Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-11-25

THE HoueH TRIAL.-The case Of George
Hough, a printer, of this city, Indicted for
the murder of William Mcmahon, another
nripter, was called 70. trial in the Criminal
,ourt of Washington yesterday, District
Attorney Worthington appearing for the
government and Col William A. Cook and
Nr. Edmund Burke, of this city, for the de-
fandant. The homicide occurred some two
months since in front of the Central Nation
al bank in Washington, and there was con
siderable mystery surrounding it at the
time. as all of the parties seemed to have
been friends and spreeing together. There
was very little delay in obtaining jury to
try the cause.
The principal witness for the government
yeas James B. Mel, o., printer, who worked
MAYER met Hough until the day the trouble
occurred. He said that Mcmahon and him
self we're very intimate; they met on the
evening he was cut and they drank together.
Mcmahon asked him not to work that night,
bu, 60 out and have good time. They
reached Hoy's about O'clock, where they
met Hough and he and McMahon had a
friendly wrestling match. After they left
Hoy's by invitation of Hough they went To
= restaurant on Tenth street aud took u
drink. They left McMahon and Hough
together, and Campbell, who was very
drunk, and the witness. As they crossed
Seventh street Honsh and McAlahon were
ahead. goirg toward the postottice. Camp
hell va, leaning on the witness quite heavl.
L. and 70 arouse him the witness said,
nointing to al electric light, That Is the
moon" Just then he saw Hough hit Nc
N.hon twice. The witness ran up
and McMuhon said Il am done for,
This lime" aud leaned on the witness. A lit
tie later the witness saw that he was bleed
iny and be lett him on the sidewalk, ran 10
the pos.of e and asked them to telephone
10 police headquarters for an ambulance as
there was man outside badly cut. He
thought when the blows were delivered
that McNahou had been hit with slung
shot or something. He did not know that
he had been cut When witness got up TO
MchIahnr ne was alone, aud HouSn hao
soue away somewhere. McMahon, after
being cut. walked from near the bank NJ
the corner OF L street around III front oil The
postotiice where he fell down.
Officer Schultz identified a pcnknlfc he
took from the pocket of Hough and pair
of cuffs. one of which was on his right wrist
aud the other in his coat pocket. The one
which bad been on the wrist had stniu on
j.. ~ had also the blade ofthe knife. He ask
cd Hough il he knew anything about the man
being cut. and he denied any knowledge.
James A. McDevilt testified that at head
quarters Hough admitted that the party
had all been at Hoy's together. He said be
did not think he had knife, but on looking
in his pocket he found one and handed II
over. The witness told him that he Was
charged with killing McMahon, and H"ugh
answered that ne did not do anything Q!
the kind, and had nothing in the world
against Mcmahon. The marks on the cut
and knit. blade looked like blood marks TO
the witness.
A number of other witnesses were also
examined. after which, at 3 O'Clock, the
court adjourned till this morning.
1t is indicated that the theory OF the
defence is that Hough was not the murder
err; that he had no quarrel with McMahon,
and that somebody else did the cutting
probably some other member OF the party
who were drinking together
A deputy marshal from Washington was
in this city this morning summoniug WIT
resses for the prosecution.