Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-14
ON TRIAL FOR MURDER.
Nelson Colbert the Young COlored Man
Who shot and Killed Philip Wenzel.

In the Criminal Court to-day the Columbia
car stable homicide case was taken up for trial
by Judge Montgomery. Nelson Colbert, a col
| ored man twenty-three years of age, is charged
| with having about o'clock on. the evening of
October 3, last, shot and killed Philip Wenzel,
an aged white man, at the stables of the Col
umbia railroad company Cat the terminus of HI
street northeast), where both men were en-
ployed. Wenzel, who was the stable boss, had
| discharged Colbert, who was a stable hand. the
causes assigned being Colbert's drunkenness and
| inattention to his duties. Colbert demanded
his pay and some:,angry words..passed when, it
| is alleged, the defendant drew pistol and shot
Wenzel.
District Attorney Hoge and Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Lipscomb appears for the gov
| eminent, and Judge w. B. Smell and Capt. H.
L. Prince for the defendant.
THE JURY CHOSEN.
In selecting the jury the regular panel was
| excused, and twenty-five talesmen were drawn
to report at o'clock. The jury was completed
short time thereafter, but three of them
stating that they were opposed to capital pun
| ishment left the panel still incomplete
At las the jury was complete, and was sworn
as follows: d. j. Callahan, Jno. A. Peters,
Chas. E. Nelson, Geo. B. Sheriff, Payson B.
Delany, Willard Metzger, Geo. r. Barnes, w.
+. l. Eaton, Jas. L. Addison, Jas. Z. Willett,
Thos. Hyde and Barry Buckley.
Mr.. Mullowney opened the case to the Jury
| stating deceased was a man of seventy-two
years, and of such kindly disposition that by
those acquainted with him he was called pap I"
He then recounted that it was the neglect of
duty by the defendant which lead deceased to
speak to him; and after the prisoner did the
shooting Mr.. West, driver, attempted to stop
him, when he drew the pistol on him and es-
capped. He was, however, pursued and caught
STORY OF THE FIRST WITNESS.
Benjamin Larken testified that he was en-
ployed at the stables, as was Colbert, in chang
ing the horses of the cars; that on the day in
question several cars were there and no one
was there to change horses. Pap" (deceased)
called the attention of witness to the fact and
asked for Colbert, and when he CO. appeared
he asked where had he been. Pap told him
to go home and return in the morning Col
bert refused to leave, saying You old - of a
=, you don't pay me I'll kill
you" Then Colbert got to cursing
him, and Pap" had a small switch in his hand
and asked Colbert if he was not ashamed to
curse an old man seventy-two years DID, and
he &C. then replied that he would shoot him.
Witness went down in the stable and then
heard the shot. Then went to the front and
saw two drivers take Mr.. Wenzel in the Office
On cross-examination witness said he did
not know that Colbert was drunk; did not see
him stagger; they had had difficulties before;
Colbert was on an extra tour of duty at the
time. Witness admitted he had been to the
penitentiary for fighting; he was sent from
Prince Georges county. Pap went to the
Office and got stick after Colbert commenced
to curse him; did not see Pap strike blow.
but touched him slightly on the shoulder. 1t
stick about one inch in diameter and four feet
long as the one.