Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-05-21
KARCEER,S STORY OF THE SHOOT
ING.
Telling How ZEE Killed Grimes.

Telling How gEe Killed Grimes.
HIS STATEMENT IN THE CRIMINAL COURT TO-DAY
lE DENIES STATEMENTS or WITNESSES FOR THE
PROSECUTION.
After the close OF the report IN THE STAR yes
terday. in the trial OF Louis karcher for killing j.
| W. Grimes the 9th OF March last, one Of the
jurors asked II Karcher ard his alleged wife had
ever been married. District Attorney Wortbing-
ton would admit that the parties were legally mar
ried. but that Karcher, becoming ashamed OF his
wifc's conduct, denied the existence OF the mar
| Rage. Judge MacEey said that they might put in
the certificate and there rest their case. District
Attorney NorthilGtOn thought he had been lit
Tie too hasty IN admitting the marriage. He had
lust been Informed that license marry was Is.
| sued. but had never been returned Judge Mac
Arthur thought IL was 100 late for the government
70 recede fron the position 1t had taken all
judge Mackey said they could show beyond fear
OF contradiction that there was a legal marriage
existing
THE PRISONER SUBMITS HIS CASE TO THE JURY.
On the opening OF the trial this morning, as soon
as the jury roll had been called. Mr.. T. j. Mackey,
for the prisoner arose and announced that the prs
oAer would oner no testimony. but would go be-
fore the jury. This Occa5ioned considerable SUR
prise among the Spect dtors present and q buzz
went around the COURTROOM.
Assistant District Attorney Coyle at 1910 O'Clock
commenced Ills argument and closed at 1880.
Mr.. Mackey said that he desired 10 make the clos
ing argument, but being informed that the govern
fendant on the stand
karcher's Statement.
The defendant then took the stand and testified
that he was home ON the 27th OF March, took dinner
and retired about eight O'Clock. About eleven
O'Clock he woke up and heard mans voice In his
Ttfe's room, and could not believe 1t. He listened
again, and became satisfied that there was another
man IN The house. He then went to his trunk got
mis- pistol, dressed himself went to the room and
raped, and his wife asked: "Whau do you
want?" lie answered: let Inc In. there's a man
III the ro01,1 and SHE said, You're liar" adding
lhtt II there Was q man in the house he was q
burglar She then let MIN in and he saw the closet
closed He asked FOR The key and she said that she
did not know WHERE il was He then went for his
key.and 5Ot the matches, and after he had Knocked
GA the room door with tine hatchet his Wife let him
~ ana ne was trying 10 put the key in the lock of
tle closet when the door opened. and The man
rushed out, coming UP from STOPPING position.
THE FATAL SHOT.
He tkarcher thought that he was in danger. and
he fired at the MIN, not knowing who he was or
how large he was. lie fred three shots In rapid
succession. The man retreated back to the closet
after the shot, and witness went and called for
the police After the shooting the woman, with
nothing on but her niGh;dreSs, went into his ROOM
illness did not tell Sergeant Mullhall that he had
had his revenge. lie had heard that his wifeS hab-
It's Were bad People told him, but they would not
say what they knew. IL they knew anything, but
would simply say, "So-and-5o said So" He wanted
absolute proof. and was 10th to believe what was
said without il. He had. however found this man
Ill Dis house and Slot hIn.
AS TO HIS MARRIAGE
lie was married TO his wife ON the 2Sth OF JAN
ury 1879, by Pastor ReiJz, OF the Lutheran church.
