Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-10-22
THE SPRUELL HOMICIDE
Patsey Harris Brought to Trial on the
Charge Of Murder
The Regular anel of the Jury Ez-
hau.tea and the cn.e Adjourned
UnHR Tomorrow.

The trial of John, alias Patsey Harris, g
young colored man, for the murder Of Mat
thew Spruell, also colored, on the 4th OF
last July. was commenced before Judge
Cole in Criminal Court No. l this morning
The regular panel of twenty-six men was
exhausted before jury could be obtained
and the trial was adjourned until tomor-
row morning, the court directing that thir-
ty-five talesmen be summoned to complete
the jury.
Story of the killing.
Harris. but twenty-six or twenty-seven
years of age, lived on Both street, George
town. in a house where Spruell lived the
latter running barber shop there. On the
afternoon of the day in question, Harris
it is said, returned home in slightly i'll
toxicated condition He and Spruell. II is
claimed, had some words about the for
mer's wife. and Harris, it is also claimed
picked up a pistol. Fearing trouble ms
W fe took it away from him anu thre" IL
into the yard.
Subsequently he found it, and he again
approached Spruell The latter ran out OF
the house. Harris pursuing him, II Is said,
and Sprueu running into saloon on '"'i
street, was followed by Harris. Sprueil RAJ
UP the stairway of the house, and as ne ana
so it is claimed that Harris fired at him,
missing him. But second later Harris
fired again, and, as Spruell partly turned
toward him. the bullet struck MN IN the
abdomen. He fell, and then Harris LhreW
away his pistol and ran. He was caught by
policeman almost Immediately. ana ms
victim was carried to the hospital, dying in
a very short time.
The Theory of the Defense.
Messrs Richard c. Thompson and Charles
l.. Frailey appeared today as counsei ter
Harris, having been assigned to the case by
the court and it is understood that they
will contend that Harris Is guilty OF no
graver offense than manslaughter, II, IN
deed, guilty of any crime. 1t Is also under,
stood that they will contend that Sprueil
threatened Harris life with razor just
previous to the shooting, and that the tatal
shot was fired when Spruell had turned Tor
the purpose of advancing upon Harris ana
as evidence of that position they point TO
the fact that the deceased was struck Ill
front by the bullet which killed him.
Trying for n Jury.
When the trial was adjourned today nut
eleven men remained in the jury box An
drew REM and Fred'k NJ. Lewis were ex-
cused by the court because of an opinion
which they declared was formed from
which they thought could not be changed
by evidence. Thos. A. Garner. Fred. A.
Dyson, Harry w. Love, Henry II. Elliott
and August Brethaur were excused because
of conscientious scrupleS against capi'ai
punishment. Henry McGoens was chal-
lerged by the government, and the defense
challenged Peter u. Rank, Chas. T. Leach,
Andrew Lofflar, John w. Todd, Chas F.
Shelton, Peter G. Grimes and Edgar F.
Nelson The eleven men left in the jury
box, subject to thirteen challenges by the
defense and four by the government, were:
Jos w. Hooper. Frank Wells, Thos. ID.
Waters Jas. Harris. Jos. S. Haas. Casius
NJ Beck. c. f; Addison, Emanuel Kauf-
man, Patrick Phillips. l.. Willard Harmon
and VIM E. Cruitt.
District Attorney Birney represented the
government. assisted by Mr.. Chas. A.
Armes, and Mr. Birney stated that he
thought the case would be concluded Thurs
day afternoon,