National Republican., 1880-11-09
THE KILLING or J. r. BUrLER.
William Pope Charged with tho Murder
Evidence FOR the Prosecution.

The trial of William Popc for the killing
Of J. f. Butler (both coorcd) in Georgetown,
in August 1879, was continued before Justice
James in the criminal court yesterday. Assist
ant District Attorneys Perry and Howe APP
pearcd for tho government aud AIessrs. Cook
an I Williams for the defendant. Mr.. Howo
made the opening for tho prosecution,
rociting tho circumstances Of the homicide;
that they expected to prove it q case of MUIR
der, and unless tho defense could establish by
proof different theory the government
would ask for y verdict Of guilty rs indicted.
The following witnesses were examined as
to the nature Of the wounds received by tho
deceased aud their fatal effect: DR.. c. II. A.
Klenschmidt, DR.. James NJ Mackall and DIR.
| j. L. Hartigan.
George w. Jones testified to a lengthy &C.
| quaintanccship with the accused, aud that he
| (the wmess) and Lewis Johnson went into
the woods on Sunday, September Z. The wit.
| moss got full of rum, but they all got back
/ into Georgetown before dark. He did not
know where he left tho others, but when he
awoke he found himself at home. 1t was not
| dark aud he went out again. Ho met Pope
| and Lewis johnson at tho house Of the latter
and the throe of them started TO tho stable OF
witness. They met tho father Of Pope, and
/ after leaving him the three Of them went to
q restaurant on Green stroot and drank beer.
! Pistol showu.l Witness would not swear
! positively that IL belonged to him, as thorc
were q dozen like it where he bought the pis.
| tol, but that (tho ono shown looked some.
thing like his. The pistol was taken with
| him to the woods and fired several times, and
then ho did not see il again until late
in the evening. Hc asked Pope IL he
had the pistol and he answered " Yes
that he was going down the city little ways
that evening" The witness was sitting on
the bridge whom the shot was fred; then ran
TO the place and with others carried Butler to
tho doctors.
Lizzie Robinson, better known us Ritter,
! testified that there were a number of persons
| at her house on jefferson street on Sunday
night, August 81; between aud 8 o'clock she
saw Butler with others in her kitchens; she
afterward went up stairs, and hearing voices,
she looked out the window and saw persons
talking between two wagons loaded with bar.
rels; she recognized Buffers voice; they were
| disputing about SIS; directly pistol was
! fired, and Butler screamed out that he was
! shot.
Alfred Snowdcn testified to knowing Pope,
Butler and Mrs. Robinson and remembering
the night that Butler was shot; he was ut
| Mrs. Robinson's OH tho night of tho shooting;
they were all back in the kitchen; Pope came
there and said that he wanted TO ses Butler,
ana they started out, leaving tho door open;
after that Che witness heard the report
! of gun or pistol aud ran out; he saw
ness another man came out from the wagons
! and ran down the bank of the canal; ho did
not know exactly that it was Pope, but fol-
lowe,Pthe man down, and ho went into John
! Hurdles house, in Washington street; the
witness then went back and assisted to carry
Butler to the doctors.
On cross-oXamination the witness testified
that when Pope and Butler went out of his
(Robinson's) house the latter took a pisto
from his hip.pocbet aud placed 1t in his from
pantaloons pocket.
Mr. Perry wished to show that tho witness
| had made u sworn statement In the district
attorney Office different from his recent tes
timOny.
Mr.. Cook objected at that point, and thu
matter was temporarily dropped.
Mr.. Perry, when tho examination Of tht
witness was concluded asked that the jury b,
permitted to retire, as he did not wish t,
compromise the defendants case by auythin,
tampered with.
Mr.. Cook objected, and thought 1t was al
unjust imputatiou upon the witness aud th
testimony that he had given. If he wished
TO contradict his own witness there might b
a way Of doing it, but it was not ut that tim
aud in the manner proposed. Mr.. Perry de
clincd to examine tho witness further ut tha
time and he was dismissed from the stand.
John Gormlcy was then called and testile,
as to the location OF the wagons in fronb o
Mrs. Robnsons house and u conversation
between two mon near the cooper shop.
AT this point the court adjourned until thi
} morning.