National Republican., 1878-01-18
THE ciprroL GROUNDS MURDER.
Evidence Concludcd-A Very Lame Defense
and Sbnky Witnesses.

lHe lflnl OF Joseph DlsUDhn anu NftOTge buiU-
more Indicted for the murder Of Washington Me.
Grath, In the Capitol grounds on the night of the
9th Of March last was continued yesterday, all Of
the counsel being In attendance.
Tho first witness examined was George s. Smith.
lie was q member OF the Capitol police In March
last. He did not sec the homicide, but was ono Of
those who found the man after he was killed.
Somebody said that there was cry ofmurdcr. He
ran out and found two men lying ON the ground,
on the upper terrace about twenty to twenty feet
to the len of the door, and half dozen looking at
them. lie reached the first man aud shook him
he said that some one had struck him, his name
was Crafty The witness got him up and 70
the Iron railing where he sat down. From what
afterward transprei he should suppose that
Crafty was drunk. The witness then went to the
his right arm extended under his head. He shook
but failed to russo him, and then turned him over.
Then he discovered that his eyes were half open.
and set as In death He so remarked: felt his pulse
and his heart. but found no pusation lie 0btn ned
assistance and carried him into the building, where
they laid him out he sent for Lieutenant Giett In
charge Of the force. lie came and sent for ply.
sician, DR.. Ford.
The witness then Immediately reported the case
- police headquarters, and Detectives Coomes and
NOss went with him TO the Capitol.
Cross-cxamnaton.-The witness failed to dis.
cover any bruises. and thought his head must have
fallen on the arm. There was no blood about the
spot where the body had loin.
cRATTy's TESTIMONY.
Thomas Crafty the companion of McGrath that
night was examined. lie and McGrath met about
four o'clock that afternoon at the corner of sixth
street and Massachusetts, avenue. They went up
the avenue to GeOrgetown aud came back to the
Capitol grounds. He remembered having q fuss at
the steps below the fsh.pond with some colored
men, and then again above the ish.pond, on tho
tor steps. Nobody was with him but McGrath, lie
did not know the co,orcd men. but remembered
seeing four or five Of them. He could not state
what the dlficulty was, or how II began. Both he
drinking three times. When he became conscious
he found himself in the Capitol. The top Of his
head was bruised, and hs was cut on the neck and
chin.
Cross examined: He remembered seeing one of
the mon with bag, and he struck at the witness
several times. lie did not say where Mctirath was
william Cox knew McCrath by sight and ro.
Ecmbcrcd the homicide. lie was going down into
the city. aud, coming around from the southwest,
he heard some loud talking, and as he got nearer
he saw n crowd OF fUur-two whites and two col
did not know the cnlorcd men, but thought Dish.
man suited the build OF one OF them; but he would
not be positive. The one with bag len and went
tDwnrthc Senate end Of the Capitol The other three
came up on the top terrace and the man with
sack came back. lie put down the sack aud they
all went to lighting. Tho witness saw the big man
making motions rs though throwing something.
Crafty was the first One knocked down, and Me-
Grath followed him. Amer that the others ran
away. There were more than two Of them.
Cr,ss-cSamincd: The witness was within fifteen
or twenty yards Of the fight
by consent Dr. c. NJ. Ford was examined for the
lcicuSC. He was called to the Capitol to examine
two buhcS, one was alive and the other dead. On
the latter he found one or two slight abusions of
the face. lie then examined for fracture Of the
skull, and IN putting his hand around found
slight depression at the back, and
DIsLoCATIoN OF THE NECK.
The other man bore bruises andcvidcnces of hav.
ing been drunk.
The Government then resumed, but a number Of
witnesses falling to respond when called the Dis
| trirt Attorney rested his case.
/ In behalf of George Baltimore, Chloe Young and
John Grinder testified as to character This closed
| the evidence FOR this defendant.
THE DEFENSE.
! For the defense of Joseph Dishman the counsel
called Richard stewart He had known. John
in company with them about March 9th. Ilenever
went with them u the Capitol grounds. and saw no
! blow They left Douglass Hall together, and at
the foot Of the Capitol grounds were talking about
| q row IN tni0ntown and Dishninn said he would
were not In the grounds or near the fish. pond to-
gcthcr, and Dbhman never pointed out any blood
spots 10 them.
OF the word homicide or when man was killed
at the Capitol. He knew Johnnie Trushnm, but
they were never together at Douglas Hall. He
came away from the hall with Dishman that morn
! ing. TWAS IN March.
How do YOU know 1t was March?
Because II was.
What month Is this?
(Nner considerable hesitation, and counting on
his fingers, don't know.
Mr.. Cook then took hack u, it, but failed to en-.
tighten the witness
Mr.. CallaghNn "a Juror. YOU heard of the kill.
ing Of this man McGrath?
Witness. No, sir.
Mr.. Cdlaghan. Where have you been?
Witness. I don't know.
Matthew smothers had known John Swami for
six years Hesmet him on the road In March last
and he said that he would swear to any d-d lie
for dollar and quarter"
Mr. Thomas Hold on. | don't know os he said
| d-n.
Gross. examined He said that he would swear to
any d-l lie for II dollar and quarter.
Mr.. Thomas Don't take advantage Of my error.
District Attorney. Well he sworc to II.
District Attorney. Whom did he say so?
Witress. On the 9th of March.
? DistriCt-AtOrney. Don't you know that the in.
dictmcnt was not found until the l9th of March?
Witness. No, sir.
District Attorney, Then what did you mean by
saying that he told you on the 9th of March?
Witness ! don't know.
Mary Smith saw john Swami at Mn. Tripott.
during the Christmas hOlidays and he said that hs
would swear to any kind Of lie for dollar and
quarter.
Emma Trpett confirmed the statement Of the
above witness, but became badly mixed In mem
ory in regard tothc killing Of Mctirath
. John II, Cook testified that Swann week age
. told him that he, DshmRn and an old man. me
under a tree In the Capitol grounds The old mar
picked up twentythree cents which Dishmar
claimed as his
James CroygHn reported the cOroner's inques
held over McGrath, and said that Mayne there ties
titled that the white men accosted the coloreC
men.
!, This closed the testimony for Dlshman. District
Attorney Wells made brief opening for the prose
. cuton, and was followed by Mr.. Thomas for tn
defendant. Dlshui1::::. The argument will prObabl
be concluded aud the case go to the jury to-day.
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