Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-04-25
The National Hotel Outrage.
SECOND TRIAL OF MAJOR CURTIS "-SEy
REMARKS OF THE JUDGE.


Wylie, the trial of Edward Ray, alias Major
E. III. Curtis, alias Richardson alias Hough-
ton, charged with having, on the 9th of March,
1877, committed rape on the person of Ella
1ydinss, an orphan girl of Baltimore, in a
loom at the National Hotel in this city, was
continued after our report clOSed-MeSsrs
Cook and Corkhill for defence, District At
torney Wells for the government.
George II. karsner tclerk Baltimore SUM
was the first witness, and he testified that his
impression was that the prisoner was the
party who inserted an advertisement in the
Sun March 2lst, 1877, for an orphan girl,
Edwin Guy, room clerk at Barnum's, in Balti-
more, identified Curtis as the man who regis
tered there on the 18th OF March, and remained
several days. Robert Brashears (newsdealer)
testified to seeing the prisoner at Barnum's.
Paul E. Dorsey testified to seeing Curtis in
Baltimore March 1871 and to having known
son, and L. A. Chase of New York, to having
employed the prisoner in New York. in 1875,
under the name of Richardson. Mrs. Sarah
Johnson, sister of Ella Tydings, recognized
Curtis as the man who employed her sister
Ella to go to Alexandria, Va, as nurse wit
ness heard him agree that Ella should be paid
after two weeks trial if she did not like the
place: knew that she left next day for Alexan-
drla, and that on the day following she came
She was cross examined, and an unavailing
EFFORT made to prove by her that Elias charac-
ter was not good.
lived in disreputabe localities, he would be
showing elements going to make up the reputa-
ton of streetwalksr.
Judge Wylie ruled that separate facts could
not be proved; general reputation only can
lie put in evidence. Ii specific facts could be
introduced against a witness, any prejudiced
scOundre might suddenly and without notice
be put on the stand to swear away the char;
acter of a witness in a manner that admitted
no possibility of diSprOOf He recOected the
Wiley Grown case tried here some time since.
there
jured witness, but there were fifty. The court
house was filled with perjurers. The court
must hold that witnesses could be held only to
meet charges against their general reputa-
ton.
The counsel for the defence having OK
pressed desire to argue the matter to the
court, Judge Wylie said he would allow them
to do so today.
The Court referred to the outrage Gus man
ner i'll which outside efforts ale made to inu-
ence the case. Persons had even approached
him in order to talk about it. There were mis-
creants in this, city who, for few dollars,
would make it their business to try and cor
rupt jurors He added: ''If any one ap-
prOaches you on the subject give me infOrma-
ton, and III put him by the heels in the Jail
and keep him there"
MIR. Wells asked the court to warn the Jurors
in reference to newspapers.
Judge NyHe SAID newspapers were not so
bad, for all they did was done openly; and he
was now speaking of the hidden, undermining
efforts of men who sought to corrupt jurors.
The best way was not to touch the unclean
thing.
The court adjourned.
SECOND DAY.
There was another large crowd in the court
room this morning, and it was remarked that
when notice was given that the jurors and
witnesses not engaged in the case on trial
were discharged until tomorrow, not one of
them left. Prior to the court being convened
the accused had an interview with a lady in
the marShalS office, and also one with Col.
Corkhlll, in one OF the upper rooms of the
court house.
Mr. Cook proceeded to argue the point made
Yesterday as to aSSaiing the character of Mis-
Tydlngs, by proving specific acts, to which OBJ
lection was made by the government. Mr..
Wells followed, and Judge Wylie said that
Ella Tydings, in this case, was no more than
any other Witness and the rule of law as to
the Impeachment of a witness was that it must
be done by proving the general reputation, and
not by specific acts.
The defence excepted to the ruling of the
court.
Mrs. johnson resumed the stand and was
further questioned, but the court ruled most
OF the questions out, as falling within his
rulings.
Other witnesses testified, including the vic
tim, Ella TydlngS who again related the story
of the outrage at the National Hotel, SubStan-
tally as heretofore told by her, and related in
THE STAR. On DISCRIMINATION the defence
asked her number of questions as 10 specific
acts affecting her character as to chastity,
which were ruled out.
THE BOARD OF HEALTH met last Tuesday
and the report of the health officer was sub
mitted, showing that during the week ending
April 10Th, 662 nuiSanceS We're reported and 40
abated; causes of death were Investigated,
and there were Investigations for local Gauss
for disease. Dr. Verdi, from the sanitary COM
mttee, reported faVOrably OH a sewer valve
and ventllating chimney, and recommended
its adoption. He thought the plan would even
tually free all the sewers from gases. DrS. Cox
and Bliss were opposed TO its adoption, and
DIT. Nerdis report, after some discussion, was
laid on the table. A memorial complaining of
the OdOrS and gases arising from the gas works
Was received from the District Commissioners
with an endorsement stating that the measures
adopted by the board some two months since
had been unsuccessful in abating the nuisance.
The board decided to visit the works to-mOr-
row afternoon and make an inspection. The
health officer was directed to demOlSh the
frame structure corner of 10th and r streets
The report OF the registrar of vital statistics
for the month Of March was submitted. The
was 3l5 being q less than the corresponding
month OF last year. The annual death rate per
LOCO was 25S15-white, Ss764; cOlOred, 49, 1884,
Births GepOrted) during the month, 32l-
white, 191; cOlOred, 49, Annual rate of de-
crease Of population by deaths over births
ored, 4.267-l5.65 per cent. of the deaths Wee
from Zymotic diseases, 2S11 per cent. from
constitutional diseases, 4.93 per cent. from
local diseases, 9.S6 per cent. from develop
mental diseases, and LAS per cent. from acct
dents.
DEEDS IN FEE have been filed as follows:
l.. L. Jett to j. C.. KnowltOn, so, SUBJ lot o. So
$50. r; X. Perry, trustee, to A.W. Fiske, sl,7Od,
part of sub. lots c and ID, So. 1913. II. X. Elliott
ct al Ia trustees to s T. Williams sls00 lot T.
sub lot e. So. 296 r: d. Ruffin to B. III. War.
ner, s., same lot Philip Pollard, trustee. to
Rob't Armour, $l,SI5, lot on Vermont avenue,