National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1878-03-09
THE CITY HALL.
THE CLOSING HOURS OF THE CURTIS
TRIAL.
The Arguments and Charge to the Jury
No Verdict Yet-A Missing Link Of Evil
dence-Other Matters About the Courts.

The Arguments and Charge to the Jury
No Verdict Yet-A Missing Link Of Evil
dence-Other Matters About the Courts.
The third and concluding day OF the trial OF Ed
mund Ray, alias HOughton, alias Richardson, took
place before Justice wylie yesterday. The crowd
In attendance was not as large as noticed on the
previous day, still quite large In comparison with
the usual gathering. The complexion Of the as
semblage was somewhat different from those usu l
ally seen in the chamber, which are generally com
posed Of an ignorant class, poorly clad and dirty.
In this instance the faces were mostly white, aud
had an intelligent look.
Before the cause proceeded Colonel Corkhill
called attention to an article In THE REPUBLICAN
In regard toa
'LyScHING CROWD READY TO WORK"
lie reminded the court Of the fact that his Honor
had charged the jury neither to read newspaper.
nor converse on the Circumstances Of the case, and
how he said thaihe would punish those persons WHO
attempted to talk and Influence them. He said
that he had made inquiry as to the statements con.
tained In the article, and believed that they were
not correct. The marshal had informed him that
an excited crowd had hecn about the court.house
during the entire day, many Of them unable to get
into the chamber and witness the trial. Amer The
adjournment they congregated on the street still
excited, waiting To see the departure Of the pris
oner to the jail. This, he thought, was the sub.
stance Of the whole affair
Justice wylie said that he had read the article
He knew that there was both excitement and curl.
osity about the ease, but he did not think the
one could be gathered together IN this city for
that purpose
Il the deputy marshal had no fears for the safety
OF his prisoner why did he strategy Ia get the
prisoner away from the CITY Hall? Instead of tax;
ing him out the customary way, where the crowd
stood, he conducted his prisoner through the
building to the west wing. where he was kept,
within the door until the twO.seatcd carriage Cnme
up, then hurried In and sent of to jail. At the
ing demonstrations TO attract the attention of the
pOpulacc and lead the crowd tn believe that Ray
was about 10 make his exit from that wing. When
he had departed, II there had been no danger OF
losing the prisoner, why did the deputy mar.hal as
he re.entercd the building say. We fooled them
the bailiiis told him hack had assisted them to
draw away the attention, the expressions used
showed plainly that they feared to risk taking Ray
into the crowd The threats and mutterngS among
the excited men outside could easily he heard,
and the deputy marshal was wise in taking the
precautionary measures to secure the safety Of his
man.
THE ARGUMENTS.
The trial proceeded.
District Attorney Wells opened for the Govern
mcnt reviewed the testimony in detail. and set
forth ~ plain. unmistRkablr light tho ovcrwhClm-
ing evidence against the accused. maintaining that
clearer and more complete rAso could not be
made nut than the one presented to the Jury.
George Il. COrkGill followed for the defense. He
thought 1t the most rcm0rkuAc case of rape IN the
history of the court. He wished 10 say II he
og% or little defense, II the stUry nf the prescott
ing witness was true lCyuHd any reasonable doubt
aud the accused committed the decd then lie
should he punished: but the imprnbabiiity Of the
correctness Of her story was supported hy the
opcnncsS of the conduct of the accused IN going To
well known hotel and making no attempt at dis
gusc IN the honesty of his bChnNi Or while there.
lie then went on 10 criticisc the testimony, Cun.
ining himself to the condition "f the rooms the
hStcnings of the door and ability OF persons IN adj
joining rooms aud halls To Lear amy outCty that
might ho made from one Of thee rooms. lie wa,
satisfied from the Handkerchief part Of the trans
action that the story an invention from begin
ming 10 end and niimRtCd that II was one of black
mail lie said that the GCrwcd would willingly
like To have the same light of heaven let In u;,Dn
oil the facts and have them pass in array before
the jury.
