Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-07
A DOUBLE AUTOPSY
Continuing the johnson Murder Case
To-day.
HIS HEART WAS REMOVED
Witnesses Of the Killing Testify to
the, Incidents.
THE DEFENSE'S POSITION

THE DEFENSE'S POSITION
| After The Stars report closed yesterday
in the case of James Andrew Beverly and
Nelson Thurston, charged with the murder
of Charles E. Johnson on February 5, some
important testimony was given for the
government 20 sustain its contention that
the fatal blow was struck by Beverly, who
was urged on by Thurston.
In opening for the defense. Mr.. Taylor
said that their claim was that the murder
was committed by some other than BeT-
erly. Beverly, he said, was in the party,
which broke up in a row early on the
morning of February 5. He was set upon
by Johnson, as a result of disagreement
over a bottle of gin, and that the first
blood was drawn from Beverly, who was
stabbed in the right breast by some mem
Der of the party in the fracas. Seeing that
Beverly was getting The worst of it. Thurs
ton spranS In with a Ratchet, with which
to protect himself, but the evidence would
snow, Mr.. Taylor claimed, that the fatal
wound could not have been committed with
any such weapon.
The first witness called for the govern
menf was DIR. D. s. Lamb, pathologist of
the Army Medical Museum. who performed
an autopsy on the body of johnson the day
after the killing. DR.. Lamb said that death
was caused by puncture of the right ven
tricle, made by the thrust of some long
sharp instrument, like knife. which pene-
trated the body in the neigfiborhood of the
fourth rib. 1t was impossible to probe the
wound to the end. because the cartilage
between the ribs had closed in. When the
body was opened. however, 1T was seen
that the puncture in the ventricle and the
hole in the left breast were made by the
same weapon. The heart and a part of the
ysaI md IN ol.nh oI
Yesterdny's Testimony.
Washington B. Williams, who lives in
Pomeroy street, near the scene of the af-
fray, testified that during that night he
heard noise under his window. With his
wife. he went to the door, where they
heard Johnson say to Beverly several times
| that Beverly had a knife, and that he was
afraid of him. In reply Beverly said that
he had been stabbed by Frank Holiday
one of the colored men in the crowd. John
son appeared to be afraid of Beverly, and
witness testified that a little later he saw
him running toward 18th street, pursued by
Beverly. The latter overlook Johnson near
9TH street, and here. the witness testified,
he saw Beverly stab Johnson. Thurston
was present and gave Beverly a Ratchet,
| urging him to kill Johnson.
Williams wife, MIS-. Clara Williams, gave
some corroborative. testimony, and Robt.
H. Lucas. who. was in Thurston's shop at
one asked that the door be clos ed. Johnson
said that 1t should not be closed while he
was there, because Beverly had knife,
while he was unarmed A little later he
saw the two running toward 7th street.
A colored woman by the name of Lilly
Davis testified that she heard a noise in
the neighborhood of Thurstons shop, and,
looking out of the window, saw Beverly
strike Johnson three or four times with
knife. Beverly had said run, you cow
ard, Johnson" and johnson said, We'll.
you have a knife, and have none"
Policeman George Kelly went to the hos
pital and saw Johnson. who told him about
the ARRAY and on this information he went
out and arrested beverly.
Tho Autopsics.
When the Beverly-Thurston murder case
was resumed before Judge Cole this morn
ing the first witness placed upon the stand
was DIR. GlaZebrook, the deputy coroner
He testified that he made an autopsy upon
the body OF johnson. When he examined
the body he found that the heart and a
part OF the pe:itoneum had been removed
and that partial autopsy had already
Teen MADE. He found in a bottle nearby
heart.
The defense objected to the witness re-
ferring to this as Johnsons heart. and Dr.
Glazebrook then described the wound, much
as Dr. Lamb did yesterday With the
Eeart in the bottle DIR. Glazebrook found a
piece of rib, and this, when he tried the
the body of the dead man. The general
direction Ct the wound in the heart was
| the same as tnat of the external wound on
the body, and the incision in the cartilage
was made 10y the same sort of weapon
| he examined all the other vital functions
| of the body, and found them to be in a
| particularly well-developed state. Two
| small cuts. as yet unhealed We're found on
/ the left arm.
On cross-examnation Dr. Glazebrook said
that he did not know on what authority
the partial autopsy had been made before
| me- as deputy coroner, viewed the remains
| by an operation of modern surgery it
might have been possible to save the mans
| life If complete diagnosis could have
been made in time. The fact that the
cartilage closed up, as it did, was enough
| to deceive skillful surgeon, who would
| naturally have been in doubt as to whether
the heart had been penetrated.
DIR. Williams of the Freedmen's Hospital
testified to the treatment which johnson
received after being brought to the hos
pital He died at the hospital on the morn
ing of February 6. DR.. Lamb called at the
hospital that morning, as was his usual
custom, and performed a partial autopsy
on the body.
DR.. Mitchell OF the hospital staff gave ad-
ditional testimony as to the reception of
the injured man at the hospital and his
trea tment there.
Other Testimony.
Policeman G. L. Yoe testified that ne
knew all the parties involved in the case
and that after the ccroners inquest he
heard Beverly say to Thurston that he had
said nothing about Thurston giving him
Ratchet Thurston told him not to say any
thing about il then; that he would see him
later on.
Lizzie Golden, colored woman, testified
to hearing a quarrel between Beverly and
johnson on the night of the stabbing. john
son said he was afraid Beverly would cut
him, and then started to run toward It'll
street. She Beverly strike Johnson
several times. She heard Thurston tell
Beverly to go After Johnson and ''cut his
- heart cut The two men We're to-
sether after johnson had started toward
the hospital.
This closed the evidence up to the recess
for luncheon.