National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-05-22
His Counsel Conclude, on Second Thought, to
Swear Some Witnesses.
Karcher Says He Thought His Life Was
in Danger When He Fired,
More Evidence That Mrs. KarohM Had Too Intimate
Acquaintance With Strange Men.
Evidence That Kareher Was Peaceful
and InofTonsiye Man.

The rumors in circulation about the court
house yesterday morning, before tho criminal
court convened, led to tho belief that the
case Of Louis Karcher, who has now been on
trial for u week on the charge Of killing
John w. Grimes, would reach the jury bo-
fore the close of tho days session, but subse-
quent developments showed that while there
was q good foundation for tho report a change
Of base was mado by the Defense and as a re-
suit the trial is not yet ended. The respective
attorneys were early at thoir tables, and
Judge Macarthur had the court open for
business promptly at 10 o'clock.
Mr.. Nackey, counsel for Karcher, stated to
tho court that "the defendant would offer no
testimony, but go to the jury"
This announcement, although expected by
some, caused considerable surprise in tho
chamber, especially among the mombers of
the bar, and there was q divided opinion as
to tho wisdom Of pursuing this course.
Some attorneys regarded it as n serious mis-
take and likely to further prejudice the
liberty of the prisoner. Others, seeming to
be informed that the government was holding
strong rcbuttal in reserve, thought the
movement good one to keep this testimony
from coming before the jury.
Assistant District Attorney Coylo opened
for the government and in reviewing tho
testimony claimed that the proof sustained
the indictment and that the prosecution was
justified in asking for q verdict of guilty. Mr..
Mackey then arose aud said that he believed
he was entitled to reply. Judge Macarthur
said that il was his turn to address the jury,
but that the closing belonged to the govern
mont. Mr.. Mackey said he was under the
impression that as no had submitted the case
without offering any testimony he was en-
Al -. IL = g.
jury. If that was not so, then he had made q
very grave mistake and periled his clients
case He had thirty-one witnesses present
and could not feel justified in submitting the
case under the circumstances and asked por-
mission to have tho case reopenod and his
testimony heard.
Judge Macarthur said that, the counsel
having closed his case under a misapprehen-
sion he should allow it to be reoponed and
the witnesses for tho prisoner heard The
first witness called was the accused Louis
Karcher. lie was very cool on the witness
stand, and spoke in broken English. He
found some difficulty at times in comprehend
ing the questions put to him and making his
answers understood lie testified that he was
at home on the 9Th of last March, and went
to bed about o'clock that night. 1t was
about II o'clock when he awoke from some
cause, and thought he heard a mans voice in
his wife's bed room. He could not believe
q man was in there, and
he listened. Then he became
satisfied there was another man in the house
beside himself He got up, put on an old
pair of pants, went to his trunk and got u
pistol and went to the door of his wifes room,
which he found fastened and raped. She
asked, What do you wantY" Ho said that
he wanted to come in, and there was n man
in the room. She said, You are liar. If
there is o man in the house he is a burglar"
Finally she let him in. lie looked round and
went to the closet, which he found locked.
He asked for the key. She said she did not
know where it was. He said that he knew
where to find key, and went back into his
room. He got key and then went down to
the kitchen and got Ratchet. When he got
back to the door it Was again closed. She
refused to let him in, and he battered
on the door with the hatchet in his
left haNd and had his pistol in his right hand
pocket. 1t was in doing the pounding that
he made miss aud cut his finger, which bled
afterward. When his wife opened the door
he went to tho closet, and while trying TO put
the key in tho lock the door was burst open
from tho inside and u man came rushing out
from the closet in a STOPPING position. The
witness stepped back, and thinking his life
was in danger pulled the pistol and fired at
the man thrce times, as quick rs he could.
The man stepped back toward the closet and
where he cried "poliCe' and "murdor!" When
the officers came he took them up stairs and
showed them the man, then handed over the
pistol and delivered himself up. After he
had been taken to the station house, his wife
got into his bed, and when the officers went
back to the house they found her there with
only one garment on. The witness denied
telling Sergt. Mullhall, after the shooting
that he had his revenge. Witness had been
told that his wife had bad habits, but when
he asked the people if they knew what SHE
had done they would say, $50 and so told me
SO and So" He wanted proof of her wrong
doing as he was 10th to believe what was said
| about her. Once he found u man named Ton
Clark on the stairway in his house and put
him out. He married his wife OIL
Jan. %, 1879 at the house of Mr.. l.
Schmidt, on Sixth street between Pennsyl
| vania avenue and g street, aad Mr.. Schmidt
| and his son witnessed the marriage. His
wife was an unlearned woman when he mar
ried her. He did what he could to educate
her, and employed a lady to teach her. liz
| recollected the night he refused to lot her in
the house. Early that evening she said tina
she was going TO one of the neghbors, and h,
told her not to stay late. lie waited unit
| after 10 o'clock for her and then went to bed
| When she came he was mad because she haG
stayed out so late, and to punish her for DISC
| beying him he would not let her in, and tOlC
| her 10 go BACK Wnere she had been. About twl
| years ago he had found sho was drinking, an,
/ was compelled TO advertise for people not Z
trust her for liquor. lie had sworn when 1t
married hor, to take her for better or worse
| but no did not believe in the worse. He wa
in the habit Of spending his evenings NJ home
and had not been out more than six times TO
| five years. He drank beer, and could drnl
twelve or fourteen bottles an evening an,
| get up at o'clock in the morning fooling al
right lie pronounced the testimony 0
| Andrew RObey that he offered him his wifi
to DO "a downright lie." Ho told Mullhal
and Redway that he had heard of his wifi
| carrying on with other mon. If lie ha
known it TO be a fact he would not have live
in the housewith her. The cross-exanina
ton did not shake the direct testimony Q
the witness. and nothing new was brought ou
VIM T. Bright, Capt. j. 5. Bradford, IL. q
Eicholt2, K. q. Lewis Charles Walter, an,
Andrew Sprohs, testified to the character o
the defendant for peace and good order
| Louis Schmidt testified that he and his sol
were witnesses to Karcher's marriage viii
his present wife.
Geo. n. Smith testified that he know tn
general reputation of Andrew Van b. Robey
and he should say it was bad. lie shoul
haVo to take large grain Of allowance /
believe him on his oath.
On cross.eXamination the witness said tina
no did not know whore Roby lived, but h
had seen the man around the hotels.
Mr.. MaclSey here put in the two postolllc
IeCIrds, showing that A. Van b. RObey wa
| arrested for embe2llemGut and forgery il