The evening times., 1895-11-20
MINOR CASE is CLOSING
Testimony All in Concerning the
Assault Upon Policeman Greer.
Witnesses for Defendants Were Not
Able TO Say Much In Their Favor.
Arguments of Counsel.

The trial OF Battle Minor and his son
| Clarence for the assault upon Officer
| Greer was resumed before Justice Cox
| In criminal court No. this morning. The
| first witness called was DIR. Walter Cameron,
police surgeon, who attended to Greer &
wounds prior to his being sent to Garfield
Hospital. Dir. Cameron discovered no
injuries to the officers back, but dressed
scalp wounds
W. H. Coleman. the last witness for the
prosecution, described the incidents prior
| to the arrest, the Minors being seen driving
| through the streets at an unusual speed
| and the officer approached. Coleman was
| on his bicycle, and, believing there would be
trouble, lie summoned the patrol wagon
by telephone.
When he next appeared upon the scene the
afGray was transferred to the store. where
| witness discovered Officer Greer and the
| two Minors on the floor, the former under
meath. Upon lis entrance the eofficerand his
alleged assahants arose, and Greer drew
his revolver. Witness said the officer
and the elder Minor were covered with
blood and witness advised the officer to
shoot if they again attacked him. No other
witnesses were then in the store.
1ue lusiHudtlOu by NouhsCA thdt tuS WIZ
ness was prejudiced was resented by
Coleman.
James Herd, Walter Hison, Bessie Herd,
Johu Ransom, Alferetta Minor and Hen
dersou Hargrave were the first witnesses
for the defense. The evidence tended to
show that Officer Greer was the aggressor.
Clarence Minor, one of the defendants,
was placed in the witness box and rapidly
nara ted the circumstances. He said his
Fat tnV frnv tInr
evening in question, when the officer grab
bed him, struck him with his billy, aud
when he fell under the blow struck him q
second time after he reached the ground.
The witness then interposed, when the Off
Ger cursed him aud said to get away or he
would kill him.
He admitted having struck Greer with q
cane, but not until after the officer bad
first struck at him. He denied that he and
his father had downed the officer in the
store, and when Greer drew bis revolver
he ran out. A lady, he said, was running
up the street toward the store with a re-
volver in her hand and calling to the GRO wd
to kill the niggers.
He denied the statements of each of the
preceding witnesses, who had previously
testified to his father having struck the
officer, and didn't know how Greer got
hurt. This closed the testimony.
Justice Cox then said that if these two
men were resisting lawful arrest with
the intention of escaping from Gus
tody, and in doing so, assaulted the Off
Ger, they were guilty of an offense. If
assault was made with intent to kill,
which was question of fact for the jury
to determine, they should be SO held. II,
however. they were engaged in reasonable
defense against a brutal assault by the
officer, they were not guilty under the
Indictment
Assistant United States Attorney Tracy
L. JeffOrds addressed the jury to Present
the Governments case.
In his argument TO the jury uunsel for
the defense gave Officer Greer decidedly
interesting roast. As in the opening. so
in the closing, the act OF the policeman
was characterized a s a brutal, unwarranted
assault. without palliation or excuse.
The. administration of police affairs was
also adyerted to and a strong appeal made
for the release of the prisoners.
Mr.. Jpffords. for the Government made
an exhaustive review of the case, Ding over
the ground thoroughly.
The court then delivered his charge and
the Jury retired.