The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-04-29
WILLIAMS ON TRIAL
Preliminary Examination Into the Murder
Of George Bess on April 18th.
DENIES CONFESSION MADE UNDER OATH
And Says II Was Extortca From Him
by Promises and Inducements
He Tells Another Tale and AT
tempts An Alibi-0ther 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 to have conducted the defense. but
had withdrawn from the case. his place
was taken by Attorney r. G. l.. Page,
who entered plea of not guilty. The
first witness was Mr.. Adolp Mlchaelson.
who was shown the suit of clothes found
by Chief King in the prisoners trunk
and identified it as the one he had made
for the murdered man. who had ordered
II in January. He showed how he had
heightened the sleeve for the owner, and
said that the coat had peculiar marks
upon it by which ne could not fail to
identify 1t.
Captain Sam Linthicum told how the
murder had been discovered, and also of
several visits to the prisoner. Eliza
Dempsey testified that Williams had
been out on the night of the murder and
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
LEES asked him to go aboard. saying
that Williams was there cooking supper
Edward Baker, cololed. told how he
saw Williams on the Sunday after the
murder. The prisoner took dinner with
him. They talked of the crime and Will
liams seemed TO be sorry that Bess had
been killed. and voluntarily told him
that he and George Be:s had suits ex-
actly alike. even down 10 hat and cravat
When DIR. Charters was called thirteen
pieces OF the murdered mans skull were
placed upon the desk in view of the
prisoner. VINO never fl!nched. DR.. Char
tiers told of the autopsy and coroners
s.N..,
swtrn 10 confession made before tho
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 Che prisoner) had won seventy
six cents. George then wanted to play
for twenty-five cents. and he (Wiliams)
Won three more games. and wanted TO
stop. Ress 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 s27S from Bess ne
got up to go. Bess knocked him down
and grabbed knife. He ran up on
deck, pursued by I3ess with the knife
lie saw the axe. picked 1t up and struck
Bess several times. and Bess fell over
board. He left the vessel at $3.50 q. 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
petter himself. Questioned as to his
whereabouts on the night of the murder.
ne SAID mat in the afternoon he was at
the baseball park went from there "a
Mr.. Mike Dollard's; left there at 7.3O
p. M and went to Mr.. Buchanan's. left
there at 1890; went 10 corner of Church
ana queen streets, loafed about for
aWhile III pool-room and in Jcyner's
saloon, reached home about 1880 n M
ana Went to bed. Getting up early ar
cord!ng to his statement, he started for
Atlantic City. At the corner of Ruta
ana CRANKY streets he met a colored man
VINO sold him the suit OF clothes for
SOU. He brought them home. got break
rast anu went back to Atlantic CITY
Attorney Paige asked that the comics.
sion be thrown out, but Justice R,r-
I0ushs' saying that even excluding the
confession, the circumstantial evidence
was su'lclently strong to hold the prison
en- sent Inc case on TO the grand Jury.
CHARGED WITH HOUSEBREAtTNc
Alex. Luke. colored. an old Offender
ana w. IA. Smith. also colored were he'
lore Ills Honor on the charge of heinp
asleep on the street and were fined sI
anu costs each. Officer Curtis 1ban
Drought the charge against them Of
neihg the parties who broke into 4
sanders place, at No. l62 Water street
soine days ago and stole Il razor some
cigarettes, tobacco and other s,uff
hese latter cases We're continued 10 Mnv
"a. ~ May