The evening world., 1892-02-06
tx RA
2 O'CLOCK.
WEBSTER TO Be TR|EO FEB. Il.
He Killed Charles Goodwin, Who
Insulted Evelyn Granville
Indicted for Murder. He Has Lain In
tho Tombs Since August.

Burton {. Webster, gambler and book.
maker. charged with the crime Of MURDER IN
the nrst degree, who has been prisoner In
the Tombs since Aug. :, 1891, is At last to b
put on trial.
The case Is set down peremptorily for Fri.
day, Feb 10, ana the District.A Attorney
promises that there will be no more delay.
The crime for which Webster was indicted
and imprisoned was the shooting and killing Of
Charles E. Goodwin, jr., In the latter's apart
ments In the Percival, $50 West Forty second
street, on the night OF Aug.2.
At the time Of its occurrence the crime ere.
ated tremendous sensation, not only On 90.
count OF its apparent cold-bloodedness and
elaboration. but because OF the peculiar re.
lations Of the parties involved and the
strange stories which wore floating about in
connection with some Of them, which gave Il
a 1avor Of mystery and which aroused public
curiosity TO the highest pitch.
An important feature Of the case was the
woman at the bottom Of the anair. She was
Evelyn Granville, who had at one time been
An actress but had more recently become no.
torious In other roles At the time OF tho
murder Of Goodwin she was living with Gam
bier Webster, who preferred to coll her hrs
common law wife,"a term which she her!
self admitted accurately described her poss.
tier.
After the shooting Of Goodwin. webster
mysteriously disappeared. He remained In
concealment in this city for nearly week,
despite the Efforts Of the police to find his
hiding place. Z.
Then he surrendered himself Aug :. at the
oflice OF his lawyers, Howe Hummel, and 1t
the Coroner's investigation claimed that hs
had killed Goodwin in self-defense.
1t was said at the time that he might have
avoided arrest Altogether and easily have
escaped from the city to some foreign country,
had 1t not been that some very uncomfortable
rumors had leaked out which nads It uawiss
for those who knew Of his place Of ooa6sai.s
ment 10 attempt to shield him any longer
from justice.
webster is not an INDECENT person. He has
plenty Of money ana many influential friends
among his associates OF the betting ring and
the gambling palaces. Even while he u Ian
gushing In Tombs cell his horses ars vim
ming big stakes at the race tracks almost
every week. ....
The lawyers whom he has retained to Ae-
fend him DO not ordinarily allow their clients
TO finger behind prison bars when the Latter
have the means to push proceedings, and
above all when 80 emphatic denial OF the
charge has been made as in the case Of
Webster.
Yet, during all the six months OF the en-.
forced residence OF the accused man In the
City Prison, no motion has been made BY his
counsel to place his case upon the calendar OF
the court which, 1t is to be presumed, will
eventually try him, nor have the public ON
GERS manifested any disposition TO dispose OF
the case, which has been now hanging nre for
nearly half Q year.
Actress Evelyn Granville, the " common.
law wife," has vanished almost completely
from public view since the day OF the murder
OF Goodwin. Her former associates have
looked for her in vain, and never has she been
seen in any Of her once favorite resorts
About three weeks ago she gave birth TO .
child OF which Webster is said to be the
father. shO visits him in his cell At the
Tombs. and re is very fond OF seeing the
baby.
A. brief recital OF the occurrences ON the
night Of Aug. at the Percival mats will serve
to refresh the public mind with respect to the
facts In this sensational case.
Young Goodwin, who belonged TO Q wealthy
boston family, was living In luxury In
bachelor apartments at the PercivaL Web
ster and Evelyn Granville occupied sBart-
ments on the same floor. The only story Of
The shooting was furnished BY the woman,
which was corrobHated by Webster, after hs
surrendered himself, for Goodwin died shoss
time after he was shot, and was only able 70
gasp out with his dying breath TO the surgeon
at Roosevelt Hospital where he was taken
while still unconscious
"webster struck me. We grappled, and
then he shot me-
Evelyn Granville said to the Coroner the
day after the shooting:
"Gocdwin was living at the Percival wheA
we moved In. From the nrst he tried to at
tract my attention, but never noticed his
advances.
lone night about month ago he came
into my room drunk with another man.
was alone, lying on the sofa.
His friend tried TO get him out, but he
would not go, ard insisted on staying and
said he would like TO make love TO me.
81 screamed and ran out and placed myself
under the protection OF Mr.. Colby, the pro-
prietor, and Mr.. Wade, an actor Of the
Wang company, who lived In the nat.
"The next day Goodwin appeared In the
hallway In his night sEirt, as was about
going down the elevator, and wanted to
apologize. told him TO apologize to my hus-
band.
"He said: Your husband be - After
that he followed ana annoyed me persist
ently.
last evening about 3 O'Clock there was
heavy knock at the door. Ny husband was at
home and got up to open the door. To his
surprise he saw Goodwin standing In the
doorway. The latter also seemed surprised.
-. All, IL is you,' he exclaimed, and at the
same time he struck Mr.. Webster.
"rhen he turned on his heel and ran out,
them and called TO Mr.. Webster TO come back.
lie would not heed me. Mr.. Webster followod
Goodwin into his room.
~ heard heavy crash, but no pistol shot.
Nv husband rushed back TO our room, got his
coat and ieIt the house. fell IN q swo0n."