Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-14
The KnIing Of James 8. CoomSs.

TRIAL OF SAMUEL EMERY, JR., FOR NAN
SLAUGHTER.
This morning In the Criminal Court. Judge
Hagner, the case Of Samuel Emery, Jr., charged
with manslaugther In killing James g. Coombs
in the saloon, corner Of 9th street and Penn
taken up.District Attorney Wells and II. h.
Wells, IT., for the government, and Messrs. w.
A: Cook and A: B. Williams for the defendant.
nan, B. b. L. Crowley, Thos. P. Bell, P. b. Bost-
wick, ]. w. Willis, C. Il. Foote, G. B. Pearson,
A. NJ. Boswell, j. NJ. Brown, jr., W. F. Thomas,
w. A. Hughes and Thos. Hinefine.
The case was opened by Assistant District
Attorney Wells, who described the definition
OF manslaughter, and stated, that they eX-
gected to show that at the saloon named there
into crowd.
THE TESTIMONY.
The first witness. was Edward B. Coombs, a
brother Of the deceased, who testified that with
Mr.. Sim johnson and his (witneSS0 brother he
was In the saloon and he started to go home
when his brother called him back. As they
turned to enter the place fight was going on
and bis brother took him into a little back room
and ordered fried oysters They started to come
out and when they reached the door the shot
was fired andsdeceased fell in witness arms
shot In the head and lived about an hour A
man sung out, Look out, he is going to shoot"
Just as the shot was fired.
T. Sim johnson testified that he was with
Coombs and preceding witness, and at the sa-
con they met Mike Foley and Mike Lane there
with The prisoner and had several drinks to-
said he would cut some one, and Foley asked
What ne said and witness told him. Then Fo-
ley al d Parker were on the floor together aud
man hiding the pistol behind the oyster bar and
witness took it away and gave it to George
Mantz.
Emmett Bush testified that he was with Ma
Lon 6N bank. at the saloon, and saw Foley
urching man, and crowd gathered about
then; Then saw Emery tackle Michael Lane,
and they clinched and fought all around the
room before the pistol was fired. Emery struck
the first blow, and Lane struck several. Saw q
mans head put in the pool of water. Emery
put the mans head there. When the shot was
fired Callahan was behind the bar, and he ran
around and grabbed Emery's hand. Saw the
pistol was In EmeryS hand when it was fired
On cross examination witness said that pre-
yious to the s shooting Emery went towards
Emery, and they fought around the room.
When they reached the corner Emery backed
into it and fired, holding Lanes head down at
the time, and the crowd following him up, hol-
lering, "Give 1t to him." &C.
DR.. J. F. Hartigan testified to having made
the autopsy, and finding a pistol shot wound in
temple, and making its exit above the right
ear. There were powder marks on the face.
A recess was here taken.
Michael Foley testified that he was at the
saloon and Parker came in saying that he was
going to cut witness heart out, when witness
asked him (P.) about 1t and knocked him DOWN
Then Emery went TO Lane and threw hun in
the pool, and went around on the other side
and pulled him out. The crowd then ran
around and Emery fired the shot, when witness
took the pistol and hid it. Lane and Emery
were striking at each other when the shot was
fired. but Lane was too drunk to strike any one
When witness saw the shot fired he went to
Emery and said 1'Sam give me that pistol" and
he replied "No I'll shoot another of -
On cross examination witness said that Parker
and himself had some words and he knocked
Parker down twice and kicked him the second
time. Did not hear Emery say he would
not see man treated so nor did he say any
thing to witness about 1t. Emery struck Lane
first, the latter pulling off his coat just before
they clinched. Emery was sober. Saw no one
strike Emery; Lane was TOO drunk to strike
him.