Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-18
KILLING OF OFFICER SLACK.
Testimony Presented In the Trial Of Meyers
for the Crime.

for the Crime.
Yesterday after The srAR's report closed in
the case OF Meyers on trial for the Killing Of
Policeman Slack, Elmira Meyers. smother daugh-
ter OF the accused. gave corroboratiye testi-
mouy.
DIR. Alex. McWilliams, physician at the jail,
testified as 70 the wounds Meyers had when be
saw him at the jail.
CHAs n. LOCKWOOD.
Chas. Il. Lockwood. reporter. testified that
he wrote the story of the killing as il was
printed in the Post. and corroborated the facts
there stated at the time His testimony corrobo-
rated to some extent that given by Mrs. Slack
yesterday. On cross-exsmination he said that
most Of the story written from a converse
iion with Mrs. Slack, which he took down YER
batim.
Charles Meyers. son of the defendant, re-
cited his remembrance of the story. which was
similar to that given by other member of his
family On cross-examination witness said
he took the pistol from Slack. and when he did
SO 1t wac pointed at his fathers head
ropAY's TESTIMONY.
This morning the trial was resumed. Chas.
II. Martin (of 18th and II streets northeast).
George " Washburn (of the Police COURT.
Isaac Boone, colored. and John Manoni testi-
he'd to the reputation of Slack for violence,
quick temper, &c. Mr.. Msnoni said that Slack
was a ruffan and brute
Dir. Richard sylvester, chief clerk police
Headquarters, was called and produced the
roster of the force, showing that Slack WIS APP
pointed February /, 1850: tried on charges
March "a and charges dismissed: September 80
he was fined $50 for assaulting a prisoner:
June is, lsSs. found guilty on two speciica-
lions and reprimanded.
Mr.. Lipscomb proposed to offer a petition
with afhdavits asking that Slack lie removed
from the Bladensburg road beat and from the
force.
The government objected. but the court said
il might be offered
Mr.. Sylvester said that the petition pur-
ported TO be signed by thirty or forty citizens
The court ruled that these facts in detail
we're not admissible and ruled ont all of Mr.
noted
VIM. A. 0'Brien, James Butler, Herman
lhurm and John c. Auth testified TO Stacks
violent temper, &c.
VIM. II. Rollins testified that when he saw
Slack that night be coming out of Movers
yard. Saw the officers hat and stick in Movers
yard, the latter covered with blood, and Movers
was then lying against the fence and il
looked like some one had poured bucket OF
blood on his head. Stacks reputation for be
ing violent, cruel, quick-tempered man was
very bad.
On cross-examination witness said he met
Slack right at the gate and he law over on wit
ness breast. saying: ''Ob, Charley. I'm gone up,
I'm gone up" When he had assisted Slack 10
his house he went into Meyers yard and Meyers
was there on the back porch. The policemen
Brown and Nannel were not there then. He
did no. say at the coroners inquest that he
found the knife.
THE DEFENDANTS STORY
The defendant was called and sworn and tes-
titled that he had lived on Benning road six
years and thirty years in the District: had a
wife. three daughters and a son: had engaged
IN buichering till April wear ago and then
went to driving a stage from 18th street 10 Ben
nIng.
The day in question he had his stage out; he
knew Stacks reputation .retty well; had been |
told by people TO watch out for him. and had |
seen him make an arrest and use his club. He
reached home that night at nearly II O'Clock. 1
unlocked has horses and put them in the stable /
took of the harness and went TO eeding them. /
While feeding one of the horses kicked HIM /
and he exclaimed: "D-n this horse; / wish L 4
had never seen him. Slack had no business TO 1
recommend il. Next he heard, Here Movers /
keep quiet over there" lie did not know that \
Slack was there till that time, and
am not talking to you" Slack said. eff 4
hadn't this uniform on | would beat you WE'LL
and witness said, Go in the house and beat |
your own people," Slack said. II believe I'll |
do II anyhow and witness went on feeding
ard went up TO the back porch near the
ground which he picked up to put away and
placed 1t on the fence.
SACKS ATTACK
He then went to the front gate to close IL and |
looked down to get a piece of rope. when 1
Slack grabbed him and struck him over the |
head, exclaiming, I've got you nowI' and he /
showed the scar. He continued his blows and |
broke his arm. which he did not believe would /
get right again. He pressed him back
aya rpaf I.
back he got the knife and he struck at
him. What more could l dor said wit
ness, 'for that man was beating me up. |
The blows he gave me were enough /
to kill ten cattle. He left me living there and /
went away leaving him wing there" After he /
came 20 he went TO look for his hat and he got |
up when he saw Slack coming in and |
he told him not to come in, and he
Slack put the pistol before HIM and
1t snapped and then they clinched,
and he did not know what else happened till
some of his people took him 10 the pump 10
wash of. He could not tell how many blows
or wounds he received.
He struck forty or fifty times and he
used the knife to defend his own life. Witness
was in his forty-ninth year.
CRoss-ExAMIyKD.
On cross-examination Myers repeated what
he said when the horse kicked him and at the
time he said Slack had no business to recon-
menu tilat morse 10 MIN. ne had not seen Black.
He had said % the horse" Slack told
him to keep still"
After recess the counsel for defense asked
that Stacks pistol and baton be produced, and
in was found that they in court.
The cross-eNamination of the defendant,
Meyers, continued. and he said witness
back was to Slack when he came up and said:
I've got you. and he said nothing about ar
resting him. He admitted that his
son had been arrested for threats
Defendant asked if Slack and Officer Eier
had not once arrested his son and replied
that he had heard so. He was then asked
II he had not threatened TO cut Eler's
heart out for arresting his son, and
witness empha.ically replied "No.'' and
also denied that he had been charged with
threats, but had once been taken 20 the Police
Court for threats of violence to his wife and a
paper read to him when Mr. Darlington
told him to go home.
Stacks RECORD. /
M Washburn of the Police Court was called
rs to the records. showing the arrest of Slack,
ard he read cases where he was fined SIS in one
instance and $50 in another several years ago.
On cross-examination witness said he had no |
personal knowledge of Slack being before the
court except in one case, which dismissed.
Twice he had been charged with assault with
intent to kill-twice since he had been on the
force and one case was dismissed.
The defense here moved that all the testi-
mony drawn out on the crosse xeriination Of
Meyers In relation TO his drunkenness. assault
and threats to his family, &c, be taken from