The Evening critic., 1884-04-17
THE VERY SERIOUS CHARGE
For which Joseph Gray was Tried
In fhn NrIIn innl Enurl Tn.hnY

IN the Grlm bnhh court lO-Nuy.
Joseph Gray, colorod, was tried in the
Criminal Court this morning before Justice
Wylie on the charge of assaulting Mrs.
Annie Bloxton with intent to commit rape
on her on tho night Of tho 22d Of last
March in Georgetown, d. G.
Assistant District Attorney Taggart OPEN
ed for the Government, and Mr.. Howard G..
Clagett for the defendant.
Mrs. Bloxton testified that az 7:30 o'clock
on the night in question she left the resi-
dence of ex.Commissioner Dent TO 10 TO
store, and in passing through Browns al
ley the defendant camo up behind her,
threw her down and choSed her. SO soon
as she could she screamed for help. She
was in stupor when picked up. After tho
man seized her he tore of her undercloth-
ing, bit her cheek and tried to take liber-
ties with her person, but did not succeed.
In tho scuflle he put his finger in her mouth
and che bit 1t. She recognized tho man the
next evening at the station-house and said
tho man on trial was the Same one who as
saulted her.
Henry Pinltney, who lived in Browns
alley, testified to finding Mrs. Bloxton with
head and shoulders under the fence, and
with the assistance of Andrew Jackson he
got her out. She had a cut on the face, and
IL was bleeding She was unconscious when
they first found her. Tho defendant came
next door to the witness house frequently
to see young lady. Gray was at the wit
ness about $3.50 o'clock the same night. He
asked for rag to tic up his finger, saying
that 1t had got hurt, but he did not know
how.
Sally Mani another resident of Browns
alley, testified to hearing Mrs. Bloxton hal
loo, and went out to her assistance. She saw
man trying to push tho woman through
hole in the fence. She was kicking and
the man got up and ran away. The wOman's
frock was torn entirely off her and there
was nothing left on her but her
drawers. The witness chased the man down
Valley street, but he got away.
Sarah Dodson testified that she met the
defendant on Valley street about $3.50
o'clock, drunk and without hat. He told
the witness that he had lost it in Boston"
aud was looking for it. He was then about
n square from Browns alley.
Margaret Parker testified that Gray
stayed at the witness house on Fourth
street. He came home on the night of the
assault between o and 10 o'clock very
drunk, and without q hat. He got an old
SLOUGH hat and went out again.
Luke Kearney testified to finding black
slouch hat on Valley street about a square
from Browns alley. 1t had mud on tho top
y, Nv 80 ~ 49, NAAN H"' We" ~,
shown ana is dark blue, pretty well
| worm lie found the hat on vacant lot,
midway between Stoddard street and
| Browns alley.
| Mrs. Jennie stewart testified that she
saw the man going up and down Valley
street three times on saturday night with
| out nat She heard the conversation he
had with Mrs. Dooson, ana heard her call
him Joe Gray.
sergeant WIN: IL. Irunae'l testified that
he knew the DEFENDANT and arrested him on
suspicion lie SAID ne was drunk ON that
saturday night and ala not know where he
was: when the witness took him to tho
siation-houSeth inc hag was put on MIN, and
Gray sad that was MS nat: 1t had blood
on II at the time IN examining the right
hand the inside OF the index finger bore
the appearance OF tooth. Inc cun oil the
mans SHIRT had blood on IL.
-, Lieutenant John Il. keily corroborated
| the testimony OF the preceding witness.
| Detective VIM. u. Edelin testified that
| Gray told him that he was IN q bad scrape
and whisky did IT.