Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-11
THE DEFENSE OPENS
limitations That Jones Will Be Charged
With Patterson's Murder.
Close of the Evidence for the Prose-
cutiOn-A Description of the
Fatal ARRAY.

The trial Of Henry Dasher and Casey
Brooks, two young colored men, for the
murder of Thomas Patterson, also colored,
on the Sd of March last, was resumed be-
fore Judge Cole in Criminal Court No.
this Forming. The case for the government
was closed shortly before noon.
After The Stars report of the case con-
cluded yesterday afternoon DR.. Lincoln
Johr son testified that he attended Patter-
son at the Emergency Hospital, and DR.. E.
NJ. Schaeffer stated that he made post
norton examination of the body of Pat
terson, saying that death resulted from
peritOritis, caused by blows on the stom-
ach. Wounds on the head were also dis
covered. Patterson died March IL, eight
days after he was assaulted. James A.
Coleman, James Robinson, Fannie Butcher,
Nettie jackson, Charles Armstead and Po-
licemen Frank NJ. Helan and John l.. Kill
mSrtin were examined before the adjourn
ment of the trial for the day, at O'Clock,
but their testimony did not differ materially
from that given by the witnesses mention
ed in yesterdays Star. The testimony of
these witnesses, the policemen. excepted,
the latter merely testifying to the arrest of
the PARTIES. tended to show that Patterson
was struck down by Brooks or George
Jones' and that he was kicked while down
by Dasher and Brooks.
Description.
The first witness called this morning was
Arthur Clayton, a young colored man, who
stated that he was doing time in Jail for
carrying concealed weapons. He saw
Brooks and Patterson in the saloon, Brooks
complaining that Patterson had stepped on
his feet. Subsequently he saw Patterson
come out of the saloon and saw Jones
strike him with a brick, staggering him.
Then he saw Brooks run up to Patterson
and knock him down with a blow of the
inst While down, Patterson was kicked or
kicked at by both Brooks and Dasher.
Aeneas Collins. white man, in whose
saloon the difficulty between Brooks and
Patterson began, testified that there was a
slight misunderstanding in the saloon be-
tween the two men, but that it was patched
Up and all drank together. The men short
ly afterward left the saloon. What sub
sequently transpired witness knew only
by hearsay.
Policeman Helan was recalled and ex-
planned that he picked up Patterson about
twenty five feet from the door of the saloon.
There was gas light near by, but just
where the man was found 1t was quite
dark.
Lay 1t on Jones.
At this point District Attorney Birney an
nounced that the prosecution rested its
case, and Mr.. Thos. l.. Jones opened the
case to the jury on behalf of the defense.
The defense, said Mr.. Jones, would en-
deavor to show that neither Brooks nor
Dasher was guilty of numbering Patterson,
intimating that George Jones, the man VINO
was jointly indicted with Brooks and
Dasher, but who escaped, was the party
really responsible for Patterson's death.
Policeman Helan the first witness
called by the defense. He stated that ne
took Dasher to the Emergency Hospital to
be confronted by Patterson. The witness
was asked what then transpired, but,
upon an objection by the district attorney
the question was ruled out. Ex-Congress-
man John VI. LdngstOn of counsel for the
defendant explained that the object of the
question was to get the dying declaration of
Patterson before the jury. Judge Cole re-
fused to allow the question, holding that no
foundation for the dying declaration had
been laid. After stating that Patterson
made no statement to him as to his ex-
pectancy of death, the examination Of Of
ncer Helan was discontinued until later on
Lordle Washington a young colored man.
teStllIed that ne saw parties in the saloon
qGarrellng, and saw some unknown man
Knock Patterson down with q brick or
stone. He did not, however see either
Brooks or Dasher touch Patterson
EllJah Blake and John Jackson, also COL
ored, gave similar testimony, stating hat
they did not know Brooks and that Dasher
was with them and had nothing to do with
the assault, 50 far as they saw.
me tr1al was in progress when The Stars
report closed this afternoon.