The evening times., 1895-10-31
ACTOR REEVES ON TRIAL
Mrs. Canty Again Identifies Him
as the Would Be HIghwayman.
ALIBI TO BE HIS DEFENSE
Nervous on the Stand, and the At
torneys Succeeded in Confusing Her
ewhat-She Is Positive. How
ever, as to Main Facts In he Case

The trial OF Al Reeves the we'll kiio wn
variety comedian and banJOist, arrested
here several weeks ago charged with as
sault and attempted high way robbery upon
Mrs. Winifred Canty, came up before II
jury i'll Judge Miners court this morning
A knowledge. Of the fact that the Ease
would be called for hearing. together with
the inrlcincnt weather, attracted a large
audience.
The defendant is charged with having at
tempted, on the night of the 18th OF Sep.
teIuDer. on II street bet wccn Eighth and
Ninth streets northwest, to take 4 purse
from the hands OF Mrs. Winifrcd Canty.
who. with a lady friend, was walking
quietly along.
The case is a complicated and peculiar
one. Mrs. Caniy has positively identiiir,l
the actor as the individual who assaulted
her. Reeves, who enjoys good rcputa-
ton, and is considered well 10 d. admits
being in the vicinity on the evening of
the assault, but positively denies being
the gniity party. officer Carlson m1uc
the arrest
The trial of the assault case occurred
this morning. Assistant District Attorney
Mullowny conducting the prosecution.
Campbell Darlington and Edwin b. Hay
appeared for the defendant The panel
was accepted without protest from either
side, All witnesses in the case were ordered
to withdraw from the courtroom.
Mr. Muilowny made the opeuiD. address
for the prosecution.
Attorney Hay, in his address. said they
would show that this was one of the great
est cases of mistaken identity on record
He detailed the movements or Reeves on
the night OF the attempted robbery. AZ here
tofore stated in The Times. He said The
defense would prove an alihi in the case
and would show that Reeves had not been
on II street at the time mentioned.
MRS. CANTY's TESTIMONY.
Mrs. Canty was the first witness called
TO the box. She appeared IN a neat COS
tune of black and wore natty silk ga pc.
A pretty hat with purple hcadgear adorned
hpr haqh She somewhat hIf
clearly recitcd the story or the assault.
She again pointed out and positively identi-
fled Reeves as her aSsaiiant-
Mrs. tanty, on cross SSeNaiuluat ION. Sd id
she left home about $50 y. IN. andsstartetl
do wn town with Mrs. Corridor. She had
500 in her satchel. They went into a
laundry and afterward started along H
street toward Eighth.
She saw a man coming to meet them.
He stopped her when they met and put one
hand ON each arm. In one hand she had
her pocket book. She thought he was
after the money. She screamed and he
ran. She pursued him till he had run across
Ninth street.
He started diagonaIly across Ninth and
she sa " him last on the west side Of the
street running into the city.
As they reached Ninth street she fell
on the east side of the street. She Sa " him
running along the west side. She was
picked up and taken home, and 50 " nothing
more of Reeves till she was taken to the
station to identify him.
HEBEGGED FOR MERCY.
She was positive in her identification
then. as she was at the moment on the stand.
He said to her, Have mercy on me-
lady" and she replied, How can you ex-
pect me to have mercy on you when you
had none on me-"
Mrs. Corridor. her companion told the
story of the outing of herself and Mrs. Canty
during the evening very much the same as
Mrs. Canty had done.
She positively identified Mr.. Reeves as
the man who had seized Mrs. Canty. When
he ran she said. Mrs. Canty was SO close
10 him in pursuit that she could apparently
have put her hand on him at any moment
until she fell.
After the recess Lawyer Ed Hay con-
Quoted the crosS-eXamination of Mrs. Cor
ridon. She said in answer to his queS-
tions that they remained in the laundry only
about ten minutes There Mrs. Canty
took out her pocketbook. but she did not
know whether anyone looked in at the door.
The trial was in progress when this re-
port 'closed.