Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-13
The Lena Leins Outrage Case.

TRIAL OF TOM SM0THERS BEGUN
In the Criminal Court, Judge James. the case
OF Thomas SmotherS, the herculean colorei
man. who was indicted for rape and attempt at
rape on the person of Miss Lena LENS IN the
night OF February 2Tth was taken IN ar liza
O'Clock this morning-DStrict Attorney Cork
hill end Mr. r. r. Perry for the goyprnment
ana Messrs BENJAMIN Davenport assigned by
tile COURT, assisted by Howard c. Clagett. for
the prisoner. Ia compliance with the orders of
the court made yesterday. the court room was
not crowded Had 1t not been for the members
OF the par and police. who We're represented by
small NUMBER each, the attendance would
nave peen scarcely large enough to fill the seats
In the room. Among those present were the
loilo"lng ladies: Ruth {. Dennison, Catherine
A. I. Stebbens Martha Smell Phpbe Cozzens.
EVefeen /. Mason. JeTllSha l.. Soy f. W. Little
THE PRISONER,
as has been stated. is six feet four inches tall
and very strong built. He has been known 10
raise loaded cart from which wheel had run
OH uDtll IL could be placed on again. He has a
peculiar appearance, his face and beard being
rather small for his large frame, with a recedng
1Ofehead, long Jaws, large mouth and a lower
lip extending beyond his nose, under which
latter feature is q heavy black mOuStache GA
the back OF his head there are number or
scars. There are not few persons who now
believe that CephaS Jones' who was convicted
few years since OF a similar offence on the
person OF Miss Smith. is now suffering wrong
fully, and that SmotherS should be In his place:
also, that the subsequent outrage committed on
Miss Wilson Is chargeabe TO Smothers The
reasons for this theory are that SnOt hers comes
nearer the first description given by Miss Smith
or her aSSa1ant than the convicted man and
because when arrested for the outrage on Miss
Wilson he was taken with Others before her
put not identified, and that subsequently Miss
Wilson stated that she had seen the man mi
would not identity him because her father
would have shot him and got In trouble
thereby.
SELECTING A JURY.
The following of the regular Jury were called
and stated that thew Gould q
cording TO the evidence:-Jas. F. Wollard. Robt
Logan, John Myers, VIM. Beckett W. Barker, ;
L. .. Brothers, Burton Vernon, s.. V. Hurdle
Garter Stewart, lr.,s John I. Graham. H. Lacey.
r. s. Brooke, Thos. c. Ray G. Emmert j. r
Mahoney and j. NJ. Davenport Messrs. James
r. ollard, John Myers, +. S. Brooke and j. H.
Mahoney were challenged Thomas C. Ray as
challenged for favor, and, answering that he
had no connection with q committee of safety
nor mad be taken any part In Indignation meet
lhgS. ne renamed OIL the jury. The defence
having made four challenges, the prosecution
raised the point that, unless rape was a felony.
they had but four challenges and the court
TOOK a recess that this point might be examined.
AFTER recess the government stated that the
case being one of felony the tpfendent had ten
challenges. Henry Lacy was excused: John r
Graham was challenged: ChaS A. Jones' and
Henry Evans were called; S. V. Hurdle was chal-
lenged, and IhOS. Evans was called and hay-
ing formed an opinion he was set aside: John F.
Patterson was called; Henry Evans was chai-
ienged: G. W. Rancill was called and chal-
sworn; ". ii. Barker was challenged by the
government, and Calvin ii. Davidson selected:
carter stewart, IT., was excused by the govern
ment, and George Donaldson called; Mr.. David
son was challenged by defence. and Gwynn
Green called. This completed the jury-Robert
Logan, Nm. Beckett, L. j. Brothers. Burton
Vernon, j. NJ Davenport ThOs. c.. Ray g.
Emmert. ChaS. A, JONES' George Donaldson
Gwynn Green John T. Patterson ana CHRIS CHRIS
TOPPER Mckenney7-and they were sworn.
Those marked & are cOlored.
Mr.. PERRYs OPENING ADDRESS
MI. Perry at O'Clock opened the case to the
Jury and stated that they expected to show that
lnlS prisoner on the night in question assaulted
Miss LENS who was on her way TO church: that
she was struck senSelesS, and. recovering her
senses sens she found herself barefooted and this
man standing over her; that she was taken
nome ana found TO be badly injured her face
being beaten to a jelly. They would show that
thefe had been colored man 'iSam" with
Smothers up to within ten minutes OF the time
CT the commission OF the offence and subse-
quently saw him leaving the place; that lady
VINO knows SmotherS saw him dragging some
tnlHg across the street and on the lot: that
lady and her daughter saw Smothers standing
ln that locality: they would show that Miss
LENS recognized Smothers when she went In
Jail to see him. both by his voice and by his ap.
pearance.
THE TESTIMONY.
Detective McEfresh was the first witness
and he testified that he was acquainted with
the neighborhOod OF ID street Maryland avenue.
'tn ana Sth streets northeast and a plat being
presented he said 1t was prepared by him and
was correct. On crOSS-eXaminatiOn witness said
he could not tell the exact location of the gas
lamps. and explained that the lot on which the
occurrence TOOK place was large one.
STORY OF THE vICTIM-SHE IDENTIFIES SMOTRERS
MISS Lena LelnS-a rather handsome. dark
eyed girl, with dark hair worn in ringlets, at
tired in a black dress and coat, and wearing a
WorSted head-dreSs-waS sworn. She testified
that size was "a years OF age that On the even
lag In question, she left her cousins house
about IA O'Clock to 60 to church. and walked
about squares: remembers passing the house
corner of sth and d streets; had a prayer book
In her hand; had come along street; don't
reco'lect anything further until she found
that she was lying on the ground in
a vacant lot and had been hurt:
In placing her hand to her face found that she
was bleeding. man was standing over her
and she asked "Where AIN T." to which he re-
Piled. I'm bad place" She said. that is not
what wanted to know and understood him
to say. 18th and ID Streets She then raised
up and. found her feet were cold, and seeing her
shoes, he offered to put them on, but she would
not allow him, and she then got up with his
help. and She went TO her home eastward, the
man going westward. This man was a colored
man. very tall one. Witness went to the iaIl.
heard the prisoners voice, and recognized it as
the same voice she heard that night TThe pr1s-
Oner stood up.l That is the man. comparing
his hCVht h1j,d nlo Il