The Evening critic., 1884-05-30
FRANK LANcsToNs MOVEMENTS
After the Shooting-Interestin and
Important Testimony for the De-
roran To.Aov

impOrtnnt TehttfnOny Tor the De-
Tense To-day.
The Government closed Its case against
Frank Langston, charged with tho murder OF
James Spencer, yesterday afternoon IN the
Criminal Court, and Mr.. Harry Il. Davis
opened to the jury on behalf Of the defendant.
He reviewed all the circumstances connected
with the shooting, and promised to show that
the shooting OF Spencer was accidental, while
the firing at williams was done In soli.de.
fense. At the close OF his address the court
adjourned until this morning.
O Testimony for the Defense.
When tho court convened this morning the
first witness examined for the defense was
Charles +. Reed, who testified that he had
known Langston for nine or ten years. He re-
membered tho night oftho killing, and before
the occurrence he saw him at Witness house
between and D o'clock and made an engage
ment 10 go with him 10 the Bethel Literary
come to witness house. Langston's reputa-
lion for peace and good order was excellent.
He had heard plenty OF people speak of him In
alone after the fues and told about 1t. The
witness went to see about the shooting and
found one man killed and the other MORALLY
wounded.
Laugston's Movements After the
Shooting.
The witness next saw Langeton at the res.
tauiant OF mis- (the witncseD uncle. Then he
saw him at the corner OF Twelfth ana New
other woman: The witness left him at Tenth
street and New York avenue and went to Lin
coin Hall for Mre. Langston, aud arranged 20
street. The ~ mee,ns sm was fw "Soat
o'clock. He next saw Langston about
20 minutes after ~ O'Clock at his friends
house on New York avenue. They left thore
little after O'Clock In the morning, went
down Twelfth street TO Pennsylvania avenue,
Took n Cab and Went on Capitol
Hill
10 the house OF Mr. Watson, where they re-
manned until IL o'clock the next day and then
left the city. After he frat left Langston, and
before reclining him, the witness saw Captain
The witness in bis irst conyersatio sno With With
Langston did not know whether to leave tho
city or not He at flrst wanted to give himself
up, but his mother advised him otherwise.
On cross. examination the witness said no
was not In business at present, but had been
In the cigar ana grocery business.
nc Did Not Live in Heirs Bottom,
and did not know where 1t was. When the
witness went to sec II any one had been shot
be had only heard OF the shooting from Lang
stop. He wac with Langeton on Capitol Hill
until about IL o'clock. He did not know that
came out openly from the house and went
about the length OF the courtroom. or course
tho witness thought they were looking for
Langston, and they went out there to get out
OF the way.
ON redirect examination the witness said
sec who was shot, he did not designate any
number Of men 10 inquire about
On re.cross'examination the witness said
that he left the town in company with Lang
stop, crossed Bennings Bridge, stopped at
Marlboro and there
Lnngston Took the Cars and Went
Oh.
There was a lady along with them named
Eva Adoms. The witness got the conveyance
at Geyer's stable and paid for It. The witness
told Langston that any letter he should writo
the witness would get.
su. m -
William Brown, laborer, testified that he was
standing Mt the door OF the end house OF the
row q frames, on Seventh street, talking with
Misc Dyson while tho disturbance was going
on. little girl came out and cried, "Mur-
derl" She was called In and Anderson came
out and spoke TO colored pan and wanted
him TO 60 away. Then Anderson went down
TO his door and dared the colored man to come
there. At that time Langston walked hur-
riedly down tho plank walk and after he
While no was talking TO Anderson two ladies
came along and asked what was the matter,
and the colored man said "This dirty skunk
wants me TO get Off the highway" Then An.
deIson RUIZ al him, and they cllnched and
fell, and the colored man got on top. Langs.
ton went 10 him and took hold of the col0red
man. He heard woman say 1t was not fair
for two white men to BIO on one colored man.
Dennis Williams then came up and
Attempted TO Take Hold OF lang
sion,
who ran back and fired. wllllams was then
coming on him with hands up. Spencer was
OF AZ the edge OF The gutter. At tho firing OF
| the first shot the witness ran and got behind
the bay window. At the time OF tho fight
| James Spencer was standing back and did not
seem TO move. There were Ave shots fred and
they were fred just as quick as a man could
do 1t. After the last shot was fired
| LRnSstOn ButtOneO up His Coat and
Ran. H
Tho wt,pe.e ana no, bear xyu,,ars sav onv.
thing as he rushed ON Langston. After the
naho6 tor Tanna,on IIo o,sn tos,i0an % ,ha
cond cboroe,ar oy ths dsIanden t'e'n0u /" 'no
on cross-examination the witness said he
| did not see the two women and one man with
| the basket of coal, although they might have
| been within i've feet OF him. His attention
was given TO the lady. He was not bothered
| with things OF that kind. He did not hear
| anyone say anything to Langston or threaten
| him In any way
When LancstOn Began Firing.
Tho witness ala NOT ACE anv woman and
| there was moi n snni between the w,tnnaa and
| Ianoston eycent WiIIiams Tanoaton was
| standing In ihe miadIn Of the niania walk
when he did inc tirinr. the Witness saw
Spencer standing eomo distance away. Ho
was not doing anything, and merely looking on.
| Mary Dyson testified that she resides at
| 200 Seventh street and knows VIM. Brown.
| She was standing outside the door with him
| the night OF the shooting. She corroborated
the preceding witness as 10 the little girl run
| nirg into the street and the coming together
| Of Anderson aud wilkins.
Lapgston interfered TO part them. The
woman rushed up and told Langston to let