Colonel William A. Cook made the
CLOSING ARGUMENT FOR THE DEFENDANT,
cited the law and authorities as to what consti.
tntCd rape and then went on Ia declare that case
had not been made out against his client.
lie spent some time in paying his RESPECTS 10 Miss
Tydings and the suspicious Of lack Of chastity that
her conduct gave previous to the present trouble
how she had been absent from home and relatives.
and their entire ignorance Of her whereabouts.
lie maintained that the evidence she had given
was not sufficient on which To find verdict against
the defendant, and denied that her testimony had
been cnrrObOrated in the essential particulars to
AIRS o'clock district Attorney Wells began his
summing up of the case. lie closely and SnrCnctly
recountcd the testimony, mirrored II before the
jury, showed It's truth and strength, aud demanded
II verdict Of conviction at their hands. He wanted
them to give the benefit of every reasonable doubt
to the prisoner, put all the facts and testimony to-
ccthcr and then oil their Oaihs say whether or not
lie was the guilty man that perpetrated this hel!sh
decd.
lie closed at four o'clock.
- The defense presented q number Of prayers some
OF which were granted and Others referred.
CHARGE TO THE JURY.
| His Honor charged the Jury to give consideration
and full weight TO all that TRANSFERRED IN Baltimore
| in regard To the case.
There was one part Of the cGse on which no had
heard nothing said and thut was the time OF night
! tho occurrence took place. She turned down the
| light and retired and was awakened by finding
| some one In the bed but what was the hour, no
evidence showed. 1t might be at an hour when all
had gone to bed and We're IN Il deep sleep. Youths
sleep sound and the hours fee rapidly by Tcsti-
mory failed to show the hour of the crime.
| Small devintiOns in detailing circumstances were
proofs Of the Crcdibllty Of witnesses and not
teyidenCc against their being worthy Of belief
| W more innocent Miss 1ydings heart was. the
| more unsrspCCting she would be of the man whom
she regarded ~ her protector and the less likely
was she TO take prccautiOn to secure the connect
| ing door Ofthe two rooms. The locality of the
latter were TO he considered aud hearing Of voices
but they must also consider what time Of night 1t
was and whether the adjoining rooms were occu-
pied or not. There had been no testimony on that
| point, but If these rooms were rented there was
nothing 10 show whether
ANYBODY WAS IN THEM OR NOT,
| or that those having them, II rented might not
have been out 10 balls or parties IL they had any
possibility Of doubt rs to the identity Of the nc
| CuScd being the man Curtis, after eleven person.
had sworn positively to him and no attempt NJ al
elibi been set up then he bid the jury acquil
| him.
r. Judging from the evidence conscientOuslY
| with their best ability and desire to do their duty
under their oath. verdict of guilty would not bt
satisfactory to their mind and they entertained @
doubt Of dol Ing the prisoner Justice, then they
| should ncquit
i The jury retired at 40 o'clock and, not agree
ing uppn verdict In half an hour, recess was
tUken until eight o'clock.
AN IMPORTANT LINK FOUND TOO LATE.
| Since the evidence Of Mr.. Tenney. proprietor Of
the National Hotel was given, an investigation Of
the rooms 20 and - has been made, also the dis
COvCry that new bolt has been put on the door OF
the room Miss Tydngs occupied, and that there !.
an old bolt on the other door II is therefore eyi
dent that Mis- Tydings was correct in her state
mCnt that the fustcnings to the room she occupied
| were Insecure. Mr.. TCnncy Is not to blame for the
omission. for his orders IN regard 10 the locks and
bots ON the room door Rre strict to his EMPLOYEES
j and he presumeS that they ARE Ubeyed. He believed
II TO he 50 In this instance, consequently his tcst
mOny 10 that effect
| OUT ALL NIGHT.
At the appointed time His Honor returned to the
City Hall and occupied the CiiCuit Court chamber
| the other not being supplied with gas.
| quite a crowd had bCCa waiting on the outside
aud rushed into the room as soon US tho doors wer,
opened
Il Colonel Cook, Assistant District Attorney Wells
and the prisoner were present.
The court directed the Jury to be brought in.
Ten minutes later they fled into the chamber and
occupied the scHts assigned them and We're pOlled
| TUthc question of the clerk the foreman re,
spondcd that they had not agreed upon verdict
l. lIDupr f. Al question q law G,t.tn al