Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-25

| VI NJ kzENE journed to today. Mr..
| VI "a, aAa51 hH& Cole in his opening
/ 2Sskx84iIlF said the theory Of the
~ >Sysk&g1kA government was that
II INK L&HTA kincaid, having taken
I@%ZE@[4@ offense, determined to
YHLrSWES kill Taulbee; that he
IeS & procured q revolver
and evidently watched
4 for Taulbee for the
/ purpose of shooting
GEN. GRosvENoR. him. The government,
he said. would undertake to prove a deliberate
| and wilful murder and intent to kill Taulbee.
When the court met this morning there was
placed against the wall behind the witness box
and in sight of the jury diagram of the stair
way at the east of the House of Representa-
tives. where the shooting occurred February
| %. 1880. The plat showed also the immediate
| surroundings of the stairway. This was the first
evidence to go in in the scheme of the govern
| ment to prove the charge OF murder. Mr..
Brewer, who was called to the stand first. was
| the man who made the measurements and drew
| the diagram
| point to point, the relative location of the
| various points and other matters necessary to
| have on record in the testimony in order to
discuss the cRse. Mr.. Brewer was not cross
examined.
E1-DooRKEEPER DONALDSON.
Samuel Donaldson of Nash vile. Tenn. for
merly doorkeeper of the House, was next called
to the stand.
Mr.. Cole remarked to the court that Mr..
Donaldson had a slight impeachment in his
| speech which might affect him at first but after
he got going he would be all right Mr.. Dom
aldson got going very soon, although occa-
| sionall he would spend second or two getting
a word out.
In response to questions by Mr. Cole he said
he first saw Taulbee on the day of the shooting
| on the floor of the House few minutes before
~ o'clock. He next saw him in the House res
taurant about LEO taking lunch with Mr..
Brookshire of Indiana and Mr.. Peele of Arkan-
| sas. He next saw Taulbee in the corridor at
the east side Of the Hall Of Representatives.
| Mr.. Donaldson continued his testimony with
| the aid of Mr.. Brewers diagram. He met
Mr.. Taulbee near the steps.
WHEN HE SAW KINCAIp THAT DAY.
He had seen Kincaid first that day in the
corridor of the House about 1890 o'clock. He
had seen him again later passing along the
corridor. About l: 80 he saw Kincaid at one of
| the doors Of the House opening upon
at the head of the steps. They
| stood there only long enough to shake hands
and for Taulbee to ask Witness ''What do you
want of me, Sam2" They turned then and
started down the steps. They went down the
steps to the first landing, then turned due
| north and were about to continue down the
| steps. Witness had hold of Taulbee's left
arm.
Mr.. Taulbee was on the second step and wit
ness was on the first. Taulbee had turned and
placed his right hand on witness wrist and
asked again: what do you want, SAM
THE SHOOTING OF TAuLBEE.
Just then witness attention was taken by q
loud noise and q remark: 'Taulbee. you can
see me now" As Taulbee turned Kincaid fired
and the ball struck Taulbee in the left eve. Kim
caid above and in the rear of them and was
about five feet from Iauibea,
1t was a dark and rainy afternoon. but the
gas was burning in the hallway. Witness saw
the flash coming over his own arm and saw the
weapon in Kincaid's right hand. There was
handed the witness a revolver, but he said he
was unable to identify it.
Taulbee, when hit by the ball, placed his
hands at the side of his head and shouted
'Oh !" and jumped two steps, coming down in
crouching position, almost on all fours. Wit
Judge Kincaid, for Gods sake don't shoot
any more"
KINcArD FIRED But ONE SHOT.
Kincaid did not shoot any more. Taulbee
went on down the steps. Kincaid. followed
with the pistol in his hand. and witness went
on down one or two steps behind Kincaid
When they reached the bottom Of the steps
there was a crowd that had rushed from the
restaurant or other rooms assembling As quick
as thought there were twenty or thirty people
there
Some one asked: "Who shot this man." and
kincaid said: II shot him. He insulted me
this morning. or ''He wronged me this morn
ing"-something like that. Witness got cut off
nom Taulbee and did not see him any more
for half an hour. Witness next saw Taulbee in
his room at the corner of East Capitol and Sd
streets. Witness was there ten or fifteen min
utes and then went off to arrange for his adj
mission to Providence Hospital.
- 81 ,ox
| the hospital.
CONSTRAINED By GEN. GRosvENoB.
Gen. Grosvenor. who had moved up at the
counsel table so to be next to the district at
| torney. conducted the REORGANIZATION. He
began questioning Mr.. Donaldson in q very
mild tone of voice about his employment.
I He said he had not been in Nashville for two
years. He was a lawyer. He had been door,
keeper of the Forty-ninth Congress; owned the
House restaurant during most of the Fiftieth
Congress; was never admitted to the District
bar.
What sort of practice do You pursue" asked
Gen. Grosvenor.
Il was employed" said the witness, ito re-
port the proceedings of Congress to one or two
corporations"
More fully than they are reported in the
Congressional Record"
No." said the witness, ''but to report some
matters affecting their interests"
Vuat oipoiatouo! ooAcu btu OrOSVenOr.
81 was employed" said the witness, ''by the
Western Union Company for one. think that
Was the only corporation"
The witness said one bill he was interested in
and which passed was the sale of the Capron
collection to the government. Another was
what was known as the Emory bill, which also
passed. He said he had appeared once before
the committee on claims in behalf of the Emory
bill
THE Witness MAKES PROTEST.
"What particular branch Of the business did
you promoter" asked Gen. Grosvenor
Il submit to the court" said the witness.
Sam obliged to answer these questions?''
Judge Bradley remarked that if there was
anything in this affecting Mr.. Grosvenors
client the question was proper.
II was trying to find out what sort of q man
the witness is, said Gen. Grosvenor.
He added that he would not press the matter
at this time, but proposed to do it later. He
claimed the right to inquire about ANYTHING
the witness had ever done in his life
Gen. GrOsvener next asked what Mr. Taulbee
was doing here at that time?
The government objected to the question as
irrelevant.
Gen. Grosvenor said that it was relevant in
view of the fact that the defense claimed
Tanlbee was there that day for the purpose Of
killing the defendant
After long discussion the witness was re-
CURED to answer the question and said: Il
don't KNOW" The witness said that when he
met Tauibee in the House restaurant he said to
II