Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-11-28


THE HoUGH HoMICIDE.-rhe argument
in the case Of George w. Hough, indicted
Ear the killing of Wm. McMahon, began in
,h, Criminal Court of Washington on Tues
Iay morning before Justice Wylie.
District Attorney Worthington opened the
case for the government, declaring that be
had proved his case, and thought the gov
eminent was entitled to verdict. Mr.
Rurke. for the prisoner, claimed they had
.hown that Mcmahon was without money,
rnew that Hough had money, aud was at
,amp,ina to take it from him when Hough
resisted and the cutting took place. He
thought it UNSUITABLE, aud clearly done in
saIf.defencs Col Cook, in closing for the
prisoner, insisted that the evidence showed
Houchs conduct was justitiable. District
Attorney Worthington summed up the case
FIR the prosecution, aud reiterated his claim
for q verdict.
Judge Wylie in charging the jury said
that there were some facts in the case about
which there was no dispute. One was that
Mcmahon was killed, another that Hough
took his life, and the third WAS the knife
with which the cutting was done had been
PRODUCED in court, and the jury must de-
eide whether or not it was deadly weap-
on, With these agreed upon they had three
inuorjunl iacts settled There WAS some
mastery about tba case. There were no
witnesses present or very near who heard
wi,nt nrecad..! the fatal blow. To consti-
mt. the crime OF murder there must be the
nycssncc OF malice. Il must be expressed
,rimpiisd There was no lying IN wait,
70 evidence Of former drudge, and it seem
ed 70 him tn.rc WAS no evidence OF ex-
messed malice But they had the parties,
The meatiug, the deadly weapon, and the
Inference OF the law said that the deadly
weapon showed the implied malice, unless
me circumstances reduced the crime from
,nurder 10 the grade below it. ii the pris-
oner's story bore evidences of truth, and
.urreSpond2d with stories outside, then it
vas to be believed. The law was that
;nau might resist robbery even IN killing
The robuer, aud tue law would excuse the
act If the story was true that McMahon
lost his lif. in trying to rob, then the pris-
oner was entitled to an acquittal. If, how
ever. the slashing was doue coolly and de-
iihera,ely then it was an undoubted muir
der.
As the jury was going out the judge said
that he would return at 8 o'clock and re-
reive verdict if they had reached a con-
,lusion by that time. At the hour named
the Judge came into court, and the jury was
brought down, and upon inquiry hy the
Jerk stated that they had not agreed upon
ay erdct. -,
F. ~eman Hardin said that the jury did
M, 81. qrly understand that portion of the
rS,rre , " relation to mauslaughter.
InIy, Wyle said that if there was
,,.rr'J an ! in it the blows were inflicted,
,teu il was ma uslaug liter but if there was
moi and the blows were given, the law mo
ntied murder. f,,1n, the weapon used unless
III. nrisnpcr WAS .'eing robbed. In that
,,s. he had the right to defend himself and
nrnnrr,y. and the law would justify him in
killing the man. -,
Mr.. Worthington said tt at theJury might
not uudelsund the charge rs 10 extent OF
the quarrel. and asked the court 10 make IL
more specific.
judge Wvle said that if they tound there
MAS quarrel and blows passed, ana ID the
heat oil the contest the ki ling took place.
then it WAS nanslaughter.
Foreman Hardin asked th G judge TO walt
short litse for them, and tn jury again re-,
tired Alter waiting until after 10, anu
hrarin. nothing from the jury, The Ju'>se
left, saving that he would return MT IL
o'clock yesterday morning.
The jHry after being out all night, came
intU court Yesterday morning with verdict
Of nol guilty of murder. but guilty of man
slaughter. Hough was soon brought III, sni
looked pale and somewhat anxious. he
took chair beside Col. Cook, one OF his al
torneys, who seemed cheerful, and evident
Is impaired some encouragement to his Gil
emit for Huugh frightened up considerably
during the whispered interview and showed
remarkable GOODNESS when the decision OF
the jurv was announced, which was I'VE the
Jury find the defendant guilty ofmanslaugh-
ter" There was no demonstration At the
announcement.
Judge Wylie said that the verdict was en-.
tirely satisfactory to him. The prisoner was
then remanded to Jail, and the court ad-
journed- The penalty prescribed for this
ofense is Imprisonment at hard labor Tor
from two to eight years.
The HoP.-The social season was bril-
liantly inaugurated on Wednesday night,
by hop given at the Braddock House,
under the auspices of the efficient and cour-
teous manager, Mr.. r. w. Falls The large
company, including many guests from dis.
lance, after assembling in the spacious par
lors of the hotel, descended to the prettily
decorated dancing room, where sweet music
and good floor, made the hours pass most
quickly until twelve o'clock, when supper
was announced. The tables were beauti-
fully decorated and the menu gotten up to
s,,isfy the most fastidious, showing that
mine host" understands III roughly the
wants of the inner mau. There were some
very handsome toilets worn and Alexan
dra, as usual, sustained her reputation 1of
having the prettiest girls IN the state
Among st the fairest in this "rose bud gar
den of girls" we're the following charming
debu;antes Miss Lizzie Hocombe. at pre-
sent u guest in the hotel, Miss May Herbert
Miss Marion Cavalier and Miss Virginia
Taylor. recently returned from abroad
Dancing was resumed directly after supper
and kept up till late hour, when adieuS
we're reluctantly made with many THANKS
and congratulations to Mr.. and Mrs. Falls
Tor y most successful and delightful evening
THANKSGIVING Discriminating Day
was observed about as usual hereabouts
In The churches where services were held
t,la.,b1,, anSiapceS assembled and