Evening journal., 1889-11-21
ON TRIAL FOR HIS LIFE.
GEORGE n. WILLIAMS BETWEEN
THE TlPSTAvES.

ftfE ~ y - ~ G0s
Beginning Of the Trial Of tho Alleged
Murderer OF Walter Il. Wright, who
Was Killed in ths Drum Corps EIot
in June Last.
At 9.45 o'clock this morning. in the
Court OF Oyer and Terminer, Attorney
General Biggs announced that he was
ready In the case of George II. Williams,
colored. indicted for the murder Of Wal
ter T.. Wright, in the drum corps riot, on
Monroe street, on June 10 last
The prisoner was brought in between
the tipstaves and placed in the box and
Clerk Cochran proceeded to draw Jury.
Attorney General Biggs and Deputy At
torney General Davis represented the
State and Henry G. Conrad and w f.
Hilles, Esqs., the defense Each Juror was
sworn and then asked by Mr.. Conrad
whether be had formed or expressed an
cpiuion in regard to the case, and by Mr.
Biggs whether he had conscientious
scruples against capital punishment.
This matter being settled, there was an
opportunity for challenges on both sides.
II there were none, the juror was again
sworn and took his placain the jury box
The jury as finally drawn is as follows:
George i, Brown, Frank p. Padley,
Samuel Jackson, William J. Daniels,
Hiram Pleasanton, Nathaniel w. Rat
lidge, Ira X, Sharpley, Charles w Cur
rinder John w. Dyett, William u
David, Thomas D. lyman and Harry r.
Carpenter The jury are nearly all
farmers in different parts OF the
county, Three are, however. employed
in mills at New Castle Richard Frazier
was sworn as juror, but it was after.
wards learned that his wife was an aunt
Of the murdered boy, Walter f. Wright,
and he was excused.
Fifty one jurors were called in all.
George Edwards, Alfred Carpenter, Isaac
J, Moore and Michael CULLEN did not an
swer to their names William 4. Tim
mons was excused on account OF the
death OF a grandchild, whose funeral
| takes place tomorrow.
The following had conscientious scru.
pies against capital punishment: Samuel
j. White. jacob G. liiyens, John Nc.
Hugh, Robert Hawthorn, John Camp
bell, Edward McGovern, Frederick Cur
rinder, James H. Guest, Samuel Bennett,
David r. Lyman, Willis Passmore.
The state had ten challenges and the
/ defense twenty. Five persons were chal.
lenged by the state and seventeen bv the
defense. The state challenged ]. Miller
Thomas. George C. Simpson. Edward
/ Darlington, William H. Clark
aud Everett B. Holhngsworth
The defense challenged James G. Powell.
Francis ]. Pruner, George s. Cook. James
/ Marcy, =. b. Frazer, George A Harkins
Joseph Fl. Hanson, Montgomery Gray.
| Charles Z Wiltbank, Patrick Toy. viii
| liam x. Powell Richard sullivan, Thomas
b. Vance, John White Sr, BENJAMIN T.
Gem, Harry L. Dyett, and George
Bacon.
Clerk Cochrane read the indictment to
the jury. It charged murder in the first
degree. by bullet from a pistol ia the
hauds Of the prisoner. The wound was
in the forehead and FIVE inches deep.
The special jurors not drawn on the
case were discharged.
Deputy Attorney-G General Davis
opened the case for the state. He ex.
planned the different degrees of murder
and stated the facts Of the case.
Architect Frank r. Carswell was Che
first witness for the state. He testifeC
to drawing q plot of the scene Of the
shooting. This was shown and explained
to the court and jury.
Thomas p Maloney, a youth Of a.
living at No. 22S Cherry street was tile
next witness. He had known
Walter Z. Wright for four years. He
was shot on the same nigh Wright was,
by the same person. He first saw
Wright at the merry -go-round, at
Fourth and Monroe streets Witness saw
the fife aud drum corps 20 up the
street. Wright and he remained at the
"merry go-round" until. the shooting be-
gan, then they went 10 Sixth aud Mon
roe streets. he saw a crowd at the corner
and saw the ffe and drum corps disperse.
Witness and Wright stood at the corner
five or ten. minutes. The prisoner
came around the corner from Monroe
street and fred. The bullet struck
Walter Wright in the forehead and he
dropped Witness stopped down to see
how badly he was hurt and the prisoner
fred again and hit him in the shoulder
Witness fell. He had the coat on that
he wore that night and showed the jury
the holes that the bullet made in passing
in and out of the shoulder
1t went clear through the witness i
shoulder. Williams was about six feet
distant when he fred. Witness wa.
positive that the prisoner was the mar
who shot Wright and himself, for hi
looked him in the face. Wright was
little taller than himself.
In the cross examination the witness
said he heard two shots as the drum
corps ran at Fourth and Monroe streets
but did not know who fred them. Tn,
defence endeavored to shake the testi
mony Of the witness by strict question
ing, but his evidence was not material,
shaken.
In the redirect examination the evi
dence was strengthened Testimony wa
given regarding the suit worn by tn
prisoner and others. The wit
ness described the manner il
which he identified the prisoner at tn
City Hall. He also told how he wa
assisted to drug store and then to DR.
Maull's office by friend.
Francis Vincent Of No. 1924 Walnut
street. saw the shooting. He was goinl
down Sixth street, toward Monroe street
at the time. IL was between and 8
o'clock. AS he arrived at Sixth and Monro,
streets, he saw some men in band uniform
running, and crowd Of white men com.
ing up Monroe street in pursuit. They
settled around a small colored boy on the
southwest sidewalk. Witness crossed Il
counsel the crowd not to harm the boy,
as some had uplifted hands. The pris
oner then appeared around the south
west corner from Sixth street
When close to the crowd b,
pointed pistol at the crowd and free