Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-19
Judge J. W. WTight,s Assault ON Ex.
SeCretRfY DelanO.

Judge J. w. Wright,s Assault ON Ex.
Secretary DelanO.
THE CASE ON TRIAL-TEsTMoNY TO-DAY.
To-day, In the Criminal Court, Judge James,
the case Of John W. Wright, indicted for an as
sault with intent to kill Mr.. Delano, former Sec
rotary Of the Interior, was taken up-District
Attorney Corkhtl and r. r. Perry for the gov
eminent, and Messrs. +. P. Stanton and W. A.
Cook for the defendant, who has been Ill for the
past two or three days and was looking quite
unwell to-day.
THE FIRST WITNESS
was Walter II. Smith. who testified that on the
18th OF october, 1877, he and Secretary Delano
walked to the banking house of Fl. d. Cooke, jr.,
and while there Mr.. Wright come in. Witness
D. stopped at the Citizens National Bank for a
moment, and they walked towards the Riggs
House, when Mr.. Delano received heav, blow
on the shoulder from stick and exclaimed
"Walter, they are killing me-" Witness turned
and saw Wright with the stick In his hand, and
just then Mr.. Delano received a second blow
from the stick that cut the sca witness then
get at him you ID old scoundreL You
have made it cost me from $50 900 to S23, 900. :"
The cane dropped from Wrights hand while viii
On crOSs-eXaminatton witness said the blow
stunned Mr.. Delano.
THE Ex-sECRETARYs STATEMENT.
Mr.. Delano took the stand and corroborated
Mr.. Smith as to being at Cookies bank and stop
ping at the Citizens bank, ana said as he was
waking up 18th st. with Mr.. Smith he received
a heavy blow IN the side of the head which
knocked him to his hands and knees He was
unconscious for moment or two, and then
saw Mr.. Wright in front of him with Mr.. Smith
and assisted him to drug store, and a car
riage WIS sent for and he was taken home, when
DR.. Bliss attended him. The stick was heavy
knotty one. and he did not see Mr.. Wright at
10 III
at Judge Wright in the bank; did not know
what Judge Wright meant by saying witness
had made 1t cost him $4,000, except by conjec-
ture.
The defence proposed to ask as to the cause
ruled.
OTHER TESTIMONY.
DR.. Richard JoSephS was llled to prove
threats, but could not testify to having heard
Judge Wright use any othe: than denunciatory
Dr. B. W. Bliss testified to the wounds-a
scalp wound and bruise on the shoulder. The
blow on the head was dangerous one, and
probably the hat had saved fracture of the
SKULL
The government here put hypothetical
question as to what would nave been the result
OF the blow reaching the periostium on per-
son of Mr.. DelanO's age had not the hat inter-
yened and reduced the effect OF the blow. The
defence objected but was Overruled, and DR..
Bliss said fracture would have resulted, prot :
ably followed by death.
description OF the wounds. Did not notice how
much the hat was cat or broken; was paying
the most attention to the patient. The hat may
have been broken by some one trampling on it.
Mr.. Smith rccalled-The hat DR.. Bliss refers
to is the same MI. Delano wore; is quite certain
that 1t was not trampled upon.
Mr.. /. s. Emery testified that he was clerk
in the Treasury, and on the day In question saw
small asSemblage across the Street-Mr. De-
lano pareheaded and Judge Wright standing
near by. Witness went over to the drug store
when he saw the wounds. Mr.. Wright had
large stick with knots on it, and 1t was large
one.
John A. Rawlings testified that he saw Mr.
Delano rising from his hands and knees, and
Judge Wright standing near the Citizens bank:
the latter, he Thought, used the words ID
scoundrel," and said /" Let him come on" There
was blood on Mr.. Delano's forehead.
The government here closed the case.
THE DEFENCE.
Mr.. Stanton, for the defendant, said the mat
ter had been greatly exaggerated and misunder-
stood. They did not deny the assault, but would
show that the assault was the result OF long
series Of prosecutions and prosecutions Suffi-
Gent to arouse the ire OF any man, and to NOR
ally if not legally justify the assault; that Mr..
Delano sneered at, and made grlmaces at Judge
Wright, &C.
JUDGE wRIGHT's TESTIMONY.
The defendant, Judge Wright, took the stand,
and testified that Mr.. Smiths statement was
correct with the exception of two instances.
Smith said he handled Witness but witness said
he could not have handled him. He went into
Cookies bank, and at the time had mo more
thought OF attacking Columbus Delano than OF
way he could describe it was by saying that MI.
Delano put on a sardonic smile, as much as to
say, ''i'll give you HI"
The court here checked Mr.. Wright, and told
mony. Mr.. Wrtghs continued, saying that when
they went up 18th street he followed them: met
Mr.. L. M. Gloss; told him what he intended to
do "as did not intend to have any man grin
heavy one, and he felt it, 1t was not big stick,
put light one, given witness by Mr.: Burnett.
Mr.. Gloss said to him "wade in" As they came
out he took the stick about the middle, being OF
Irish descent, and the first lick he struck too
low, and the second one was right on DelanO's
hat band He had no intention of killing. He
performing a moral and religious duty, and
having walloped him walked off,
Mr.. Stanton desired to ask what had led to this
attack, but was ruled out, and witness continu-
ing, said he thought he may have said that
the id scoundrel made it cost me $4,000 or
$50: GEO." not $50, 600 or 81, Ooo." as stated.
Mr.. COOk.-What were the immediate causes
which led to the attack?
This question was allowed, and Judge Wright
after pause said: Il would like to understand
state what occurred which caused the blow to
Mr.. Cook-What was the canse, In your mind,
and what were the actions Of Mr.. Delano?
ton could not be answered, but the latter could
Judge Wllght-At that time he did not act at
all, but just toppled over. What occurred was
in Cooks bank.
Mr.. stanton asked what communication he
had received from Mr.. BoudinoU few days be-
fore; and it was ruled out.
Mr.. Co0k.-What was the effect of the treat
ment you had received at the hands of Mr..
DelanO for several months and years before, on
your mind when you saw MI. Delano?
Mr.. Corkhill objected.
Mr.. Cook said he wished to show that at this
time the manhood of the man was for moment
gone and he acted under an irresistible impulse.
The court overruled this question and an ex-
ception was noted.
Cross xamined:-WitnesS was standing at
the counter of the bank, and Cook seeing that
he was enraged and mad, called him back, but
he said he mad other fish to fry. Witness in
tended to strike Delano when he came out of
tie Citizens Bank, but couple Of ladies' were
passing, and he waited until they got out OF the
way, and then struck him. Mr. Smith did not
hold him, for it would have taken two Smiths
to have done that. Witness afterward went to
Mr.. Stanton's and Senator McDonald'S, The
stick was light One-of white pine-and Gloss,
after feeling II said, 'sThat's about right"
Re-direct:-Mr. Smith took hold of the cane,
and witness said he did not intend to hit him
again. He did not think he struck him on the
top OF the hat for he knew how to handle the
shlllellah too well for that. You may strike an
freshman on the top OF his hat and never hurt
him, but If you hit on the band you bring him.
A recess was here taken.