Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-07-08
T,-c 49, S7nnosrn MIR


densely packed last night to witness
the examination of George Brown.
lanes Gift and James Reed, who had
been arrested on suspicion of murder.
ipr Richard Fl. Bayliss on the night Of
the 9th ultimo.
The examination of the witnesses
consumed over an hours time. 1t re
suited in the release of James Reed on
his own recognizance, but Brown and
Gift were committed for further
hearing, which will take place on the
18th.
The first witness was James Rich
ards. who was evasive in his replies
when questioned by Mayor Thompson
and Commonwealth Attorney Mar
bury. He stated that on the night OF
June 81, when the murder is supposed
to have been committed, he went home
at 10 o'clock, and did not come out un'
til the following morning, when he was
called for by James Cliff, who wanted
him Richards) to purchase whisky for
him. He pretended he did not know
where he bought the liquor. He went
with Cliff to the Pioneer Mills wharf.
He first stated that Gilt gave him the
money, but later that the whisky
money was supplied by another of the
party, Remus Beach, and subsequently
contradicted himself by stating that he
did not procure the whisky, nor did
any one give him the money. Beads
of sweat chased each other down his
face during the ordeal of his examina-
ton. Richards also contradicted him
self by stating that he was at the fire
which occurred that night about one
o'clock.
Robert Meade testified that Richards
had intimated to him that he knew
something about the murder, and that
Gilt had given him money on the
morning of June IS with which to pur.
chase whisky.
Messrs. George Sutton and William
Hayden testified that on the Wednesday
following the crime Cliff had been &C.
cused in their presence of knowing
something about the murder, and had
said, Eyes, did it. took $3.50 from
the old mans pockets, hit him in the
head with stone, and threw him over
board"
George Griffin, a small boy, corrob-
crate the above statement.
Mr.. Charles Zimmerman stated that
Mr.. Bayliss came into his place in COM
pany with Cliff and stranger, who
had on neither nat nor coat, just before
- o'clock, on the night of June p.
The party had drink, and bought a
bottle of whisky and left.
Two young men named Brown, rela-
tives of the accused, testified that the
latter went aboard of his boat at IL
o'clock Saturday night, but their evil
dence was impeached by Bert Tatsa.
paugh, who saw Brown and Bayliss on
the street at half-past one in the morn
ing.
Brown was told he could make a
statement if he desired to do so, as it
was not compulsory. He said he had
been in company with Mr.. Bayliss un-
til after 70 o'clock at night; that he had
met Cliff during the evening, but he
could not tell when he parted company
or at what time or place. He left Mr.
Bayliss on King street, near Union, ant
went aboard his vessel a little after l:
o'clock.
James Cliff testified that he met Mr.
Baylss and George Brown, both Of
whom had been drinking, at the cor
ner of King and Union streets. They
wanted to know he was looking for q
fight, when he informed them he was
looking for whisky. Then they joined
him and all three came uptown and
procured whisky at Zimmerman's sa'
loon. This was little before II o'clock
After going out they separated, he
walking to the Pioneer Mills wharf
where he was joined by Remus
Beach and Carrie Davis, who as
sisted him in consuming the liquor
Between l and 2 o'clock Sunday morn
ing he started for the bakery on north
Lee street to get get buns, when he
met Brown and Bayliss near the corner
of Cameron and Lee streets. They
wanted whiskey, and he told them hi
would conduct them to the Pioneer
Mills wharf, where they could secure
it. The two men accompanied Gilt
to that place and got the whisky, and
as Cliff claims, left after drinking anc
paying for it.
James Reed gave an account of hi;
whereabouts during the entire night
and was released on his own recog
nizance in the sum of $500. He may
be used as witness.
Evans Brown, cousin of the prison
er, was the last witness. He said il
was he and another cousin of the pris
oner, William Brown, who met Cliff
not on Lee but Union street at the
hour named by Cliff, and that they &C
companied him to the Pioneer Mills
wharf to get the whisky; that while on
the wharf he noticed an elderly man
lying on his face, apparently asleep
He was pretty sure that it was an
elderly man, but as he did not know
the man who was drowned he could
not say that it was Mr.. Bsyliss. The
witness positively identified Cliff and
said q man he thought they called
Beach was at the wharf with him. he
said the sleeping man was about three
or four feet from them. Mr.. Brown
was recognized for his appearance as q
witness at future examination. He
lives at Occoquan, but purposes moving
to this city.
1t is the opinion of some that Mr..
Bayliss was dead when seen on the
wharf by the last witness. Beach had
been summoned to appear last night as
a witness, but he could not be found
when the case was called. He will be