at his house. on 9th street, between PENNSYLVANIA
avenue and street. and there were two witnesses,
ME- l. >cilllld & Son. paper box makers His wife
was an unledrled woman. and he did what he
codld 10 educate her, and had employed lady
teacher TO Instruct her. and he took her to church
several times de had once found q drunken
cooper. Tom Clark. who lived at So c street SOUTH
east IN MS house, and he put him out. He stated,
rtTI inc IN R,tir
came home at II O'Clock, and he refused to let her
In, 10 punish her for not obeying him
About two years ago he found tina: she was
drinking, AID on March Cd last lie was obliged to
advertise for people not TO trust her for LIQUOR
Witness had made every effort to reform her: he
had sworn before the minister that he took her for
better or for worse. but he did not believe In the
worst, she Was thirty years OF age, born January
9TH, 1854
KARCHER's ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF
He was nearly IS years old, daughtsman and
civil engineer, and for &c years had been employed
In the coast survey Office Witness was in the
habit OF spending his evenings and nights at home,
ana mad not been ont more than six times for nve
Years and 'len To the Masonic lodge. They would
pay a game OF cards and he would read sometimes
III eleven or Twelve o'clock. she generally going to
bed lie would smoke and drink twelve or four
teen bottles 0i beer. which he could easily do with
out being drunk. Witness had been in Providence
hospitakor great nervous excitement and also for
eiySipelaS. Witness never denied that he was
married 10 his WIFE, II was down right lie that
he told Van Iioby that his wife was a - and he
hail and Redway. when informed that the man
was dead. that tlGt was the way he wanted IL;
Cid not Tell them that he knew of his wfes carry
ing Oh, but told them that he had heard IT.
IF He HAD KNOWN Or HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN
LIVING IL THE HOUSE.
II he had Known II he would not have been living
In the house. 1t not his head that Clifford saw
nor did he hear what Rabbit swore TO- that his
Wife asked Grimes where he had bten did not tell
DALEY that II was hatcaet he meant by ''the kew
10 open IL, but the key ne had in his bureau. Wit
ness was trying the key with the left hand when
and
He JUMPED BACK AND FIRED
witness had his pistol In the right hand. The door
was burst open suddenly Showing 1t 10y the door OF
the witness room) Witness fired two more Shots
wards the closet as witness was leaving. There
was no gentlemen who called on Wit
coast survey, and witness wife always acted prop
eTly before him Witness received a salary OF
$3.50 per wear Witness Hrew nothing Of his wife
kissing man IN the MARKET nor of her reckoning
men 20 The horse: nor OF her talking to Crimes
Witness never knew his wife 10 be the inmate of
house Of prostitution: first knew her as a servant
and then as head cook ut MadeS' hotel. Witness
wrote her a letter when She was In South WASH
inston. at her uncies, as she said proposing to
NARY her. aud She then came to his house az
married her.
NEVER FAD ANY PROOF OF TIE ADULTERY OF HIS
WIFE.
IHtlt never WIS any proof OHeTed 10 MIN OF the
adultery OF his wife; when told OF 1t he asked the
parties If they would swear to it. When he got in
the room his wife WIS sitting in the bed with a
CEenllSe or Dlght-gOwn on.
EaRCHEg CROss-ExAMiNED.
CroSS-eXamlned by Mr.. WOrthIngton.-Did not
remember thai he said that night ~ have caught
him rOr any similar remarks attributed TO him
Witness dii not get the pistol to Kill the man. but
10 defend huSelL Witness put the pistol in his
Pocket unCCcltcd. and when he went in the room he
looked Tor the man under the bed and then asked
Tor the key to the closet; got the key and finding
lac room door locked, got the Ratchet and tried to
cut II open, when his wife let BIN in and he went
10 the closet When he shot the man the man was
RAISING. WIN his hands up. and making at witness
and lie slot him When he went 10 the closet he
was satisfied that there was man there: did not
Intend I" XIII hsi. bat "a take him prisoner at the
TolIj or the pistol. There We're two or three who
told him Of his wifes tu.delIty.
Al this point Il recess was taken.
Guinness Hsen and tho License Ones.
ton.
delegation OF business men OF WASHINGTON
headed hy Mr.. James L. Barbour and MI HILL
called upon Nj Ingalls,, chairman OF the Senate
District committee to-day. in relation to the SUBJ
jtct vi taxing commercial agents The sub-Senate
~ nFDir la1