Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-01-16

SENTENCED TO DEATH.
Richard ]. Lee, the Wife Murderer to be
Hanged.
EFFORTS OF COUNSEL TO AVERT TIE DEATH
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES IN THE CR1NINAL
COURT To-DAY-coNDUCT OF THn RRIeoNERs.
This morning, in the Criminal Court, the case
of Richard ]. Lee, alias Dick Sparrow. convicted
on December 10th Of the murder of his wife on
November 23d last, was called In the Criminal
Court, Judge MacArthur-a motion In arrest OF
Judgment having been filed by Messrs j. w.
walker and T. c. Taylor, his counsel, based on
the grounds that one of the jurors, Thomas W.
Chase, was q salaried officer of the United
States, and that he evasively answered the
swore he had never been convicted of crime
involving moral terpitude, when ne was con-
Mr.. Taylor opened the argument, claiming
that the first controller hac ruled that An officer
OF the government could not be paid q Juror,
Court the Information on which Chase was
convicted January 18th last Of assaulting
the sentence was smaiiNbut 81 in each case
but the law does not require anything but the
sentence; u made no matter as to the extent OF
law right TO competent jurors, and they did not
know at the time Of trial but that Chase was q
|
District Attorney worthington stated that
they he'd not shown that the incompetency
was unknown TO them at the time, and, read
Ing the certificate Of the district auditor that
Chase was employed as Q watchman, DC. he
claimed that the law did not make such an
gs g susb wss e.
within the meaning Of the law. "a salaried ON
Ger Of the United States" and he read nom
pointment from the President or head Of an
executive department. Chase was simply an
employe or officer of the municipality. On the
question of moral turpitude he would say that
Chase simply pushed two women from his gate
and was fined a dollar.
Mr. Walker, for the defendant, followed, say
ing it was the duty Of the government to pre-
sent to them q list of competent jurors, and In
answer to the district attorney he would quote
! the Supreme Court to the magistrates-"A Die
tionary of the English Language, by Noah
d ocer he ssaa jury
law quoted contemplated all public officers, and
under the appointment for public service,
and neither was competent. They are met by
the point that they should have used due dilf-
gence, but ne repealed it.
form was not appropriate for the object In
view, and it should have been motion to set
aside the verdict was sna este
the most fragrant homicides would be freed.
He felt that after the verdict of the jury he
been taken, and it struck him that it did not 60
to the competency of the Juror. The clause as to
LAWYERS g. was not PF2hibitSry but sue, suin per
ployment. When he found that Chase was a
watchman he dismissed him. He doubtless
thought 1t right when he answered the queS-
tions, but the question whether he could draw
pay from the Commissioners was one for them.
He was, however, competent. On the point of
moral turpitude, he said that an assault was
not a crime involving moral turpitude; felo-
NOUS assault might be one, but not an assault
Mr. Walker-Rut this WAS q woman
The court.-That would aggravate 1t, but
there are some woman who can stand up before
who, being assigned to the case, had without any
hope OF reward shown much diligence. Being
quite clear that Chase was qualified to sit as q
he thought the verdict should not be disturbed.
The defendant asked to note an exception.
defendant, who had during the morning sat
behind his counsel with downcast eyes, now
covered his face with his hands.
The defense then prepared motion for q stay
of execution of the sentence, TO enable them to
apply for a writ OF error, and this was filed.
The court then asked the prisoner If he had
The prisoner having recovered his composure
replied: ~ have nothing to say"
THE DEATH SENTENCE.
The court then sentenced the prisoner to be
hanged by the neck until dead in the District
Jail between the hours of IL and l o'clock on
the second Friday after the adjournment of
next term Of the Court in General Term.
Lee maintained his composure until the con-
Guiding words, and when the court ended with
your soul" he came near breaking down.
The Case Of NardiellO.
The case of the Italian Antonio Nardello alias
Frank Ross, convicted of the murder OF Car
mine Rotunno, by cutting his throat on July
29th last, was then called, Messrs. g. B. Cork
hill and T. NJ. Field, for the defendant, having
riled motion for new trial. Mr.. Field read
the affidavits of Nicholas Jordan, Mrs. Francis
Porchini, Annie Terry, Vincenzo Pitserello, and
Nardello himself to show that he had on two
money in large amount was on Maryland ave-
nue. when it Is alleged he was on 9th street
northwest. and that due diligence had been
used.
District Attorney Worthington said that
these affidavits were not sufficient.
Mr.. Taggart, with quite batch Of afhdavits,
Mr.. Fields-whose is thate
MI: Ta8gart-That OF Nicholas Jordan.
''Then object" answered Mr.. Fields.
The uourt, after some argument, held that it
was mop competent TO put in counter afadavits.
The atdavits In support Of the motoa should
be strohg to justify the upsetting Of verdict
The motion was then briefly argued, and the
court, reviewing the argument, overruled the
SENTENCED TO BE HANGED.
Sentence was then moved, and Capt Torrens,
one Of the guards at the Jail, was called to act
as interpreter. The defendant, who had shown
no signs Of breaking down, for few minutes
engaged, through Mr.. Mancossis, in conversa-
ton with his counsel
Mr.. Corkhill said that the prisoner desired
him to state that he knew nothing of the muir
der, and was entirely innocent of the crime,
and further, that he had not understood the
witnesses.
The sentence was imposed that he be hanged
on the Sd Friday after the rising of the General
Term, between the hours of and 8 o'clock.
Capt. Torrens then interpreted the sentence,
and the prisoner grew somewhat excited, and
was with some difficulty restrained.
THE PRISONERS TAKEN BACK TO JAIL.
NardellO, when taken to the marshal's office
became quite uncomfortable and in Italian did
not spare the officers and witnesses against
him, but was finally quieted and with Lee
taken to Jail. ii
THE FoRTIFICATIoNs BOARD held a final
meeting In the Office Of the Secretary of War
to-day. The report, rs prepared, was read and
approved and 1t will be submitted to the Presi
dent early next week and by him will be trans
mitted to Congress.
INTERNATIONAL CoPYRIGHT.-On the 26th
instant a delegation Of literary men will have
hearing before the Senate committee on pat
ents on the subject OF an international copy
right. Among the delegation will be ex-Minis-
ter Lowell, George William Curtis, Mr.. Howells,
Mark Twain, and other noted authors and pub.
fishers.
CONGRESSIONAL VISIT TO THE patent