Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-02
THE MURDER OF MR.. YOUNG.
Hardy, Norris and CANT Held for the Action
of the Grand Jury.

This morning George Henry Hardy. Edward
Norris and William Henry Cant, the three
young men charged with the murder Of Mr.
Peter H. Young on Capitol Hill the night of
July p, were brought to police headquarters,
where their measurements were taken, and they
were then taken to a photograph gallery
and their photos added to the roGues' gallery.
Later they were taken to the Police Court and
locked up for hearing. During the time they
were locked in the cells below they occupied
the time by singing and dancing, displaying the
utmost Indifference to their situation.
BROUGHT INTO COURT.
1t was after l o'clock when the prisoners were
brought into court FOR examination. Mr. T. F.
Taylor appeared for Hardy and waived an ex-
animation. Mr.. John B. O'Neill appeared for
Norris and Mr. Z. VI. Hewlett for Cant.
DR.. +. VI. Schaeffer the deputy coroner. was
the first witness called, who testified that he
made post-mortem examination of the body
and that death resulted from fracture of the
skull.
ALICE THOMAS IDENTIFIES HARDY AND NORRIS.
Alice Thomas, the little colored girl who wit
missed the assault testified that on the night of
June % she left friends at Sd and A streets.
She saw Mr. Young walking in the
middle of the street. followed
by two boys. She then described
the assault, as has been heretofore printed in
The STAR. She then looked around the room
and identified Hardy end Norris as The two boys
who followed and struck the murdered man.
TESTIMONY AS 10 CANT.
Charles Mitchell, alias "Icy'' Mitchell, a
young colored boy, testified that he knew
Cant and had conversation with him on
the night following the murder. He met
him at the fying horses, and Cant
asked him if he had heard anything.
He told him that he had heard of the muir
der, when Cant said he scared, but would
not say why. One time Giant asked him to help
to rob Mr. Young. but he refused.
William Berry, another colored boy, testified
that he knew Cant, and several months ago
Cant came 10 him and asked him to help killing
and robbing Mr.. Young, although he did nos at
the time know it was to be 1Ir. Young
Daniel Bell. one-legged young colored man.
said he knew Cant. and that some months ago
Cant came to him and told him how lot of
money could be made by robbing Mr Young.
Another time Cant and lobe Thomas, now
in the penitentiary. told him that they were
just about to do Mr.. Young when they were
frightened off.
WHAT OFFICER KRAEMER HEARD.
Officer J. s. Kraemer vino had worked up
the case, was called for the purpose OF detailing
a conversation at the fifth precinct between
room he heard Hardy crv out: Morris, when
you go to court, YOU swear that Waters struck
the blow" Norris said: ''All right, and We will
get : % Witnesses"
Sergt. Joseph Acton testified that he ques-
toned tine boys at the station the following
Sunday morning, and Hardy admitted the thing
and said that if it had not been for Cant tho
thing would never have occurred. CANT said
nothing in reply.
No cross-eXaInination of the witnesses was
made, and at the close of Sergt.
Acton's testimony Mr. Hewlett asked for the
discharge of his client, claiming that testi-
mony had been offered to connect Cant with
the crime. and 5lr. O'Ne:u made a similar re-
quest on behalf of Norris.
ALL THREE HELD.
Judge Miller said that it was not necessary to
further discuss the case and that a case suf-
ficiently strong to hold the defendants for the
action of the grand jury had been made out
The three boys were accordingly committed
without bail, and Chas. Mitchell was committed
as a witness il default Of $500 bonds.
The Origin of Atmos pheric Electricity.
From the New Haven PAlla dium.
In Vienna periodical are published details
Of experiments by the scientist Larroque as to
the origin of atmospheric electricity.
The gin of local :hunderst orms in summer
heated by the suns rays there arises an active
evaporation, and, in consequence, strong as
cending current of air. saturated with watery
vapor. On entering the higher and colder re-
gions Of the atmosphere the watery yapor is
condensed, and the heat thus liberated acceler-
stes the upward current. The small drops are
rapidly borne upward TO a considerable height.
and as result of friction become charged with
positive electricity. while the surroundings are
negatively electric. The ascent OF the water
drops continues until their weight is sufficient
to overcome the pressure of the ascending cur
rent of air.
As this process ia continuous for long periods
the frequently great number Of lightning dis
charges is not to be wondered az. I: may also
be remarked that Hopes hypothesis. that the
planting Of forests would tend to moderate
electric conditions. is borne out by Bezold's
observations, that deforested or swafnpy lands
are most favorable to the generation of cleo
trio disturbances. In the first place the forest
sh tiers the floor from the suns rays arrests
the evaporation due TO heated surface and
consequently, the formation of ascending
currents of vapor-laden air. which are pre-
cise!y the phenomena which the conditions of
deforested or swampy lands are designed to
promote.
reconciliation between The respective fol-
lowers of the evaporation and friction theories
has been effected by FiTnin Iarroque. He
points out that. i'll order 20 trace atmospheric
electricity to its source it is useless to speculate
on whe Their il would be generated By the evap-
Grafton of pure distilled water carefully guarded
from friction. There IL nothing like this in
nature 10 inve9tigate; our proper course is
rather 10 study evaporation under the condi-
tons most nearly resembling those which at
tend the process of evaporation in nature.
In so far ss concerns the surface OF the dry
land the surface water pene trates to a greater
or less extent into the sub-soi strata. Sim
ilariv the strata are penetrated by the warmth
of the suns rays. L. follows, then. that in
notably damp earth vapor is formed. not
merely at the earth's surface, but also at
greater or less depths below it, and cannot es-
cape into the air until after its passage through
strata of prescribed thickness. One need
hardly remark that in this way the yapOr has
abundant opportunity for friction. And here
two possibilities have to be kept in Iuind:
% The evaroporation OF water follows as a
simple consequence OF pure mechanical sep
aration of the water from neutral earthly sub
stance; or ~. % u separation of the water
from chemical! combinations. II IS conso-
quently matter for experiment whether the
vapor ;hus evolved is electric or no.
IarroqUe experimental under both OF these
conditions and in both instance fond positive
evidence of the presence Of electricity in the
condens ed yapor. He holds it demonstrated
that water liberated by evaporation from chem
ical combinations is electric and that water
eyaporated from the ocean equally electric
Why China Has No Telegraph Poles.