Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-27
CHARGED WITH WIFE MURDER.
Trial Of Robert Logan in the Criminal
Court.

Trial Of Robert Logan In the Criminal
Court.
In the Criminal Court Judge Montgomery,
this morning, the case Of Robert Logan, q coll
ored man, well know as q driver for the Gov
eminent printing Office for some years, and
who is charged with the murder OF his wife,
Susan Logan, was called The homicide was by
shooting at their residence. 40s Franklin street
northwest, Nov. 4th, last. Messrs. NJ NJ. Hol-
land and E. NJ Hewlett appeared for the pris-
oner. and Mr.. Lipscomb for the government
The witnesses for the government number
twenty five, and for the defendant about thir-
ty-fve.
The following Jurors were selected and sworn:
Jno. W. Thomas. Richard T. Drew. Frank p.
Davis, Thos. g: Allen, Clarence Beall. Bernard
L. Cumberland. W. I. Bright Sam1 ii. Will
Jams, Payson D. Delany, BENZ. Miller, Richard
A. Arnold and jos. F. Anderson.
STATEMENTS OF COUNSEL.
At 10:45 o'clock Mr.. Lipscomb opened the
case, stating that they expected to show that
this killing was done in the bedroom Of the
Logans, the deceased receiving the ball from a
discharged pistol in the right eye; that defend
ant and his brother had quarreled. and that
after the shooting he ran to his father-in-law's
house and told him that he and his brother had
quarreled, and he intended to shoot his brother,
when deceased ran between them and received
the shot Subsequently he claimed that the
| shooting was accident
Mr.. Hewlett stated that they would show
that the wound was inflicted when the wife was
attempting to take the pistol from the husband,
and when he found out what he had done he
placed his dead wife on the bed and ran from
the house raving maniac.
THE TESTIMONY
Amelia Lancaster testified that deceased was
her sister, and on the night in question. about
| 2 O'Clock, she was awakened. at her home on
10th street and found Robert at the door. He
stated that he and his brother had quarreled,
| and when he attempted to shoot his brother
dump" (the deceased) ran in between them
| and caught the ball
Rev. Henry Brooks, the father Of deceased
testified that he was aroused between and 2
O'Clock, and going down stairs found Robert
walking the floor and wringing his hands,
exclalming: "Oh, my Godr' He corroborated
the preceding witness as to Roberts statement
OF the occurrence, as also did Benjamin Lam
caster.
DR.. Fl L. E. johnson testified that the death
| OF the woman was probably instantaneous
W. IL. Brooks testified to having a converse
ton with defendant the night of the occur
| renee, between ii and II o'clock, about starting
| a saloon. In that conversation he called his
brother Frank of -, whom he would
shoot as soon as eat,
Officer Lawler testified as to arrdkting the de-
PENDANT, who said his brother Frank wouldn't
work; that on the night in question Frank
quarreled with his mother and he (Robert)
picked up revolver and snapped it, and it
went off when Frank was running upstairs
and the second shot was fired in his wife's bed
room but he did not know how it was DONE
At the station Frank said to Robert: ''You have
murdered Susie" and Robert admitted he had
shot her, but was much distressed
The government here rested their case
THE PRIsoNER's STORY
Robert Logan, the defendant, testified that
he was thirty-eght years old; had been mar
ried ten years; worked twenty wears at the
government printing Office. On the night in
question he met Frank between and o'clock
| and took drink with him: then went TO Halls
on 18th, between and streets; took six or
seven drinks and left about u o'clock and then
went right on to his home on Franklin street
Witness went to his own room. leaving Frank
down stairs in the kitchen. Found his wife in
bed; kissed her; she asked for The STAR and he
commenced to smoke. He asked Frank for
some money and he ran upstairs. He told
Frank to go down and so did his wife, who got
| up. His mother told him to go down. Wit
| ness got the pistol and fired the pistol toward
| the floor. Witness, after a little started TO 60
to the yard. and his wife grabbed him as he
was at the door, when the pistol went of When
| his wife fell he put her on the bed aud ran to
her fathers, and when the officers came he
| gave himself up.
| On cross-eXamination he denied that he ever
fired shot at Mary Shields or threatened her.
| He took the revolver to scare his brother with.
Bosh of them had been drinking. He denied
| that he ever told W. ii. Brooks or any one that
| he was on bad terms with Frank or that he had
| told any one that he shot at Frank and Susie
| got the ball. He denied that his wife even
| left home becsuse of his treatment IL was
after Frank was in the room that he got the re-
volver and fired il at the floor. He did il TO
| scare Frank out. His wife had put her back
| against the door and they were struggling
| when the pistol went off,
AFTER RECESS
the prisoner was put through long cross-ex-
animation, but stuck to his original story.
Francis L. Logan, brother of the prisoner,
| testified that Robert asked him for money.
which he refused to give him.
Witness went up stairs to Roberts room and
| then the latter ordered him out Robert got
| the pistol. and Susie told him to put il 1p.
Then he fired the pistol, aud witness and his
mother left. There was no quarrel between
Robert and his wife.
On cross-examination witness said that he
and his brother had some words that evening
He denied that there was any serious intention
OF hghtlng over the money. After the shoot
ing Robert came down stairs crying s.I'ye shot
Dump, I've shot Dump" and ran out and he
followed him.
Mrs. Martha Logan, mother of defendant.
testified that some words passed between the
boys about money. There was no difficulty
between Robert and his wife.