Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-28
THE TRIAL OF MOORE.


THE TRIAL OF MOORE.
All the Testimony in and the Arguments in
the Case Commenced.
CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE GIVEN BY SOME OF
THE PRrsoNERs-rRAYERs OFFERED BOTH BY THE
PROSECUTION AND The MISUNDERSTANDING
ATTORNEY cLAGErT's SUMMING UP.
The Criminal Court room continued crowded
up to the hour of adjournment yesterday after
noon, the interest being in the trial of the col
ored prisoner, Samuel Moore, charged with the
murder Of Henry Jandorf. alias Solomon. fell
low prisoner, on September % at the Jail by
fracturing his skull with shovel. At the time
of the close of the STARS report the prisoner
had just finished his testimony. o..
Mr.. Benton Russ, the deputy warden, was
called to produce the knife he had taken from
Jandorf after he was struck, but he had mis-
laid it.
ANDERSON soMMERs.
Anderson Sommers, prisoner, testified that
he heard the fuss; saw Moore and !Jandorf run
against each other; heard Jandorf say, do that
once more just once more;" saw Jandorf have
a knife in his hand that morning and heard him
say to Moore: If you bother me again III cut
your d-n neck Off"
On cross-examinaton witness said Jandorf
was at cell SO when he had the knife. Moore
and Jandorf had met three times and jostled
each other before the shovel was used When
Jandorf was struck he saw no knife in his hands.
AFTER the third shove Moore got the shovel and
he raised it with both hands. Jandorf had
pencil and paper in one hand and both arms
we're swinging when the blow was struck.
WHAT WIN. FOX SAID
VIM. Fox, pressman, testified that he saw
the parties butt against each other, and Sam
went and got the shovel. Jandorf said: You
yellow E. of a b, I'll cut your neck off. y
Moore got the shovel and struck him. That
morning saw JandOrf with knife and he said
he used it to sharpen his pencil.
On cross-examination witness said that Moore
got the shovel from the sink and was at his own
cell door when he struck the blow. Just as
Jandorf passed Moore raised the shovel and
struck him. Moore said after he struck jan
dorf: He drawed knife on me-" but witness
saw no knife.
Daniel Munford, prisoner, testified that he
heard Jandorf say that he would cut some one 3
yellow throat and saw him have knife; knew
Jandorf to be man who wouldn't take any
gags.
On cross-examination witness said he didn't
know who Jandorf referred to. Jandorf had
the knife sticking out Of his pocket.
Joseph Butler coloreG. a prisoner testified
that he was with Sam and Jandorf. Jandorf
said IT he did it again he would cut him and
Moore laughed and went on. Witness did not
see the blow struck.
CHARACTER OF THE WITNESSES.
Officer d. C. Lamb testified that he had
known Charles Murphy, alias Burrill, who had
testified for the government, and his reputa-
ton for ruth and veracity was bad.
On crOss-examinatlon witness said that he
heard Burrill's bad character frequently dis
cussed, but not for truth and veracity.
The court ruled the testimony incompetent
Officer r. Z. Werden testified that Burrilrs
reputation for truth and veracity was bad; had
often heard it discussed.
On cross-examination witness said Burrill
had been away several years.
VIM. Smith. colored prisoner, testified that
he had been in jail since April &c last but heard
none of the difficulty. Saw Jandorf after he
was knocked down, and saw Moore standing
between cells and 5.
WANTS TO BRING IN aERTIE. -
Mr.. French offered the testimony of Gertie
Jandorf as to the character of deceased as q
desperate man. Mr.. French stated that he had
endeavored to find the witness, but had failed.
The court Overruled the offer and Mr.. French
noted an exception.
ToDAY's TESTIMONY.
The trial was resumed this morning and Mr..
Benton Russ, deputy warden Of the Jail, was re-
called by the defense and produced the
knife he took from Jandorf after the occur
ence. 1t was an ordinary penknife with one
blade, ~ inches long, and was exhibited to the
jury.
On cross-examination witness said the knife
was closed and in the left pocket of Landlords
pants.
Redirect-Moorc was tied up to the window
for punishment discipline and to protect the
lives of officers and prisoners. He was not
tied for swearing.
This closed the case of the defendant and the
government proceeded with rebutting testi-
mony.
WHAT MOORE ASKED JOHN LAWSON.
John H. Lawson, colored prisoner, testified
that he saw Moore before the blow was struck
and Moore asked him If hit him will you
prisoners swear that he drew knife"
JOHN YOUNG DENIES.
John Young, q colored prisoner, testified that
he did not tell Moore to look out for that
ID Jew: he has got knife. Before the
striking witness heard Moore ask the prisoners
if he struck Jandorf would they swear that
Jandorf had drawn a knife. This was a short
time before the occurrence. -s
John W. Graham was recalled and testified as
to Moore being unruly. ..sf'
This closed the testimony, and at II o'clock
a recess was taken until noon. =
PRAYERS OFFERED on BOTH SIDES.
On resuminS the trial Mr.. French presented
a series Of minor prayers for injuries based on
the theory Of self-defense and as to the weight
to be given to the evidence. The government
objected to several OF them.
The government offered also a series of
prayers based on the question of malice and
threats and absence of any overt act on the
part of Jandorf or some circumstance indica-
five of impending great bodily harm.
These were discussed briefly by counsel and
were passed to the court, who ruled upon them.
Some OF these were granted, others modified
and granted and others refused.
At l o'clock Mr.. Clagett opened the case to
the jury. stating that this q case which was
unlike many Others, in that it took place in the
Jail where the victim Vas with Others
confined as prisoners. a poor, defenseless
creature, not having an opportunity to
retreat and the defendant also a prisoner. The
victim laid in his grave, the prisoner was his
slayer and here (pointlng to the shoveD is the
deadly weapon by which his life was taken. He
then referred to the evidence, the threats made
by Moore and to the plea of self-defense
said:
"Did you ever hear" asked Mr.. Clagett sin
a case of self-defense where the blow was from
behind and the victim fell on his face?" The
| testimony was reviewed at length.
Mr.. French commenced his argument at sc
o'clock. q.
DISTRICT GOVERNMENT.
scuoOr mora