The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-11-07
AGNES WATsON,s DEATH.
Testimony Taken for the Defense of
Frederick Barber

1 L
Barber, oolored, charged with the murder
of Agnes Watson by throwing her into
the canal, was heard in the Criminal
Court yesterday. A strong case was
submitted against him by the Govern
ment -Four people, Henry johnson,
James Brown, Edward Brown and Maria
Washington testified TO seeing Barber
throw the girl into the water.
Mr.. Ferguson, in stating the case for
the defense, said it would he shown TINT
Agnes Watson became so overcome with
grief because he refused to live with her
that she committed suicide.
This morning Mr. Cuhill asked the
court TO discharge the Jury, because II
very important witness to the defense,
the brother of Police Officer Burrows
was ill in Georgetown suffering with
hcmorrhages. The court declined to dis
charge the panel and suggested that if
the District Attorney would consent the
testimony would be taken by deposition.
Mr. Liscomb stated that MS the witness
was brother of the police officer who
had been detailed by Mai. Moore to assist
the defense, and for that reason
practically an associate counsel in the
case, he would ask to be excused from
CourJ III uruer 10 30 alOng ana cfOSS-cN-
anime. Mr.. Cahill asked that the stem
ographer be paid by the Government,
as counsel for the defense had possibly
been at as much expense us they could
afford.
1t was found that there was no legal
ground for the employment of stem
ographer in such u case
Henry La Rowe, a Write boy thirteen
years old, was the first witness called.
lie was standing on the corner and heard
II row. a man and woman came out
of the house. The man knocked her
down, saying, You'd better go back
home" She replied, i" No l won't; III
follow you ut the risk of my life lie
followed them toward the canal lie
stepped ON II porch on the corner COM
. manding view of the canal. She fol-
lowed him, and when he got to the lock
she was four or five feet behind him.
lie stopped at the lock and told her
She had better so back. lie went up
It the towpath and She sat ON the edge of
= the wharf lie turned around and said,
You damn old fool you'd better get
away from there IS he said that she
i pushed herself into the water. He had
: never seen the colored man until he saw
d him in court. llillery Burrows was the
first person he saw after she pitched her
self into the water colOrcd boy was
about four feet behind him. lie told
e On cross-eXnmination he stated that he
d had been brought to the District Attor-
ncy's Office but was forbidden to talk
! by counsel and by his father. lie said
II that he did not go over the towpath
8 with Officer Burrows and point out
various localities. He only saw him
n knock the woman down once. lie and
z one colored boy followed them down the
Is street.
How long did you stand there by
3 the porch pr asked Mr.. Lipscomb sharply
d Why said the boy, unguardcdly
n / stood there until he pushed her over
board
ar lie realized his blunder in an instant
lie and his face flushed in confusion.
y, What do you mean by saying til
It; he pushed her overheard" said the pros
T. ecutcr looking forward in his earnest
ness.
ne " He didn't push her overboard,' tn,
IN Barber was about 80 feet from tn,
RS girl but rushed toward her as if to SAVE
her. Mr.. Lipscomb then asked hin
ST. whether he had stated in the Distnc
IL Attorneys Office that she stumbled ant
,rt fell overheard, that Barber was abou
nd theNNvfath of his arms distance ava.
he from her and that Barber said Dam
YOU. come OFT the edge of that canal
and made a rush at her. To all of thi
after Barber made the rush towards tn
IS girl he was about four feet from her.
IN John $. La Rove, the father of tn
e. boy who is in charge of the street
d sweeping business here, stated tina
10 his boy had made a statement of the oC
n. curencc to him
IL John Butler, colored blacksmith, testi
fled that his reputation was good. III
rs had heard rumors that he had been Ell
IL gagged in fights but never knew any
re thing about it. Edward Gee, colorc
i barber made substantially the sam
" statement. Arthur GCings, colored black
smith, had heard nothing against hir
al until this time Francis B. Lord, Bal
me-, bers employc, spoke faVorably of hin
h77 Henry Church, ice dealer, had employc
los Barber, and said that while Barhc
- worked for him lie was very well bC
st' haved.
NJ George Taylor, colored, testified tina
he saw Agnes Watson on the day Q
her drowning. When questioned by Nj
10 Cahill, he said that she did not seer
to have been drinking lie had neve
IN seen her drinking at any time
MS Mr. Hezclliah Chgett stated that S
.p' far as he knew Barber mad always bee
&C a correct man.
TO Mary Warren stated that she can
"a from Agnes Watson and WAS with III
on the Saturday she was drowned. 81
ed said Agnes Watson vent to the DO
he ION Mntlt hltA bo'li bVuN MHi'hlc
Agnes drank twice, II small glass fu
~ each time. She did not hear her "a
~ anything about Fred Barber or Gel
i III Mahoney When she met Agnes u
he latter said she had been drinking an
said she felt pretty lively. When 81
lot left ACNE, She asked her whether 81
Il could take care offersclf She repliC
on that she was all right but she felt hi
all having some fun.
en- Celia Mnhoney, rather comedy COLOR
ne, girl. said that She and William Lee HI
m formerly lived together in the rclatio
'lc- that exist between husband and Wi
no. She had since borne similar relations
orr ward Barber. lie asked whether J.
! had manifested an unfriendly dlsposlt
nd toward either of them.
Get Mr. Culill said that these questio
nth were for the purpose of impcaching J.
or in the theory HAT he WAS the genel
j. leading the cohorts of witnesses again
tn Lcc She denied that Barber said
lth Amanda Lee : II l come out I'll X
her She denied that Barber was
nth crctcd by her in her house when the 0
GERS arrested him. lie came back TO
house. but lett before the officers ear
81. esagaNHh "a