Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-04-30
ManslaughteF. Not Murder.
THE SHOOTING OF IDA HENDERSON BY SCOTT
COATES.

MansIaughter. Not Murder.
THE SHOOTING OF IDA HENDERSON BY SCOTT
COATES.
To-day in the Criminal Court, Judge MacAr-
thur, the case of Scott Coates, a young colored
boy, charged with the murder of Ida Hender-
SON, young colored girl, in Bates alley, on
January 4th last, by shooting her, was called;
Mr.. H. T. Taggart for the government, and Mr..
Campbell Darlington for the defendant. Mr..
Darlington stated that the boy had reached the
If 1T was not competent for the court on the plea
OF guilty of manslaughter, to sentence him to
the reform school. The court replied that, being
now sixteen years Of age, that could not be
done.
The following were selected as the jury: W.
A. Matthews, Madison Jackson, Augustus B..
r. Welch. George ". Eekiof. W. r Payne, w.
Ball ia Jacob J. Appich, Isaac Gilbert and Geo.
Mr.. Taggart opened the case to the Jury, stating
that he expected to show that on the 4th OF
January last Coates called at the house of Ber-
tina Smith, in Goat alley. and invited her to go
TO Mrs. MaSon's, in Bates alley, and she did,
and then to the house of Nettie Mcpherson.
Ida Henderson was standing at the door, and
Coates and Bertha Smith went up stairs, Ida
saying to her she would be up in a little
while. IN about ten minutes Ida started up
stairs, when Coates, hearing her coming, got up
and shut the door, and told her she could not
come in; but subsequently Coates let her in,
but pushing her back pulled out his pistol and
shot her, the ball entering her right temple, and
this they could find a verdict of murder.
Mr.. Darlington, for the prisoner, said that to
prove murder there must be malice shown, and
he claimed that there was none in this case.
They expected to show that Coates was at the
time fooling with an old broken pistol and it
went OF accidentally.
THE TESTIMONY.
Bertha Smith testified that when Ida came
up stairs to the door and raped Scott, who was
in the back room, went to the door and said she
should not come in. Witness told Scott to let
her in, and he did so, when they commenced to
play Or or wrestle together. As Ida was coming
and while they were playing the shot was fired.
Did not hear any cross words between them.
that her daughter tthe deceased) was sixteen
years old.
At this point Mr.. Taggart said it was for the
court and jury to say whether the charge had
been made out.
The court said the case was one of manslaugh-
ter:
would be sent to the reform school, he was will
ling to enter plea of manslaughter.
The court said he could not send one charged
with homicide to the reform school, and direct
ed the jury to find q. verdict for manslaughter.
The court suspended sentence till Saturday.
The Church of the Covenant.
THE HANDSOME NEW STRUCTURE TO BE ERECT
ED IN THE WEST END-A MEETING OF THE
CONTRIBUTORS AND OTHERS LAST EVENING.
Quite number Of contributors to the new
Church of the Covenant, and many others
who are interested in the project, assembled in
the lecture-room Of the New York Avenue
Presbyterian church last evening to examine
the plans of the new church. chapel to hear O
report of progress from the building committee
and to hold u friendly consultation upon the
matter Among those present were DIR. Bartlett,
pastor of the New York Avenue church: Justice
Strong, VIM. Ballautyne, j. E. Fitch. H. II. Wells,
Mr.. Waller, VIM. NJ. Calf, NJ w. Gait and Mr.
Deeble, and many ladies. Justice Strong made
a few remarks. stating the object of the meet
ing and the reasons which led to the under
taking. \ new church in the western part OF
the city; he said, had been talked of for seven
years. During DIR. Mitchell's time the project
was discussed, and received the approval OF
the pastor, rs new church was a long-feit
commodate oil who desired seats, and
the necessity 30 increased that a cou.
pie OF years nag ago it was decided
new edifice is at the intersection of Connecticut
avenue and N and 18th streets, one of the most
desirable sites in the city. There is no place OF
moters of the enterprise could not follow the
usual custom in starting new churches in cities,
of holding Sunday school or preaching services
as beginning, but had only their own energy
and the generous assistance of those interested
in the project to rely upon. More than 300,
perhaps $50, Presbyterians have already sub
scribed literally, without any hostility toward
the churches in which they have been accus-
toned to worship. or without any split or dis
chapel will be completed this summer, and that
services and Sunday school can be held in the
fall. The main room of the chapel will hold
800 people, while the rooms opening into it will
seat 100 more. Mr.. Ballantyne and others spoke
on the subject, the plans of the new edifice
were examined and general interest manifested.
The building committee of the new church
consists of VIM. Ballantyne (chairmanl, James
2. Fitch, NJ; W; Calf; Justice Strong, Gardner
Reginald Fendali, C. b. Jewell and B. H. War.
ner. The architect Is j. c. Cady, of New York.
1t is expected that the new church will cost in
the neighborlood of 100000. Over half the
amount necessary has already been subscribed.
Among those who contributed are Justice
Strong and Gardner G; Hubbard, 5000 each;
G. Blaine and Justice Stanley Matthews. $4,000
each, VIM. .Ballantyne, b. II. Warner, Otis Bgelow,
Senator Yulee and VIM. Walter Phelps, 81 900
each. The church is to be built of light stone,
and will be in beautiful contrast with the red
brick which prevails in the west end.s Speci-
mems of stone from all parts of the country were
examined and that from A. L. Barber's quarry
at Great Falls, like that of which his residence
Der generously contributed to the new church
in the way of making liberal contracts.
WEDDINGs.-A large assemblage witnessed
the marriage of Mr.. Eugene A. Van Week, Of
Essex county. n. Y: and Miss Florence NJ.
First Presbyterian church, last evening The The
Msssrs e jahnson syrfn
Tcnuy oaker, u ID. EAnueTSon, anu y. w. Holmes,
acted as ushers. The married couple proceeded
at once from the church to their pleasant home
in South Washington, and commenced house
keeping. The bride received many handsome
presents.-Mr. Clayton II. Buell. was married
this morning to Miss Leuia Finley, the
at the latter's residence on Vermont ave
nue., near Iowa Circle, Rev. DIR. E. ID. Huntley,
pastor of the Metropolitan NJ. E. church. Off
ciating. After the wedding breakfast, the
couple took the train for New York, where they
will visit friends ofthe groom. After an absence
will occupy for the summer Judge Lawrence s
residence.
THE CoNvocATIoN OF WAsH1NGroN.-Att the
closing session Of the Washington convocation,
at Christ p. E. church, yesterday afternoon,
Rev. James A. Harold, Rev. Meyer Levin and
Mr.W. A. Meloy were appointed to report to the
next cOnvocatiOn changes in the articles of assO-
citation with appropriate suggestions. ResOlu-
tions regretting the deaths Of Rev. Drs. Towles
sistipg of Messrs. McCabe Williams and Sher-
man. and adopted after eulogistic addresses.
The convOcatiOn adjourned to meet at o time
and place to be designated by the dean.
HELD FOR SHOOTING AT HIS WIFE.-In the
Police Court this morping William Tippett, q
machinist, fifty years old, was placed on trial,
charged with assault and battery with intent to
Kill. His wife, Lucretia, testified that her hus-
band came home last night intoxicated, cursed
her and threatened to blow her brains out. He
then drew his revolver and fired several shots
at her, as she ran out of the back door, the Dul-
lets entering the table and door: Maria Jones,
q girl about seventeen years old, testified that
she lived with her stepfather, the defendant, at
No. Vermont hill, between L and NJ and Yer
mont avenue and 10Th street She heard the
threats and the pistol shots. The defendant
denied the shooting. The sent to the