Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-05-11

he could have come alone and brought
about reconciliation. The prisoner
was Mt the Crossman woman's house on
the night preceding the shooting, and
on the next day started from the Ell
Dorado House for,Duttons barber shop
on Union street. When he arrived at
Lee street, however, he changed his
mind and went to "Cappy's'' house
again. The woman took him to the
yard and told him of Smiths threats
and his boasts concerning the female
portion of his family. "Cappy" had
told him Smith had threatened to kill
both her and the prisoner-he believed
her words were ''before morning" He
then went home and called his sister
Julia and his married sister, Mrs. Ro-
land, aside asked Julia ifwhat Smith
had said was true. At first his sister
was 10th to tell, but later she confessed
all. After that prisoner said he was
not himself. He started down toward
the wharf, but didn't remember going
out on the wharf He saw John Nc
Gahey and borrowed pistol from him:
He didn't examine the weapon, and
didn't know whether or not 1T was
loaded, when shown the pistol he used
in killing Smith he couldn't recognize
it, Subsequently he went in Mr.: U.
Brill's restaurant, drank glass OF beer
and went back to the Crossman wo-
mans house, probably about eight
o'clock in the evening, and had another
interview with her. Later he went to
the Ell Dorado House, after which his
mind seemed to have become may. He
didn't know who he met, and upon
reaching the Ell Dorado House his part
ner, Mr.. Harrison, asked him what was
the matter, seeing he was weeping. lie
had made every effort to get Harrison
here, but had failed. The prisoner said
he remembered talking to Mr.. Orrison
and the nature of the business discussed,
but had no recollection Of the details.
He didn't remember entering Mr.. l..
Brill's house, Mr.. Braxton Smiths or
Mr.. Schwab's, as had been attested in
the evidence. He left off talking with
Orrison for the purpose of going to
Gaines saloon for whisky punch. He
didn't recognize the deceased nor Fora
Hill on the corner When he fired he
did SO through fear, having been ter
rorized by Smith, and having in his
mind the recollection of what the latter
had said about his sister and mother
He had kept the latter out of the case
at the last trial for the reason that he
was averse to having the female men,
bers of his family brought into it; now
it couldn't be helped The cross-ex;
animation to which Phillips was sub
iectpd was severe. In answer to the
question why he omitted tC state in the
first trial that he went home after his
first visit to the Crossman woman's
house and interviewed his sister, he said
he had forgotten that important fact.
After having procured the pistol he
returned to Cappy's house in order to
be sure he had heard Alright concerning
Smiths boasts and threats. When
asked who told him Smith had threat
ened him, he replied Mr.. Mckinney,
Billy Hayes (who now says he knows
nothing about the alleged threats and
others whose names he couldn'tremem-
Der, not having paid particular atten-
ton to them. When he reached the
corner on which Hill and Smith were
standing on the night of the shooting he
exclaimed, "George Smith !" and re-
membered nothing else, save that when
he saw Lieut.. Smith he said Here,
James, He was positive the Lieuten-
ant never put his hand on him. Officer
Taylor took him in charge and locked
him up. He had no recollection after
having reached the station house of
saying George Smith is dead; now |
can go to sleep" nor of asserting he
had shot Smith in self.defense.
After recess the prosecution present
ed several witnesses in rebuttal. among
them the widow of Geo S. Smith.