Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-04
NEARING THE END
Closing Up the Testimony in the
Chase Taylor Case.
TEE DEFENDANT CROSS-EIAMINED
He Charges a Crime Against the
Recorder of Deeds.
RECALLING WITH ESS ES

RECALLING WIT n E S s E s
For some reason or other, either because
of Marshal Wilson's strict orders against
the wholesale admission to the courtroom,
or because the people have tired and be-
come disguised with the details Of the
case, the attendance this morning at the
trial of VIM Calvin Chase, indicted for
criminally Hbeling Mr.. c. H. ]. Taylor Of
Kansas. the District recorder OF deeds. was
exceedingly small. Not more than dozen
spectators were present when trial was re-
sumed. AS the trial proceeded, however,
and Mr.. Birney warmed up in his, cross
examination Of the defendant, the crowd
gradually increased, and soon about every
seat was occupied. The preponderance Of
cclored spectators was always maintained
Mr.. Taylor again occupied seat behind
the district attorney, and frequently
prompted Mr.. Birney in his cross-examina-
ton of the defendant.
In resuming his examination today Mr.
Birney asked the defendant If he knew q
beotblack named Andrew Jackson. He said
that he did, and that he met him at the
office of the Bee one evening previous to
the defendants preliminary examination IN
the Police Court The defendant was asked
If jackson had not then told him that 1t
was not true that Jackson and Mr.. Taylor
had visited houses Of i'll fame, and that
Jackson knew nothing against Taylor.
contrary" said the defendant. Jackson
wanted me to pay him for testifying
against Taylor, and refused"
Didn't you agree to pay jackson $!o Tor
against Mr.. Taylorf
NO sir; I never agreed to pay him or
anybody else"
know John c. Gordon. a colored man, never
asked him to testify against Taylor. and.
in fact. never talked with him Gordon
was produced in court, but the defendant
still stated that he neither knew him nor
lad talked with him.
Some Dcnials.
The defendant stated that he knew q
Mrs. Henderson, whose appointment by
Recorder Bruce he had secured. Mrs
Henderson," he explained, lis the lady
about whom Taylor spoke of onceSin an in
sulting way
DIDN'T you get Mr. Taylor to discharge
herr"
Didn't you threaten to BLACKBOARD her
in your paper unless she resigned?"
The defendant was asked If the alleged
insult of Miss -Elwood by Mr.. Johnson in
fore Mr.. Taylor became recorder, but he
denied 1t, and also denied bringing the
matter into the present case in a malicious
manner, SO as to injure Mr.. Taylor. At the
dinner given Minister Smith by Mr.. Tay-
lor, December Z, last, the defendant stated
that he was an invited guest, and admitted
that the late Fred Douglass severely criti-
cised those who had been criticiSing and
opposing Mr. Taylor.
I'm your account of that dinner you re-
ferred to the menu as one which an ordi-
nary street vendor could have supplied.
Was that a criticism of Mr.. Taylor's off,
cial character"
why, yes" replied the defendant. He
had 25-cent 'possum at the dinner, and
referred to 1t. as had right to do
Did you at that time have any informa-
ton about Mr.. Taylor that you didn't have
before?"
A Crime Charged.
mo. SIR" exclaimed the defendant, "for
then learned that Taylor had had per-
formed on Miss Garrett a criminal abor-
tion'
''Who told you Of that?"
II decline to answer; but I told Taylor Of
1t, and he asked me not to say anything
about it."
Don't you know that she died in August
last Of consumption
mo. sir; don't"
did you ever look at the return made
to the health Officer
''No, sir, did not; and it makes no DIFF
ference what that return says"
The defendant was finally compelled to
say who told him Of the alleged abortion.
The girl was the daughter CT Mr.. Taylor's
housekeeper, he said, and he stated that
Miss Benseman, a man named Garnett
the undertaken and one or two others had
told him Of the alleged abortion. Chase
said that he learned of the matter in No
vember or December.
Before the dinner?" asked Mr. Birnsy
II think 3d." replied the defendant
did you believe the story?"
|. Certainly"
Now, don't you know that the Bense-
man woman did not go to Mrs CARROTS
until after her daughter had died?"
Certainly: but Miss Benseman said she
had been told of the abortion by the girls
mother, Mrs. Garrett saying to her that her
daughter had died in great agony"
and yet you attended an abortionist's
dinner?'
"Why. certainly; didn't propose to let
my personal feelings stand in the way
Another Matter.
The defendant admitted that he had in
last December offered to bet one Fremont
box Of cigars that he'd have Taylor out
Of office in ten days, but denied telling the
Rev. Mr.. Gilcrist that he proposed giving
Taylor the devil because he had not kept
faith with him in the matter of promised
offices.
Didn't you offer Miss Hill a position
in the Agricultural Department If she
would testify against Mr.. Taylor?"
Great caesar, no. 1 couldnt [, Tor don't
even know the Secretary
The defendant stated that he had given
Taylor "a sort of milk and water support"
before Taylor's confirmation, but denied
that he had commenced his attacks July
14th last, when Taylor had urloughed
Miss Anderson, in whose retention the de-
PENDANT was interested.
"You have been convicted in this court,
have you not. Mr.. Chase, of libeling two
young wemen?" next asked the district at
torney.
81 have. They were school teachers, and
I thought had the right to criticise their
actions"
1.-THE libel was contained in The Bee, was
it not?'
ut was"
"Ard it was your paper thenT
'1t was"
you have been convicted of larceny,
too?"
mo, sir, was not. was charged with
1t, but never convicted"
BY His Own Counsel.
That concluded Mr.. Birneys cross-exam-
nation of the defendant and Mr.. Smith
then re-examined him. To Mr.. Smith the
defendant stated that when he mentioned