Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-25


The case of Summerville Nicholson, charged
with the grand larceny of gold watch, fob and
charm valued at SI3 from his companion,
Charles G. Stouffer, on the 25th of July, iSS2
was called for trial in the Police Court to-day;
Assistant District Attorney Thomas appearing
for the prosecution and Mr.. H. w. Garnett for
the defendant Mr.. Thomas read the testi-
mony taken several days ago, which was as fol-
lows: ''Charles G. Stoufier clerk i'm the Pension
Office, living at 1921 street northwest, stated
that on the evening of July 25th. 1852, he, i'm
company with Nicholson, went down the city,
and after visiting several saloons, where they
they arrived at the corner of 9th street
and Grant Place, Nicholson asked
him the time, and it was then that
morning after the loss Nicholson went with him
to report his loss. He identified the recovered
watch as his, and said il cost $50: first saw IL
| at wallachs loan Office" j. f. sill. barber.
1243 32d street, stated that he had known
Nicholson over a year when he {NicholsOn) left
the watch with him, and he gave him two or
three dollars The front case and glass were OF
the watch. Nicholson told him that he had
watch broken by a friend on July 9th he came
and got two or three dollars more, giving wit
ness a receipt for the money, and iold him he
could keep the watch. He wore the watch until
the LIST of this month when he pawned Ii at
Wallachis for $40. Nicholson told him his
| father gave him the watch which cost So
This closed the written testimony taken.
Detective Mattingly then took the stand. He
testified that he first saw the watch at Wal
was reported to headquarters. and a description
given of the watch on July both, 1SS2. Wit
ness said after getting the watch he interviewed
both Stouffer and Sill, after which he went to
NichOlsons house and went with him 10 head
quarters, where in the back room they had an
interview. Nicholson said that he was with
him (Stouffer) on the night in question:; that he
sold the watch to Sill, and that he found it ON
East Capitol street. He afterwards said he
found ii near Grant Place.
Witness told Nicholson that that story would
not do and Nicholson then said that he and
Stouffer were skylarking, and when Stouffer
dropped his watch he picked ii up and put il i'm
his pocket. He said he went to headquarters
the next morning with Stouffer TO report the
| loss.
Mrs. Nicholson, mother OF defendant. testified
that her son had been on debauch for two
weeks when he came home on the night of the
alleged robbery. He went into the bathroom
when he came home, and her father found the
watch i'm there the next morning.
Mr.. Thomas objected.
The court said that 'the intent must have
existed at the time of the taking IL the watch
had been taken for safe keeping. or joke,
it, that was not larceny"
Witness, continuing. said the watch was
shown him by his grandfather four days later,
and he had no recollection of it.
The defendant testified that he had been
drinking with Stouffer on that night, but had
no recollection of the watch, until he il four
days later, when his grandfather spoke to him
about 1t. Witness denied the conversation as
detailed by Detective Mattncly.
The court continued the case until tomorrow
10 hear the testimony of Stouffer.