Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-23
GEORGE MATTHEW'S TRIAL.
Great Interest in the Murder Case at
La Plata.

Great Interest in the Murder Case at
La Plata.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Ssar.
LA PLATA, Md, November 33.-Cr0wds
Of country people from THU and the adtoin-
ing counties arrived here early this morn
ing to witness the trial of George Mat
thews. charged with James lrwin's muir
der. Not since the trial Of Mrs. Fsrran
has any case attracted so much attention.
This is probably because there is a good
looking woman figuring prominently in the
affair. States Attorney Posey was on hand
early. and brought with him the gun used
in the killing. As well as the clothing taken
from the prisoners house. and other ar
ttcies to be offered In evidence. Soon after
&C urt opened Representative-eleet Sydney
E. Mudd appeared. and asked that the
cases of Sheriff Wade and Jailer Burch In
Joseph Cooking from the jail and the es-
cape of Matthews, be continued until the
next term of the court. He gave as his
reason for asking the continuance the Fact
that the session of the court was to be IN
usually long. and also that he desired to be
absent from the county.
States Attorney Posey said he woald
leave the matter entirely with the court.
So far as he was concerned, he was ready
to so on with the trials.
Mr.. Mudd said he thought continuance
would assist both the court and the jury
In arriving at conclusion. He thought
these cases should not be tried until after
the indictment of some of the gentlemen
who were implicated in the lynching of
Mr.. Cooking. and he thought, as q matter
OF course. some Of them would be indicted.
Chief Judge Briscoe said that the lynch
ing OF Cooking had nothing to do with the
cases before the court at this time
There being no objection from the state.
the cases went over until the May term of
the court.
Several witnesses in the Matthews case
failed to respond when called and coun-
sci on both sides asked for a continuance
until 1 O'Clock. Among those who failed
to respond were two Of the states most
important witnesses.
Sheriff Wade was called upon to make
his return of the summons issued from the
court Friday. The sheriff said that most OF
the witnesses lived in the lower end OF
the county, and the officer to whom he had
intrusted the courts documents had moi
returned them. 1t was evident that not
much could be gained by going on with the
case. and the court directed a continuance
until o'clock The court directed the CLERK
to issue rule against the sheriff for him
to make the proper returns not later than
o clock or show cause why he could no,
make them.
When court recCnvened at / o'clock the
gathering OF spectators had largely in
creased because of arrivals from. the lower
| end of the county. Sheriff Wade was di
| rected to bring the prise ner into court
A Few minutes later the prisoner lp-
peared. He was dressed in gray suit
but wore no collar or necktie. He seemed
rather nervous and was scarcely able L
| look straight at tine court or even at his
| own counsel The prisoner elected to be
| tried by jury, and the. court proceeded
| to the work of selecting twelve men to try
the case. '''''.'
1t is thought thai. the court will hardly
finish the task of selecting q jury this
afternoon in time to hear much evidence
Late in the afternoon 1t Is thought the
grand jury will return a true bill agains;
Mrs Irwin, bu41she will pr0bably not be
arraigned until the Matthews case is
closed 1t is said that she will be repre-
sented by Mr.. Mudd, who Is in court wait
ing for the grand jury to report.