Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-19
BATTLE MINOR CASE
The Assailants Of Policeman Greer on
Trial
Two Sides to Sthe Case Ms Developed
by Witnesse s-Adjourned I'm
Nd
til Tomorrow.

Battle Minor; the well-known colored
man Of this city, and his son, Clarence
Minor, were today placed On trial before
Judge Cox in Criminal Court No. 2, charged
with assault with intent to kill Policeman
George w. Greer June 25 last. The case -
fresh in the minds of the public, the alleged
assault having caused somewhat OF a SEN
sation at the time, the arrest being folloW-
ed by scene that resembled riot.
The prosecution charged that about
o'clock on the evening of the date men
toned Battle Minor was driving his morse
and wagon at a rapid rate up and down
18th street near street. Policeman Greer
stopped the horse and placed Battle Minor
under arrest. The latter struck the police
man with a whip ard they clinched. The
prisoner was finally taken to Ed. Gardeners
grocery store, where Battle Minor and his
son made combined assault on Greer
crushing his ribs and skull and infictms
other serious injuries During the fight. so
it was claimed, crowd of colored people
congregated about the store and hurled
bricks. beer bottles and other articles at
the policeman. Clarence Minor had almost
succeeded in taking Greer's pistol from him
when patrol wagon arrived and the as
sailants fed.
The defense is to the effect that the
charge trumped up to cover brutal
and wholly unprovcked assault by Police
man Greer on the Minors According 10
their story, Battle Minor was drlVing toief.
ably fast to get to feed store before IL
closed. Greer rushed out from the side
walk. dragged Battle Minor from the wag-
on and struck him several times. making
two big cuts on his head. Clarence Minor.
who went to the assistance or MS father,
was also brutality assaulted.
Case Opened.
When the case was called this morning
hat fha txjfn n q x
Guided, and for a moment it seemed as
though the room would be cleared, those
who were summoned to testify numbering
thirty or forty persons. Assistant District
Attorney Tracy l.. Jeffords prosecuted.
while Mr.. Thomas c. Taylor and Mr.. r. +.
Johnson appeared for the defendants
George W. Greer, the assaulted ponce
man. was the first witness. and he stated
the version of the affair outlined in the
foregoing. During the cross-examination
of the policeman matters grew rather m
teresting, and several lively tits occurred
between Mr.. Jeffords and Mr. Taylor. At
one point Mr.. Taylor asked the witness:
Ibid Battle Minor walk to the store on
his feet?'
why don't YOU ask If he walked on his
head?" INTERCEPTED Mr.. Jeffords.
IF you don't propose to try this case
like a gentleman I'll get out" angrily re-
piled Mr.. Taylor.
The cross-eXar, ination of Policeman
Greer brought out that he had been before
the police trial board several times and
once answered q charge in the Police
Court. tyIssG
E. A. Steeples, the next witness. saw the
arrest made ana endeavored to get Greer's
pistol out of his pocket for him. During
the melee the witness was kicked in the
stomach and doubled up He saw s ciar r
stone. and heard him say. Now is the
time to kill the white - -"
Professor Charles Monroe Of Columbian
University, who Resides at ITO Riggs
street, stated that he reached the scene of
the fight after it was over. He described
matters as they then stood and remarked
that the policeman appeared to be in better
condition than sthe colored man.
c. d. Sigsbee gave testimony similar to
that of Professor Monroe. and next Miss
Helen Fowler Of the Post Office Depart
ment told what she knew Of the fight in
an intensely Interesting and at times anus
ing manner. old
gSnw II All.
81 saw Battle Minor driving rapidly down
the street. beating his horse" said Miss
Fowler soon thereafter some one told ME
there was a murder down at the corner.
rushed down there and saw the men beat
ing Mr.. Greer. 1 turned to a number of
white men in the crowd and told them to
help the officer, but they wouldn't make
move, and l was ashamed of them. tried
to get into the store and help the officer.
but there were about 500 people behind me-
throwing bricks and stones. ard realized
that 1 couldn't do much with my bare
hands. then rushed back to my house. at
18th street and Oregon avenue. and got a
pistol. 1 returned to the fight, but it was
over then"
And you got that pistol to help kill a
colored man." said Attorney Taylor.
II didn't-that's false Indignantly re-
piled Miss Fowler.
what do you keep pistol for?" was the
next question.
ln nd
can't afford to employ a watchman-Ive
got two pistols"
The spectators snickered, and Miss
Fowler left the stand.
The Riot.
Alfred NJ. Fuller testified that he saw the
Minors driving up and down the street fu-
riously and at the same time they were
shouting loudly. Soon thereafter 200 or 800
people, mostly colored, assembled about the
grocery store at the corner the majority Of
them crying: xiii the policeman" Wit
ness went to the assistance of Greer, and
found both the officer and Battle Minor
lying down, apparently exhausted. Minor
was murmuring: Pm dying, I'm dying
W. s. Hardisty reached the scene just as
flocking to the corner like bees from hive
so to speak, said Mr.. Hardisty.
Like fieas out of what?" asked Attorney
Taylor.
Like bees out of hive, 1 said"
"Did you say f1eas or bees" next queried
Mr.. Taylor.
Bees"
''Oh thought you said f1eas."
He didn't He said bees" put in Mr..
Jeffords
DIR. ]. R. L. Hardisty and w. P. Davis
stated incidents relating to the fight, and
recess was then taken.
After Recess.
After recess the prosecution continued its
case. DR.. Jas. Nov. Mackall. George w.
Greed and several others gave testimony
tt at did not differ materially from that of
the other witnesses for the prosecution
Then Frederick Henderson, colored. who Is
employed at Gardeners store, stated the t
when Battle Minor was placed under ar
rest by Greer, the former handed the reins
to his son. laid down his whip and descend
ed. The policeman then struck him over
the head twice with his club Witness at
this point hid himself in the rear of the
store and did not again appear until the
trouble was oyer.
Lon Godfrey also saw the beginning of
the trouble. but then removed himself from