the man
a. the head u the alley dlsuLc!iy; the three
mcn who afterwards came dowD Q!eeD street
| we're on the South SIDE but passel over To the
North side before witness reached them; could
not say they were the same who were 10 the
alley; don't remember whether he spoke to
Dix aud Clifford when ne met them or Mt;
there was 10 hight at the corner u0,lced the Cloth
ius;D was dressed in dark clothes and cap, Cliff
ford was dressed in mixed cloth aud light hat;
saw the faces OF DIX aud Clifford, but they were
DOT particular 70 show their faces they had
their hats pulled over their faces in an attempt
at Disguise; his meeting was near haI!.pa>t /
| o c, ok; could not tell who the three mea were
| Ttuess saw last
Cross cx .mnsd by Mr. Stuart Could not
tell the width OF the alley; the door OF the STA
bic Is nearly one-thirc Of a :quarc from Lee
street; he three mcn were together with their
right shoulders against tie door ani We're fac
ing up tie alley ami had their back, to wit.
| ness.
Re.direct examination by Mr. johnson: In
coming W the street Dix aud Cliff I'd attempt
ed to disguise themselves by turrlng up their
coat collars aud pulling their hats over their
eyes; III" tnroc men seen afterwards goirg down
towards IL, street were about the same size.
Re-cro>s tx Elimination By Mr. Stuart: Wit.
pes knew Ot the reward off red by The CouIc
OF 500.
Alf. Geo f. H!ll tostti.d That the build
iug burned was occupied b. his finn; portion
of tie steps was burned; and also the casing
and potiou OF the outer carriage; the plat:
over the coal hole had the appearance Of havua
been recently removed; tie value If ;hc build
ing AID is con ents VS. about $3 900. lo
Response to Mr.. Reid, one of the jurors, wit
1cs, said that he could not say whether The
,ac had b2en removed 90 the preceding Sa
tulday or not; does not rccollect whether there