Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-04-15

| AOOhh NE w =.
The National Hotel Outrage Case
To-day, In the Criminal Court, Judge Hagner
the trial OF Maj. E. ii. Curtis, alias Ray, indicted
for committing an outrage on the person o.
Ella Tydings, OF Baltimore, at the Nattona
| Hotel In March, 1877, was resumed d-Districi
| Attorney Wells and his assistant, H. ii. Wells
tr., for the government; w: A. Cook and G. B
| regular panel and talesmen ten jurors were Sc.
lected as follows: f. G. Wheeler, (foreman;,
John w. Freeman (colored,l George Williams
| (cOlOred.) s. B. Boyer, F. T. Eckloff. Jacob
Acker, j. H. Tall, w. g. Crawford (colored.) and
Robert c. Douglass (colored) Fifteen addi
tfonal talesmen were then ordered to be dra xn.
This morning j. L. Davenhower and j. X. Ma
horny were declared by the court to be CON-
petent jurors. The defence presented q bill OF
exceptions as to the ruling of the court thai
counsel can only question jurors when chal.
leDged for cause. which was signed.
HISTORY OF THE CASE By ATTORNEY WELLS
Ihe Jurors as above were sworn, and District
Attorney Wells opened the case, briefly recit
Ing that he expected to show that the prisoner
arrived In Baltimore April 21st; took rooms at
Barnum'S; that he presented an advertisement
to the Sun Office, WANTED for nurse a girl
NOT under twelve or over fourteen; protestant
pIe1erIe0; answers to be sent to the Sun Office
Mr. Miller saw the notice and thought it would
De good place for Ella, his wife's sister, ana
cOnlerlng With her she answered the notice
The prisoner called In answer to the note agd
conversation took place, the result OF which
was that she agreed to accompany him. He
tEen described them leaving Baltimore, her
hotel where they had adjoining rooms. and the
struggle which resulted In his overpowering
ner & ana accomplishing his purpose; and their
then noted the efforts made to eject hts rrout
which resulted In his apprehension at New
orleans On the 30th OF December. 1877.
Mr.. CORKHILL, FOR THE PRISONER,
SAID that after listening to the pathetic nara,
t1on OF an imaginary case by the District attor-
ney. he would forego what he intended to saw.
Iney were not to try the case except upon the
having nothing to do with it. He theI
read the indictment, in which the name
OF the complaining witness is given as
Martha Ellsworth Tydlngs, otherwise Ella Ty
dings, and said there were pair OF them. fr
was one OF the most remarkable cases on re-
cord, and the crime is one OF the most heinous
known TO the LAWN MARYLAND punishable with
death. The law says that woman thus as
saulted must resist to death. He denied that
there was such resistance in this case or that
the crime charged could have taken place with
out attracting attention. Judge Hagner at this
point suggested that 1t would be better for Col
Corkh1l to cOnf1ne himself to statement of
what he expected to prove, and not to comment
Col. Corkhill continued, saying that he ex.
pected to show that there was no rape but an
arrangement, and that after this occurrence, as
fame. He asked II this was the course for yir
tuous girl to take. The District Attorney sug.
gested that the witnesses on both sides leave
the room, put the other side saying it was Inn
or not. no order was made.
THE TESTIMONY
The government called Edmund GUY, clerk
at Barnums hotel, Baltimore, who Identified
March. 1877.
Mr.. COOK said that they would admit ssthat
ne ne prisoner, under the name OF Curtis was at
the National Hotel on March 23d, 1877. and reg
lstered by that name and occupied room
therein adjoining and connected with one oc-
cupied by Ella Tydings, and that he remained
there until the next day." Col. Cook argued
that the government had nothing to do with
what transp1red in Baltimore prior to the al
legged crime committed here. Colonel Corkhill
was admissible.
The witness, Mr.. Guy, continued, saving
Curtis came to the hotel March 18th and ne.
mained ~ days; could not tell when he left, for
be paid no bills. Witness described the dress of
the prisoner.
T.J. Brasiears identified the prisoner, Curtis.
as one of the guests at Barnum's In 1871.
q. Kan sner testified to receiving the advertise
ment published In the Sun OF March 22d; could
not say that he ever saw the prisoner; the
tie Advertisements % tarsis d ne BaTnams
hotel" Saw the party next day at the Sun
of1ice; don't know that anything was said then
but delivered letters In answer to the adver,
tisemenf; there were more than one.
Mr. Oliver j. Miller testified that he had
known Ella Tyd1ngS since January or Febru-
Boundary avenue, BaItimore) some time in
March, 1877. About that time ELIAS sister
Mrs. johnson, handed witness paper, and re.
ne nun ioe0t,,n 70 answer an
dropped 1t In the box. Next day Mr. Curtis
came to the house to see Ella; don't know how
the letter was signed; but as he wrote it for the
name Witness reported the G conyersation ion
which took place, In which Curtis spoke Of hts
sister needing 2 nurse for her child; that it
was arranged that she should 60 the next afUer-
noon In theS3 O'Clock train. She started the next
day at y or O'Clock to the Calvert st. depot;
street, and joined him. and told him the young
lady was at the depot and Curtis, after seeing
her left, but returned just before the train left
Next saw curtis In the Parish prison at New
Orleans on the 30th OF December following.
don't remember the conversation he had with
him there; he said In effect that he had never
taken. The advertisement was read as follows.
"Wanted-A Protestant girl OF 12 or IA years as
nurse to one child, to go to Alexandra, va.
preferred. Address Country Merchant" Sun
Office" Witness continued-NeXt saw Ella
Tydings the following afternoon. After She
spoke spoke 70 witness wife she burst into tears
On resuming at 4 O'Clock Mr.. Cook had four
witnesses called for the defence, and they fall
lng TO answer, ne asked that attachments issue.
and be sent TO the U. s. marshal at Baltimore
Mr.. Miller was crosS-exam1ned by Mr. Cook.
Tie Grand Army of the Republic
and The Flag Question.
WASHINGTON, d. c., April 18th, 1879.
To the Editor of The Star:-The several papers
in their accounts OF the meeting held on Wed
nesday evening last, by ex-soldiers &C., to GEN.
sure our local, as well as late visiting militia.
for railing 10 carry the U.s. flag, have ali seemed