Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-03-24

|
WALTER SMITH SAID so.
81 told Captain Francis and Sergeant
Chambers that Smith was the man that
had the chair. / told them that Walter
| Smith told me himself that he did it
that's how l know"
Here the witness explained to the
| jury how unwillingly he gave his testi-
mony about his friend, but he promised
to tell the officers when he reached the
station who had struck Mcbride.
81 sent down for my coat" Johnson
continued, "becausc Berger was holla-
ing 'policep and didn't want to be ar
rested. He had told me not to go into
his place. ! had often been there with
Walter Smith. | asked Mcdonnell to
see if Mcbride was hurt.
"At Second and French streets was
| told more about the affair by Walter
Smith. He (McBride) is lying down l
said, what's the matter with hint?
"Sinith said, L knocked him down
with chair.
TIE POSITION MAPPED OUT.
Here former witness, Frank Green
was recalled for the purpose of describ-
ing and defining exactly the position of
| fatal blow was struck.
In reply to questions from Foreman
| Quinn the witness said "Johnson was
in front--Smith walked up and struck
Mcbride on the left temple. cannot
say that Mcbride saw the man that hit
him."
Here Foreman Quinn drew young
Green's attention to the table at which
he QUINN sat.
Surprising the table which was in
front of Mr.. Quinn, its length Chat is
the table in the city halD parallel to his
| shoulders, it was ascertained from the
witness that Mcbride was at the left
corner next Mr. Quinn, Smith at the
right corner, and Green stood at the
outer (next the audience) corner
diagonally from Smith.
To define Johnson's position the wit
ness continued, Mcbride had hold Of
Johnson's arm talking to him. johnson
was leaning back to the wall"
Walter Lowden, aged II, the next
witness, knew nothing of his own
personal knowledge, and was therefore
dismissed.
| Warren Lackey, aged II, living at
| NO. 4O7 Market street, was in the pool
room but not at the time Mcbride was
struck. lie thought from the way they
were talking row would come ont of
il. He went up stairs and when he
came down again man was sitting
down vomiting. They had all been
drinking.
William Roberts, aged 16, living at
No. 506 Market street saw Green and
johnson sparring. He was not there
when Mcbride was knocked down.
After Mcbride was knocked down and
while he was sitting on the chair the
witness thought he saw Mcdonnell and
Hale playing pool. He was certain
Green was standing around the pool
table.
| Police Captain Theodore Francis was
the next witness. He detailed the
whole story as already given OF the ar
rest of those implicated in the tragedy.
In addition when at the house No. 313
Adams street, he was told by Green that
1t was not johnson who hit Mcbride,
but someone else. He met Detective
Witsil and all went to Johnson's house.
Mr. Witsil and Sergeant Ingram went
to arrest the others. Captain Francis
showed that johnson, in the chiefs
room, said that Walter Smith was a
friend of his and he did not like to tell
about him. The witness described how
Smith was affected when he heard Of
McBride's death. He staggered back in
dismay. He brought Green to Smiths
cell and he Immediately identified him
as the dead mans assailant.
| Sergeant Chambers, who made arrests
that night with Captain Francis, cor
roborated the latter entirely. When the
question, "Who did it p was put to
johnson he replied, "Walter Smith"
| Detective Walter Witsil stated he had
nothing more to add to what the officers
had testified. His evidence was identi-
cal.
Proprietor Berger was recalled and
stated that Walter Smith came habitually
20 his place. He was one of his quietest
VISITORS No one ever behaved better
He had very little to say. He generally
took up newspaper to read.
This closed the evidence, which was
all through at 5.13 o'clock.
The coroner then requested the audi
ence to leave the chamber.
THE VERDICT.
The jury quickly returned the fol-
lowing yerdict
Rtsoioca, That John i. Mcbride came to
his death by blow from a chair in the
hands of Walter Smith, causing conclls-
sion Of the brain, said assault taking place
while in the room of William Berger, on
French street between Front and Second,
on the evening of March 18th, 1892, be-
tween and o'clock.
The jury was pollod on the verdict.
On the recommendation of the Jury
the following were held as witnesses in
$500 bail each; Frank Heal, Frank
Green, William Roberts, William Nc
Council and Edward Johnson.
WALTER SMITHS CHARACTER.
Walter Smith is IS years of age. He
is u respectable looking, well-dressed
young man. He has been working as a
groccrs clerk for George Gray who told
Sergeant Chambers on Saturday last
that he is as good and industrious a boy
as he ever employed. His father is a
bartender at Bucks, Front and Walnut
streets.