The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-29
WILLIAMS ON TRIAL
Preliminary Examination Into the Murder
Of George Bess on April I7th.
DENIES CONFESSION MADE UNDER OATH
And Says 1t Was Extorted From Him
by Promises aud Inducements
He Tells Another Tale and At
tempts An AIibi-Other Cases he.
fore His Honor.

The examination of the evidence sur
rounding the case of Charles Williams.
the negro charged with the murder of
George Bess, was taken up yesterday and
abounded in interest. Judge Nicely, who
was 10 have conducted the defense. but
had withdrawn from the case. his place
was taken by Attorney II. G. l.. Page
who entered plea of not guilty. The
first witness was Mr.. Adolp Michaelson.
who was shown the suit of clothes found
by Chief King in the prisoners trunk,
and identified 1t as the one he had made
for the murdered man. who had ordered
1t in January. He showed how he had
heightened the sleeve for the owner, and
said that the coat had peculiar marks
upon 1t by which he could not fail to
identify 1t.
Captain Sam Linthlcum told how the
murder had been discovered, and also of
several visits to the prisoner Eliza
Dempsey testified that williams had
did not come in until daylight. She also
swore that Williams had not had the suit
in question until that date. George
Jackson said he saw Bess about o'clock
on the night of the murder, and that
Less asked him to go aboard, saying
that Williams was there cooking supper.
Edward Baker. coloIed, told how he
murder. The prisoner took dinner with
him. They talked Of the crime and VIII
liams seemed TO be sorry that Bess had
been killed, and voluntarily told him
that he and George Bess had suits en-
actly alike, even down to hat and cravat.
When DR.. Charters was called thirteen
pieces of the murdered mans skull were
placed upon the desk in view of the
prisoner, who never f!nched DIR. Char
nf
inquest. and submitted a written and
sworn to confession made before the
Coroner's jury by Williams. in which
ne said that on the night of the murder.
Friday. April 18th, he and Bess were
playing casino for two cents. and by mid
night he the prisoneD had won seventy
SIX cents. George then wanted to play
for twenty-five cents. and he (Williams)
won three more games. and wanted to
stop. Bess wouldn't let him and said
ne would never leave the boat with his
money. Then they played some more.
and when he had won s2.7S from Bess he
got up to go. Bess knocked him down
and grabbed knife. He ran up on
deck, pursued by Bess with the knife.
HE saw the axe, picked 1t up and struck
Bess several times. and Bess fell over
BOARD. He left the vessel at $40 a. M.
Saturday.
Williams was put on the stand and
denied the confession in toto. declaring
that 1t had been gotten from him by
promises and inducements that he would
better himself. Questioned as to his
whereabouts on the night of the murder.
ne said that in the afternoon he was at
the baseball park: went from there TO
Mr. Mike Dollards; left there al T.90
p. M and went to Mr.. Buchanan's. left
there at 1880; went TO corner of Church
ana queen streets, loafed about for
awhile in poo-room and in Jovner,a
saloon, reached home about - 40 a M
ana went to bed. Getting ND early, &c,
cord!ng to his statement, he started for
Atlantic City. AT the corner or Tn,a
and CRANKY streets he met a colored mar
who sold him the suit of clothes for
$3.50. He brought them home rot braoi,
fast and went back TO Atlantic Citv
Attorney Paige asked that the comics
sion be thrown out, but Justice Rur-
roughs, saying that even excluding tho
confession, the clrcumstantlal eviIanna
was suinc!ently strong to hold the prIson-
err. sent the case on to the grand inrw
CHARGED WITH HOUSEBREAKINC,
Alex. Luke. colored an old offender
ana w. ii. Smith. also colo:ed. were ha'
lore HIS Honor on the charge of being
ASLEEP on the street and were fined e
ana costs each. Officer Curtis rhsn
Drought the charge against them or
oeihg the parties who broke into
sander place. at No. 49, Water st,aa.
some days ago and stole a razor. some
Cigarettes. tobacco and other stnfr
nese latter cases We're continued 10 Nav