Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-01-17
The Capitol Grounds Homicide.

TRIAL OF DISHAAf AND BALTIMORE.
Yesterday, in the Criminal Court, Judge
Macarthur, after our report of the trial OF JOS.
Dishman and George Logan alias George
Baltimore, colored, for the murder of Wash
ingtOn McGrath, on the 9th of March last,
closed, testimony was submitted for the gov
erBment as follows:
J. f. Padgett testified TO Dishman showing
some bOOtblaeks the place where he had
struck white man on the Capitol steps.
John Swami testified that he was with Dish
man on the sth OF March last that he heard
hlm say ne had been engaged in fight near
the capitol the night previous, and If he did
believe him he could 20 and see the blood near
the fish pond at the Capitol.
John Trushard testified that in Uniontown,
the day after the homicide, Dishman said he
had had fight at the Capitol: that as he was
coming up The front steps of the Capitol two
fellows. who made out as if they were drunk,
struck him (Dishman) in the back. Dish.
man swOre that he would not run a step if
they killed him, and he went and picked up
stones. just here Marshall and the other
man came up, and as they came up he struck
a white fellow back of the head with a stone,
and when he turned around the other white
then went up and struck the other white man
with his fist, knocking him down, and as he
was falling he kicked him in the neck, making
him, as he said, ''puke like little baby He
swore and told us to come with him in the
morning and he would show US the blood
where he had killed the man. That was all
witness heard him say.
j. A. Nantagan testified to seeing the de-
ceased and another party lying on The pave
ment, and stone lying near.
Carter Strake testified that Baltimore told
him at the st Mare Hotel, on the Sth of March
last, that he was one OF the men that struck
the white men found on the Capitol platform
on the evening previous.
The jurors We're sent TO the Washington
House.
TO-DAY's PROCEEDINGS.
This morning, George 5. Smith, of the Capt.
tOl police, testified that some one having said
hnr M hep a "a p nfn IN w m
out and found two men lying there. One of
them said he had been struck and gave the
name of Crafty. and he helped him up. Went
to the other party and he found him dead,
with his right arm under his head.
Thomas Crafty testified that he met McGrath
the deceased) about o'clock on the day of
the homicide at the corner Of 9th street and
Massachusetts, avenue, and they went to
Georgetown. Remembered going up to the
Capitol and having fuss with some cOlOred
men below the fish pond, and also up the steps
above the fish pond. There were four OF five
cOlOrcd men, but did not know them. nor could
he describe them; could not tell what the diff
fculty was, nor how it began. Witness did not
recover consciousness until he was in the Cap
itOl. and he had bruiSe on the head and two
cuts on the face and neck.
William Cox testified that he knew deceased
by sight, and on the night OF the homicide, in
passing the southwest corner Of the Capitol,
heard loud talking and saw q crowd stand
InS-tWO white and two coOred men-McG
being i'll the party. Could not say that the
looked like one of the men. One OF the col
ored men with bag went towards the north
end OF the Capitol. The others came up the
steps and the other man came back, set his
sack down and went into the fight. Saw the
big one (WhO had the sack making motions
as If he was throwing. Crafty was the first
one Knocked down, and next Mctirath fell
The others ran away and there We're more
than two who ran off.
TESTIMONY FOR DEFENCE.
At this point DIR. Charles Nj. Ford was called
1pfpnpp hn
called 10 the Capitol: found one man dead with
one OF two slight aDraSiOnS on the face: there
1 was no fracture t OF the skull but found dis
was badly bruised about the face; he was very
drunk.
Several witnesses were called by the govern
ment. and falling to answer the District At
tOrney closed his testimony.
The defence declined to make any opening,
saying that the evidence for the prosecution
hat thus far favored them. and they would
simply present some witnesses as to charac-
ter.
Chloe Young testified that Logan was great
coward who would sooner run than fight.
Richard Stewart testified that the morning
after the homicide. with Swami and DiShman,
he came through the Capitol grounds, and
Dishman was talking about a riot in Union
town. There was nothing said about a fight
i'll the Capitol grounds.
Matthew Smothers testified that he knows
John Swami. and heard him say, in March
last. that he would swear to any id lie for a
Mary Smith testified that she remembered
the time OF the killing: heard John Swami say
that lie would swear TO any kind OF lie for a
dollar and q quarter, in Mrs. Tripett'S house
during the Christmas holidays. Emma Trip
lett cOrrobOrated this witness.
John ii. Cook tof the cOunSeD testified that
about a week ago Swami said TO him that he
tS.l. with Dishman and an old man met under
Il tree.
The reporter for THE STAR testified that
Mayne. OH the cOrOnerS jury. testified that
the White men accoSted the cOlored men.
John Grinder testified that Baltimore was a
peaceable. quiet boy.
This concluded the testimony