National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-05-28
FRANK LANGSTON'S TRIAL.
Assistant District Attorney COylo Opens the
Case for the Government
spencer's Mother and One Other witness
Tell What They Know.

lmmedlately on the criminal court opening
yesterday morning the completion of tho Jury
to try Frank Langston, indicted for tho
murder Of James Spencer was entered upon.
Mr.. Adolph Miller, tho juror excepted to by
tho defense tho day before. was called, and,
the challenge as to him being withdrawn, no
took his place in tho box and another
vacancy was created by tho defenso chal.
longing Mr.. f. A. Shuster. Tho thirty tales
men were then examined. and when the list
was exhausted there was still Juror wanting
In the meantime both the government and
the defense had exercised the right of uhal-
lenge quite freely, aud the jury was consid-
erably changed from tho way il was
left on Monday afternoon. Tho iudgo
made an order TO draw forty more names from
the box, and TO have the mon report mt .
o'clock that afternoon, to which time q recess
was taken. When the court reconvened ton
out Of those summoned responded, and out of
that number tho panel was completed and
stands as follows: Henry Mason, coorod:
Lewis H. McDade white William II. Bell,
coored; Riley G. Omohundro, white; BENZ
Il. Morsell, white; Hiram II. Kimmel white;
Charles Grad, white; J. b. Wilson, white; J..
9. Williams, colored; Horny NJ. Fry, white;
Benjamin II. Freeman, colorcd, aud John S.
Brent, colored.
Assistant District Attorney Coyle opened
the governments case to the jury. He said
it would beshown that about $3.50 o'clock on
the evening of the 4th of March last James
Spencer, II years of age, left his homo intend
ing to return to supper. At tho hour fixed for
his return he was lying dead within the por-
tails of the hospital In leaving homo he came
down to Grant avenue to Pomeroy street. At
short distance beyond and TO the east he
observed two men engaged in q rough and
tumble fight. lie had nothing to do with
1T, but stopped aud looked on. At tho same
time party oftbree came up the street, one
of whom was Dennis Williams. AT the board
walk two women were met carrying u bas-
ket of coal, aud Williams assisted
them until they came up where the fight
between the white and colored man, Wilkens
and Anderson, was going on. They tusseled
and fell and wero partially in the gutter and
on the sidewalk wheu these parties came M
to them. While the situation was as de-
scribed Langston came ON tho scene The
accounts were somewhat conflicting as to
whether or not Langston took part in the
fight. 1t would be shown, however, that
there was no deadly weapon in tho hands of
any person on the scene of action except in
Langston's. While the fight was in progress
the skirts Of the Nicholas girl became entan-
gled with one of tho fighting men,
and Langston ordered her to get away and
not interfere with tho fight. Dennis Will
Jams stepped forward and said the woman
was only trying to get away. At this moment
Langston ordered Williams not to come any
nearer, drew his pistol and commenced firing
Three or four shots entered Williamss body,
and one went into Spencer's. Both men
were taken to Freedmen's hospital, and
Spencer died about half an hour later. The
direction taken by Langston, and where he
went was unknown. After tho shooting he
went toward Ricks's park, but what became
of him later could not DO ascertained. 1t
was known, however, that he camo back to
this city few days since and had given
himself mp for trial.
The counsel could not see in the light of
the testimony any excuse for the shooting,
and If the defendant could produce proof that
would fairly and honestly reduce the crime
from murder to manslaughter, none would be
moro gratiGed than tho prosecutors them
selves. In the present light of the case, how
eyer, he felt justified in saying that the
government expected to show that the decd
was an act of murder.
Mrs. Tenna Spencer was tho first witness
called and testified that she was the mother
of James Spencer, deceased, who was in his
18th year whom killed. That day he was in
the house when the witness got home, and
left about G:30, saying he would BIO back for
supper.
She did not see him aftor that alive. When
she reached the hospital her son lay on q bed,
and she put her finger into wound in his
breast.
Thomas wilkins testified that he was pres
ent at the shooting. He had been working
down town and was going home. When he
got just above tho car stables, on Seventh
street, little girl ran out of house opposite
crying murder" He went across the road
but saw no fuss, aud the child had been
taken in. The man Anderson came out and
said to the witness, whats the matter 20
Witness said no did not know; Anderson
ordered him of. The witness refused to 20
and said that he was not in front of
Andersons house. Anderson then moved
down ono door and invited tho witness to
come and fight. which tho latter declined to
do. Then young man came along and
Anderson rushed in and threw the witness,
who turned HIM Immediately. Just then he
heard u pistol fired, aud he did not know
what it meant as there was no occasion for IT,
lie looked up, saw the flash of the pistol, aud
wanted to get away as soon as he could. He
hit the man Anderson once more and ran
away up the hill. Afterward he was told
there were two men shot. lie saw the man
who did the shooting. He could not rccog.
nize him, but thought it was white man
He had light clothes on. lie heard some,
body say, Nobody interfere" or Every.
body stand back" but the witness did moi
recognize the voice, and could not tell who il
was that said it,
At this point the trial was adjourned until
this morning at 10 o'clock.