National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-06-05
NEW YEARS EVE MURDER
Close Of the Testimony for the PrOseCu-
ton.
The Plen of self-Derense.

Yesterday was the third day of the trial Of
George Lee, indicted for the murder Of Fran
els Williams on last new years eve by shoot
lug him in the back of tho head, before Jus.
tice James, In the criminal court.
The cross.examination of Daniel Naylor
was resumed. but brought out nothing new.
Officer Patrick Modigan testified that he
arrested Lee aud had a conversation with him;
when tho witness entered his house he asked
Lee If he did the shooting, and Lee replied
that he did; he asked how many shots were
fired, and Lee said three; Officer Burgess and
the witness brought Lee out on the street, and
on the way to the station he was asked
the cause of the shooting; Lee replied
that party of roughs came into
his house on Christmas day and eat aud
drank and left without paying. He said that
this party, or q portion of them, entered his
house on tho 31st of December and called for
quart Of whisky. Hc poured 1t out said
that it would be half dollar and they could
not have 1t without paying in advance for 1t.
Two of the number then went up stairs into
his dining-room, and as the third WINS going up
lie prevented him, telling him that lie could
not go unless accompanied by lady. fuss
then ensued between him and the man going
up stairs and during the fuss one of the party
drew q pistol and one of the others got out an
iron. Lee then drew his pistol aud commenced
shooting. After taking him to the station the
witness asked Lee where tho pistol was, and
they were told that he left il home. The wit
ness went back to the house and got it from
woman named Cornelia Wallace. All the
chambers were loaded when the witness got
it. He did not know whether Lee was mar
ricd or not.
Cross-exumined: The statements were made
while Lee was under arrest aud on the way to
the station.
Robert Williams, father of the boy who was
EilIol ia1 hat is,ht
years of age; he first saw him ut the O-strect
market on the night in question between
and o'clock, and did not see him any more
until after he was shot, and that was at the
drug store corner of Tenth aud streets, and
lie was then unconscious; when the ambulance
came he took his son home, and he died be-
tween and halfpast the next morning; his
sou never had revolver about the house and
he never knew of his having one.
Cross examined: He never had a pistol in
his house at any time.
The testimony Of Officer Burgess, as corrob-
orative of Officer Madgan, was admitted in
the absence Of the policeman aud the govern
ment rested its case.
Mr.. Falls made brief opening for the de-
fcnse, promising to show that on new years
eve night this party made preconccived at
tack upon Lee, und the shooting done by him
was only in self-deiense.
The first witness examined was Nettie
Joyce. She testified that OH the 31st of De-
cember she was at the house of George Lee;
between 10 and IL o'clock some persons came
in there; she only knew them by sight; there
were fourteen mon that came into the house;
they we're cursing and swearing to tho greatest
extent they called for what drinks they
wanted; they got lunch aud oysters aud
called for quart of liquor; while Lee was
speaking to some of the crowd about paying
for what they had already gotten, part ofthe
crowd rushed up stairs; Lee went up and asked
them to come down, and they came; after they
got down Lee ordered them out three times;
Francis Williams said to his crowd, "G-d-it,
boys, get up aud shoot him." he seemed to be
| the leader of the crowd; after Williams made
that remark he retrcated toward the door;
| after Williams gave his third command,
some one threw the door open and there
were two shots fired from the crowd; the
witness was then standing by Leo near
| the end of tho counter; up 10 that time Lee
| had not used his pistol or fired any shot; one
| Of the crowd picked M u chair and drew it
back to strike Lee across the bar ana broke the
| glass and window-s,lsh of the P.strcet window,
and the chair fell into the street; Williams had
| no coat on; his first remark about Ice was
| to the bows; he said: Get out your shooting
| irons and go to work and kill the s. of b.;
| what in the h do we care for one manY' She
saw another of the crowd with small pocket
| knlIe open III MS MANU-, bnISC VI bhbh bliSu "
| rush past the witness and get behind the bar;
| Robert Johnson was one of that party; Lee got
| his pistol from out the money-drawer he then
apnin commanded the crowd to 60, but none OF
| them went; Lee fired his first shot toward
the ceiling: none of the crowd started
TO 90 ont until Lee fired the second time;
| Williams backed out sideways, looking at Lee,
aud started just as the first shot was fired by
| tho crowd; when the firing first commenced
Maxwell, johnson and Boyd were close around
the counter; the others were near the door; the
| witness was regularly employed at Lees
| house; she did not know how Williams body
| got into the street; Lee was not able to move
| It himself, but managed to get it as far as tho
door.
Cross.examined She was in Lees employ
| about three months; he was not u married man
Susan Wallace was the other servant in the
| house; she would swear that Lee did not order
Boyd, who was leaning against the counter tC
90 out and, when he did not go, fire into his
shoulder; she gave the pistol to the officer, but
it was not tho one with which Lee did the
shooting; he had two the ono he
used that night was still ut home
Lee put it under the counter after
he did the shooting; he got the other pistol
| which belonged to Dent his partner, expect
ing the crowd would come back; the first
pistol was empty, and he got II fresh one
the one used was q tive-barrel; Lee handed
her the loaded pistol when he saw the police
man coming.
Susie Wallace, tho next witness, testified
that she was at Lees place on the night OF
the homicide crowd of persons came in,
cursing and swearing; sho was out in the
kitchen, and heard the loud talking; she car.
red the dishes of oysters called for into the
room where they were, and they be-
gan wrangling; they made n rush to
70 up stairs and knocked her down; she
stood in the doorway part of the crowd
went up stairs, and she followed them to the
foot OF the stairs; they were making
a great noise, and Lee went up after them;
couldn't hear what was said Lee came down
first, with the crowd close behind him; Lee
went behind the counter and the crowd stood
in front; they refused to pay for what they had,
and Lee ordered them out, but they did not
90; Williams seemed to be in command of the
crowd. and,said NOW, boys, lot the shooting,
irons 70 to work, and kill the black g of a
b; we don't care for one man." Lee ordered
them out three times, and the crowd moved
toward the door; two shots were fired from the
door; Lee had not got his pistol at all up to
this time, and when he did get it he fired it
up to the ceiling; Williams took OFF his coat
after he gave the command to shoot one of
the crowd threw chair Mt Lee over the bar;
after the crowd got out Lee picked up Williams
l ii H., nj oil