Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-04-04
The Minor Wife Murder Trial


PROCEEDINGS IN THE SPECIAL CRIMINAL COURT To-
DAY.
This morning, in the Special Criminal Court,
Judge Hagner, the trial Of the colored man, Frank
Minor for the murder OF his wife, Victoria Minor,
on the 18th of october last, was ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Attorney CoIkhin and Assistant District Attorney
Moore Tor the government, and Messrs. T. F. MIL
LEI ana T. d. wright for the prisoner
THE SELECTION OF JURORS
was proceeded with, and the talesmen were called
as s:-GeOrge W. Hager, challenged; W. j.
orion, do; James Fitzpatrick, do. W. Scott Chew
rallied TO answer; John H. Beckwlth, challenged;
Joseph Davis public officer, excused; Walker
Lewis had formed an opinion from reading the
papers; Robert Wilett had a strong opinion from
r readarg The papers but thought he could
1dence would be required Pronounced
dSompetent-exception noted and challenged by
ward, challenged by defense-thus exhausting
their challenges NJ. ]. Adler was pronounced
competent, although he stated he had formed an
opinion which would require evidence to remove.
Mr.. Miller asked what papers he had read. and
the answer being The STAR and Post, he remarked
Adler competent, and Mr. Miller argued that he
was not competent The court directed that Mr..
AGier be sworn, thus completing the Jury. The
utIenoe noted an exception.
THE JURY COMPLETE.
The jury is composed as follows: Henry NJ. Del
lnger, James N. Foster, George II. Boston. f j.
Helberger, jr., Andrew Goddard, Chas- RuDn,
John Riddle, ". b. s. Clymer Harry c. Noyes,
John X. Council, Joseph II. Semmeo'. NJ j. Ailer.
SIh0se marked are colorei) TIE jury WIS for
m,.Ily given charge OF the case by the clerk
OPENING STATEMENT OF THE PROSECUTION.
Mr.. Moore, for the government, opened the case
at HID They expected TO show that defendant
was married TO deceased about four years prior 70
the occurrence; that their married life was not
pleasant and smooth; that on the morning o: o.
tober 18th last there was a disagreement, n
which deceased threatened to leave him; that lie
went 10 Work (hau1ngl but returned, and found
tndt she WAS packing up their effects to move. an
AT the time there were no others in rne
house W tn them; bat that the mother ana Others
hearing screams rushed up to the room wiDre the
prisoner was. holding MS wife with hand, anu
a razor, with which he had cut her throat, IN the
other.
TESTIMONY FOR THE PROSECUTION.
Anna Minor, the mother o. the prisoner, teS: fed
that he was about twenty-saven years OF ose, and
the deceased was his wife, who lived In the house
with her at 1913 street southwest. On the norn-
In of the murder witness got up about O'Clock,
Frank having gone out to work. Deceased was
the only person in the house at the time tbout
$50 O'Clock witness heard Frank ana Victoria
talking In the house, but not very loud. He first
asked her to feed his horse. saylns he wa - nl,
away. Victoria was packing tn things AZ The
time. Witness was at the front door swerriI : ,ht,
pavement when she heard a scream ana rail up
stairs. and Frank had his wife down cutting her
throat, and witness begged him not to do IT, but
he said nothing. (WitnesS here recogniz ii the
razor, with the blade gashed that il eemed
more adapted for use as a Saw.) The wiie's head
was near the door, and she was not dead Witness
said, ION. Frank, don't kill her." Her daugh liter
Emma then came up. and he was still cutting her
Ike he did not know what he WAS doing. He said
nothing to either witness her daughter up
stairs. He came down stairs in three OF four
nnna foT ana shf sid, Vel, Frank you have
dead" and walked away. They had been quarrel
Ing great deal for eight or nine months, and he
had threatened to strike her. She would cali him
and hava IN
strike her.
Cross-examined by Mr. Miller
Witns IS came from FrederickSb burg to this CITY
about the time of the fall of Richmond The priS-
Oner mad always been good AMI dut,ful son to
her and was good, dutiiul husband. loving his
Wife too much. Frank was jealoIs and accused
her OF keeping company with AIolphuS Johnson,
VINO visited the house for eight or nine months
The deceased had been accused by Frank OF being
Intimate with Johnson, and she had heard Frank
complain OF deceased living with other parties.
DRIVEN TO DESPERATION.
MI Miller asked If deceased had not for eight
or nine months prior to the homicide done every
'hlhg she could to provoke and aggravate the
prisoner.
The court ruled the question out
NJ Miller said that they expected to show that
the prisoner had been driven to desppraton; that
sIe had given MIN cause for his Jealousy, and his
mind was not sound.
The court adhered to the rule, and an exception
was noted.
Witness coDtnued-Sometimes when he came in
she would commence the quarrel. and sometimes
he would quarrel ;had heard her tell Frank that she
Would leave him; that Johnson was his master.
lie would be very much worried on such Occa-
slons, and would sometimes slap her. sit down and
cry or go out Both belonged to church-Mr Glib
bonS Baptist congregation, and she would gener.
ally go alone.
Mr. Miller asked the condition OF Franks mind
out the question was ruled out.
A TALESMAN FINED IS.
AT this point Mr.. G. j. Mueller. summoned as a
talesman, brought In on attachment, was called
and stated that he responded yesterday afternoon
but was too late, and this morning he was TOO
sick. The court said II was important that good
business men should be On the jury, and 1t would
not do for them to treat lightly the summons OF
the courts. Complaints being made OF bad
JurleS &C.. and yet some OF them will do all kinds
or mean things to keep OF the jury. 1t Is more
important that good jurors be obtained than pr-
vate business be subSeryed. He would impose
fine OF IS.
A recess was here taken.