National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-11-06
HOSORABLY ACQUITTED.
End of the Fletcher rriaI--A Verdict OF Not
entity.

The trial Of william Fletcher, charged with the
murder OF David keppel on June y, 1873, was re-
sumcd In the Criminal court, lciOre Justice Hag-
| ner yesterday morning.
Delaware iIudncll testified that on the day In
| question he went Into the saloon aud drunk with
the parties aud they went over to q table for re-
Treatments, leaving hun standing ut tic counter.
Fletcher ana Desmond got into a dispute aud the
latter commenced throwing bottle, At the other
lie then saw keppel down on the floor lie saw
fletchcrs hand snoot toward Kcppel, but did not
see the blow struck. On aglinatiou wit
ness testified that lie helped Kepper up and then
saw flctchers head was cut. Fletcher aud KEEP.
pei were very friend y
The Government here closed their case stating
llat they claimed verdict Of mausluughlcr only.
The defense submitted whether The Government
llad made ont the case. The court decided to take
II from the Jury.
Mr.. Williams opened for the accused saving that
the net O! Fletcher was done in sei-pcrservatlon
for the purpose of disarming De.nond.
Mr William Forsyth testified ~ plan of the
saloon
William Fletcher, the accused testified that on
the day OF the occurrence he waS standing in front
OF the Marble saloon IN his buggy when Kcppc
drove up and Desmond followed cursing, saying
he would get even with him. Desmond ihcm in
sisted on him Fletcher treating, and finally got
him by the collar. and he then gotout and an
then went down into the saloon; they called for
three beers, and Hudncll came In ana took drink
OF whisky Desmond insisted Oh treating to oysters
ana finally the witness consented to take clam
soup or Chuwder; lie remained talking to Kennel
until the oystcrs were ready: when they sat down
Desmond wanted to know if oysters were not a5
good for him fletchcrl as they were for him tDes.
mond), and called him d. - of Il b.. suyiug
he was as good as Witness he (Fletchcrl then got
up aud Desmond threw number of bottles at
him. cutting his head IN two places and also his
hand. The last bottle struck him ON the edge OF
the head, and whether this bottle struck kcppc or
he tfittcher) showed him down he did not know;
his eyes were full of peppcr.viuegar aud cutsup at
| the time, but he got close enough to Desmond aud
lie struck him. Witness here exhibited the scars
| on his head aud hand.
This closed the testimony, and the counsel sub.
mltted the Cuse without argument. The Court
/ briefly charged rs follows:
lfthe jury believe. from the evidence that the
| prisoner was attacked by Desmond and while en-.
| gagged in fight with HIM the deceased stepped
! between them with the intention of trying to stop
the fight, and that the prisoner while striking at
Desmond with his hand accidentally struck the
deceased, who was Knocked down by the blow and
Tell upon the iiOUr striking the back of his head
upon the illor or some other hard substance, and
that fracture OF the skull, rs described by the
hysciais, resulted from the ia j, causing the
death OF the deceased and that the prisoner the
time the blow was struck was only endeavoring to
defend himself from DtsmOnds attack and used
! no unrca' ouable means of defense, and hud no
intention of injuring the deceased, then the pris-
oner was not guilty of the felunious homicide OF
the deceased and II entitled to an acquittnl.
The jury retired at ll:5 o'clock aud returned IN
seven minutes with verdict OF Not Gully"
Amer II wus announced Mr., Fletcher received
| the congratulations Of several friends present aud
later with his counsel retired from the courtroom