Evening star., 1895-10-23
FOURTH OF JULY MURDER
Trial Begun Of John Harris for Killing
Matthew Spruel.
Various Witnesses Testify as to the
ShOoting-Harris' Counsel Claims
He Acted In Self-Dcfense.

The trial of John, alias Patsey, Harris.
the young colored man who shot and killed
Matthew Spruell. also colored, on the 4th of
last July, was resumed before Judge Cole
in Criminal Court No. l this morning, a
large crowd being in attendance. When the
trial was adjourned yesterday the eleven
men remaining in the box were subject to
four challenges on the part of the govern
inent and thirteen on the part of the de-
fer se
Thirty-f1ve talesmen were summoned for
today, from which selections were to be
made to complete the jury. OF these, Jo-
seph Miller and Chas. NJ. Campbell were ex-
cused because of conscientious scruples
against capital punishment: John G. Goines
and Wiley H. Jordan were challenged by
the defense, and Edward c. Phillips, Chas.
A. krause and Jos. c. Jackson were ac-
cepted. Both sides then stated that they
were satisfied with the twelve men in the
box, and they were sworn as the jury. as
follows: Jos. w. Hooper, Frank Wells,
Thos. d. Waters, Joseph Harris, Jos. s..
Haas. Casius M. Beck, Patrick Phillips, l..
Willard Harmon, VIM. E. Cruit, Edward
c. Phillips. Chas.- A. Krause and Jos. c..
Jackson.
The Opening Address.
On behalf of the government, District At
torney Brney's assistant, Mr.. John E. Las
Key, opered the case to the jury, explain
ing that they would be beset with no con-
Ectlng doubts in the case, as from the gov
ernments standpoint the case was one of
the clearest instances of premeditated mur-
der possible. The government would show
said Mr. Laskey, that Harris came home on
the afternoon of the day in question slight
ly intoxicated. He became involved in an
alteration with Spruell, and left the lat
ter's little barber shop, in the house OH 33d
street where they lived. threatening the
life of Spruell.
A pistol was taken from Harris and
thrown into the yard, but he found 1t a
few moments later. and returned with It
starting after Spruell The latter ran, and
running into house on 35th street, ran uI
the stairs Harris followed closely after
hitting SprueI in the abdomen. He fell In
his tracks, dying in few minutes.
That Harris did just what he threatened
said Mr.. Laskey. would appear from the tes.
timony of witnesses, who would state tna'
Harris before pursuing Spruell through
the streer had applied an insulting epithe'
to him, saying that he would do him.
What the Defense Claims.
Mr.. c. L. Frailey, of counsel for the de-
fense, explained to the jury that the de-
fense would be that of self-defense and
| they would also contend that Harris could
in no event be guilty of graver offense
than manslaughter. Witnesses for the de-
fense, said Mr.. Frailey would testify to an
alteration between the men, In Whcn
Spruell made a movement, razor in hand
toward Harris. While 1t was true that
Harris subsequently pursued Spruei
| through the street and into the house
" here the latter was killed, Spruell turned
| upon Harris on the steps, when the latter
| believing that his life was in danger, free
| the fatal shot.
What the Witnesses Said.