Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-27

Government Heard
THEY TILL TIE STORY or TIE KILLING OF Jan
DoRF IN THE yAu-ruK PRISONER rEsrrrIEs
IN HIS OWN BEHALF AND WHY HE srRpck TIE
FATAL sLow.
In the Criminal Court this morning the COL
ored man Samuel Moore, the slayer Of Henry
Jandorf, fellow prisoner, In Jail on the 2sth
OF October. was the central figure. when, in
charge of Mr.. springman, he took = seat next
that OF his counsel, Mr.. Geo X French. When
Judge Bradley took his seat and the court was
convened every scat within the rail was Allied.
the audience including the jurors in the box
and the greater portion Of the forty talesmen
drawn yesterday. The latter were called and
sworn On their voire dire.
GETTING A JURY.
The first called, J. sondheimer, said that
he had an opinion. and inadvertently stated he
thought the prisoner should be hung. and was
told to stand aside. The court cautioned the
otner talesmen to be careful. il they had formed
opinions, not 10 express .hea when questioned.
IA the talesmen were called a number stated
they had formed opinions such as would pro
vent them doing justice.
MIR. Clagett said that il appeared now that il
Judge Bradley said il appeared that some Of
these talesmen either stretch their consoiences
or stultify themselves. Ii NAV happen in a few
instances that a man has such an opinion as
would prevent him acting according to the evil
dence, but in q large majority OF cases some
matter of business was the incentive TO stretch
conscience.
Mr.. Claeett-And vet these are the very men
who are loudest in their criticisms when there
Is a mistrial.
At IL o'clock both parties announced tina.
they were content with the jury and they were
sworn, as follows: w. II. Magruder, Andrew NJ
Green, John II. Brown, sylvester L. Smith.
Arthur W. Fairfax, w. L. Peel, W. H. Thomas,
J. Vert Wagner, Robert ID. Weaver, James
Davenport, Charles j. Jones and John Wills.
Messrs. Magruder, Peel, Thomas, Davenport
and Jones are colored.
THE orENISG ARGUMENTS.
Alter arranging diagram Of the south wing
Of the jail SO that the jury could see it Mr.. II
c. Clssett opened the case, stating that while
malice was a constituent Of the crime of mus
der il need not be Of long duration to make
the crime. He proceeded TO explain the cir
cumstances Of the case by means of the plat
On the day In question n prisoner, Poipenbring.
and deceased engaged IN conversation in one of
the cells and atterward some words passed be-
tween the deceased and prisoner. and subse-
quently as Jandorf passed the prisoner he
struck him with the shovel. and. in short, they
expected TO show the most deliberate case Of
murder ever presented to a court
Mr.. French said they would not DENY the
striking, but would put defendant on the stand
as well as some of his fellow prisoners. and
after their statements they could decide if the
case was one Of murder.
THE FIRST WITNESS.
Capt. II. II. Smith. a guard at the Jail was the
first witness, and he testified that defendant
hal n - I,,l. a0.
that Jandorf had beer a prisoner there for five
months or more. About 10 o'clock on Septem-
Der % he was in the north wing anu at 0:30
o clock be saw a commotion inside the gate of
the south wing and went over and asked what was
the matter JGndorf sitting on a chair
with several prisoners around him Jandorf
got up and attempted to walk and
staggered He recognized the witness and
asked who struck HIM, and witness told
him, having heard from one of the prisoners
that sam Moore struck him. Then DIR. Nc
Williams came in and took charge of Jandorf
Some did not think the blow a serious one.
but others thought otherwise. Jandorf died
near 5 o'clock.
On cross-examination witness said that he
did not remember speaking to defendant that
day. He had a talk with Moore afterward
(Ihursday morning., but he no: allowed
TO give IT. He heard no threats made toward
Jandorf by Moore or others.
P1EPESBRISG STORY.
Hammond Piepenbrng. a young man. testi-
fed that he was . prisoner in the Jail (cell 80
and on looking over some papers on Sunday he
saw an account of Landlords case, On the next
day witness called Jandorf in his cell and be
asked about Landlords case. Moore was stand.
ing in front, talking ~ some one above. Moore
said something to Jandorf and he q. said he
was not talking to him. Moore said if he came
out he would break his face. Witness told him
that Jandorf was not talking of him and Moore
threatened to break his face and he told one OF
the guards, Mr.. Graham. They then went out
to walk, when Moore ran against him
and Jandorf said to Moore: IF you
run against me again it will be
the last time" They then separated
and as Jandorf was walking down Moore. with
the shovel, struck Jandorf. The latter had
passed Moore, when Moore turned and struck
him, the blow being on the side of the head.
Jandorf was stout man. This may
have a bearing on the case" continued
Piepenbring. "A few days before Jam
dorf said: If these d-n niggers-'"
He was checked and not allowed TO tell the
story.
JAMES L. MILLER TKsrIFIEs.
James L. Miller. another prisoner, testified
to the prisoners walking out, seeing Moore
with the shovel and hearing him say: 'Tn
break his ID head" referring to Jandorf.
who was walking up and he was within five
feet of him when Moore raised the shovel and
struck Jandorf, witness trying to catch the
shovel.
On cross-examinatlou witness said he heard
words between Jandorf and Moore before the
occurrence, both of them doing their share of
sursing. He heard Jandorf say: "You had
better look out or you'n get hurt, but did not
hear hmm say: If you run against me it will be
the last time"
cEAs. BuRREII.
Charles Burrell, well-built colorcd prisoner.
was called.
Mr.. French said he appeared with an alias
and witness said he had no alias
Witness testified that he was a prisoner and
on the morning Of September Is he was exer-
casing, saw Jandorf in Piepenbring s cell reading
paper Moore walked TO the cell door: JAM
dort asked what he was looking az and Moore
said be would smack his ID d face {"
Jaudorf came out and Moore went down to some
81 the colored prisoners asking that if he struck
Jandorf would they say that Jandorf drew
q knife on HIM. and asked him among the Others
He then described the meeting when Moore
struck the blow on the back of yandorfs head
witness being ten or twelve feet off, Jandorf was
gently walking at the time with his hands down
by his side.
GUARD GRAHAM.
JohS W. Graham, guard, testified that Il was
the custom to allow the prisoners to exercise
half an hour at a time, and IN the 18th Of Sep
tember he was On duty; that Piepenbriny re-
ported that Moore had cursed HIM and he can
toned Moore, who said he would behave him
self. The blow was struck about i've minutes
after while witness was just outside Of the gate
W feat n, H.. - A.