Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-04-02
ON TRIAL FOR LIFE.
Trial o: George Clark for the Murder
of John Lyles

The trial of George Clark (colored,) for the
murder of John Lyles, also colored, at Pools
vile, on Saturday, December 9th, 1879, was
commenced in the Circuit Court for Mont
gomery county, ON Thursday last The diff
culties leading to the homicide, began in the
saloon in the basement and store room of the
building on the floor above and occupied
as the business places of the firm OF Messrs.
Sparrow & Price, in the above mentioned
locality. The parties were elected from both
places and the deed committed on the street.
James B. Henderson, Esq, appearing for the
State, and Hon. George Peter for the defense.
The case was opened by Mr.. Henderson,
after jury had been empanneled from the
regular list of jurors, making the usual ad-
dress as to what the commonwealth expected
to prove, the law with reference to murder,
etc. The first witness for the State was
Elias Price, who testified as follows: Lives
in Poolsville; keep store there; was there
the night Of the murder; was attending the
bar that night; Lyles and Clark came into
the saloon together; Lyles refused to drink !;
Clark got pint of gin Lewis Lyles and
Clark were sparrng; Clark remarked that
his wife did not want him to come to town
that night; he said he was not going home :;
| ordered the prisoner and deceased to leave
the room; Lewis Lyles talked of knock
down. Clark started with his hands in his
pockets; he Clark threatened to kill or
cut the heart out of any d-n SIN Of b-h
who touched him that night; then put Clark
out; he said there was a s-n ola b-h in there
who had not treated him; he was fussing
with Jack Jackson before l put him out,
about his dog; when putting him out Clark
said don't push me; :" let go of him for
fear he would cut me- four negroes went
out with him at the time; Lyles did not go
out; this was the last | saw of Clark for
about three quarters of an hour at the time
the fuss began upstairs. Mr.. Peter objected
TO this testimony because it was not pertinent
to the case. The court ruled that the evil
dence was appropriate and pertinent and
was admissible. Mr. Peter excepted. Iheard
Il fuss upstairs; | next saw the parties out
on the street; heard Clark say " John Lyle,
your life is in my hands; | cut you for fun
in the store and could cut your id throat
now but don't want to do it," twice he
said Lyles your life is in my hands !" he
Clark had Lyles around the neck with his
arm, the knife was in front of them on the
ground; Clark again remarked Z" | could cut
your id heart out now, and have great
notion to do it, Lyles called to me to take
Clark away; Clark cut Lyles in the knee,
and Lyles grunted Lyles then struck Clark
with an anger on the head; as Lyles was
being pulled off, Clark cut right and left and
cut Lyles several times Lyles then struck
Clark twice with the auger which he broke :;
Lyles shortly afterwards died; did not ex-
anime wounds closely; Clark made the as
sault
Gross Eroniaed.-Lyles struck Clark four
times did not hear any loud talking up
stairs; deceased tried to get away from
Clark; did not hear anything that occurred
b1lCs was IJuiitu away HUN
Clark saw two wounds on Lyles legs, and
saw no other cut on the body except on the
cheek; Clark made dozen motions to cut;
none of the parties were drunk although
they had been drinking heard no talk be-
tween Clark and Lyles; Clark did not offer
10 cut me, though he stubbornly went out
when ordered to do so Clark came to the
store after night; the fuss upstairs, in the
store, took place about three-quarters of an
hour alter that in bar below
Benjamin Plummor, (colored. II was in
the bar-room on the night of the murder;
got there just as Clark was coming out
went upstairs 10 the stOre was there haitian
hour before Clark came up; Clark was lean
ing against the counter and said to John
Lyes that ifanybody disturbed him he would
cut him with his knife; Lyles said he would
hit anybody that disturbed him, with the
auger; Lyles was Il farm hand Clark then
began fuss with Lyles and cut him in the
face, and Lyles struck Clark with the handle
Of the auger; Mr.. Sparrow put Lyles out
and Clark Immediately followed; in the
street they renewed the fight, when Clark
got his arm around Lyles' neck he said tn
deceased "your life is in NV hands :" Lvles
said. "let me go." Clark emf him I.vles did
not strike Clark ON the street until he was
cut. Clark ran away after the emitting
Gross Er.-Lyles struck Clark Il pretty
severe lick Mr. Sparrow mt them ant Inc.
fore Clark made any effort 10 cut I,vles after
being struck with the auger. do NOT think
they had been drinking: Lyles never drank
whiskey. Lyles tried TO loose himself from
Clark's embrace. Clark was free To cut any
mart of Lyles' bady.
BF Snarrow of the firm of Snar.
row ~ price. conId mn, sav whether Cork
anil deceased came in tbo s,,r, tos,.ther.
hoard ,;cL ami .,w what heat lee, don,.
ther NAT wis ont and C.ork tolIowed
d,d no, ava,,;,,o r.,lo. ,,,r Ia. ,,,.,s emf and