Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-05-28
FRANK LANGSTON,S TRIAL.
Testimony for the GOvernment-The
ARRAY i'm Which Spencer Lost His Life.

Iest1mOny Tor the GOvernment-The
ARRAY In which Spencer Lost His Life.
Mt. Coyle. assistant district attorney, yesterday
afternoon finished his opening address to the fury
in the case OF Frank Langston, On trial before
Judge Macarthur, in the Criminal Court, for the
murder OF James Spencer, on the 4th OF March last
He said that the government would be glad II the
DEFENDANT succeeded in showing that the case was
not above the grade OF mansaughter. NessrS.
Riddle and Davis, for the defense, reserved their
opening.
Mrs Tenna Spencer, mother of the deceased. who
was In bis 18th year, testified TO his leaving the
house about half past six O'Clock, saying he would
oe pack TO supper. She next saw him lying dead
at the hospital with wound In his breast
Thomas Wilkins testified that while he was pass
Ing along 9TH street, above the car stables little
The witness described how he went across the road
and became involved in fight with man named
Anderson While they were struggling on the
ground he heard pistol fired. He freed himself
from Anderson, and ran away up the hill After
ward he was told there We're two men shot He
saw the man who did the shooting but could not
recognize him. but thought IL was q white man
with light clothes on He heard somebody say,
Nobody interfere" or Everybody stand back" /"
but did not recognize the voice, and could not tell
who it was that said IL.
cow THE ARRAY BEGUN.
To-day, James W. Anderson testified that he
lived at 2075 7th street extended and on the 4th OF
March he was about to whip his child who ran out
and called murder" wilkins came along and
stopped In front OF witness house. Witness went
out and ordered wilkins away, when he said that it
was pubic highway. Witness then cInched with
Wilkins. who struck him two blows. They fell side
py SIDE and wilkins got on top: don't think that
any one tried to stop them: was not aware that
there was any one also there, nor did witness hear
the pistol shots, or anything about It, until an hour
after the tight, when the police Informed him.
On croSS-examinatfon witness said he was some
what in liquor Witness fell In the gutter with his
head towards the roadway. Did not know that
any women were there while they were struggling
SPENCER
come out OF the house afterwards with pistol
THE WOUNDS.
DR.. F. j. Shadd, OF Freedman's hospital testified
as to the wounds on Dennis williams-one In the
arm, slight, and one in the neck passing entirely
through, and one IN the back
On crosSeXamlnat1on. witness said that II his s,lr-
position is correct the wound in the arm was made
by ball which went down the coat sleeve VIII
the neck was from the front, and the third wound
In the back, being upward, would show that VIII
ltams had turned. and was then In STOPPING posi-
ton. Dennis explained TO him that the second shot
caused him TO turn around, and he was stoopjng
when the third shot struck him. Dennis appeared
to have been drinking: Spencers wound was in
the right breast, and it was downward, passing
through the lung and liver into the vertebrR
Redirect Williams said that he called Don't
touch the girls" and had his arms raised Wien the
first shot was fired.
TESTIMONY OF DENNIS WILLIAMS WHO WAS A,so
SHOT BY LANGSToN.
Dennis Williams testified that he knew. Spencer
and Langston that on the night OF the shooting he
left home about $50 O'Clock and went down on 9TH
street to Mr.. Sheas store and remained till about
{ o'clock. and he went across the street and came
across Dora Fields and Anna Nicholas, who had
basket OF coal, and they asked him to help them
and he did so. Saw Anderson and spoke TO him
and he cursed him. Witness set the basket down
and one OF the girls was on his right and the other
behind him. Heard Anderson say, "You G. d
-, dare you then, here, J" to wilkins, who re-
fused to go, and then Anderson grabbed wilkins
and they went down. Witness said: "Let theIa
alone; they amt got no weapons" Anna
Nicholas said: M THAT amt r fair for two white
''What have you got to do with IT," and to Wit
ness, "Donr you bulge" and Frank then shot Wit
ness Witness saw man In the gutter and Frank
shot him. Witness then told Frank he had shot
him to death for nothing. sand there is my wife
and children Frank then walked on. Witness
was, and he said spencer. and he then told him TO
come with him to the hospital and get the ball
taken out, and they started Anderson was on
and hit at him two or three times. When Lang
ston came down, witness stepped on the walk for
him. Nobody put hand on them while they
were down, and LangSton walked right up 70
them. Nancy Nicholas walked up when Langston
was near them, and said it wasn't fair for two
@hl1e men 70 Oh one otaGS hacl man aangston
So% Saa pot to do with III eack she what repeS hsse
81 haven't got anything to DO with it, but
across Nancy's breast, and the first shot struck
witness Spencer was walking In the gutter when
be was shot, and was about ten feet from Langston
spencer was STOPPING at the ume but did not see
hat he had anything in his hand or hear him say,I
anything. Did not know how many shots were
1red; 1t seemed to be q hundred. spencer seemed
10 be looking at the man on the ground-not at
Langston.
On cross-examination, witness denied that Mary
Nicholas struck or pushed Langston. He told her
% come away, when LangstOn appeared TO be
angry. He did not rush at Langston nor did he
ell witness 70 stand back When Langston told
he girl TO stand back he looked up and saw
.angStonS pistol pointed right at him. Warren
NlnSlow went home with him that night Did not |
ay that he was making q rush for Langston when |
,e was shot When the shot was fired Nancy said |
'Uncie Dennis, are you shot?r and he said, "Donf
loth1ng." |
A recess was here taken.
After recess the croSS-examinatfon was contfn- /
dnued He said that Langston, after shooting him. |
sked II he had enough. Did not tell Gordon that |
le rushed on Frank and the women called him \
,ack; did not tell Winslow that he and Spencer |
we're rushing toward Frank at the time OF the |
Dr. J. r. Hartigan testified to the wounds in de-
eased (James Spencer, and produced the ball
Nancy Nicholas then testified TO being In COMPANY \
nth Williams who was carrying her basket They |
anne upon men Quarreling, and she said TO q young
nan: "YOung man, II Is not fair for you TO get
et by. He replied: "Woman, don't put your hands /
q me- Get back" She then stepped back
RANCE or fHB THKRMOMEfKh-The following
rere the readings as the ONCE Of the chief signal
nicer Jo-day;-7a m. GIL; IL am. 6Ql: pm, 62R
lax1mum. $50; minimum, 5Q0
CUTTING ScRAPE IN THE CouHrr.-Last even
ag an anray took place at the corner OF 9TH and |
'omeroy streets, In the county, between two col
red naned Henry Green and Vtllfnrn croff