Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-12
TElL-TALE TRACKS
Testimony Presented at the Inquest
Over Sadie Buxton.
EVIDENCE GIVEN AGAINST RANDOLPH
Mr. Buxton Will Swear That He
Was the AssaiIant.
CASE TO BE FOUG HT
EVIDENCE GIVEN AGAINST RANDOLPH
CASE TO BE FOUGHT


VA
ROCKVILLE, Nd, June IL. 1896.
The first day of the inquest over little
Sadie Buxton. who died last week at Gar
field Hospital from the wound inflicted
upon her at her fathers house at Gathers
burg early on the morning of May p. de-
veloped to greater degree the circumstan-
tial evidence by which 1t was expected to
find Sidney Randolph responsible for the
crime. There had been no direct evidence
to connect him with the tragedy, and there
were many contradictory points regarding
his actual whereabouts. which, when
raised on his trial. would have created great
doubt, at least, about his identity with the
man seen in Gaitkersburg the Saturday be-
fore the assault. 1t became known here
last night, however, that Mr.. Buxton, who
was in Rockville earlier in the evening,
had told several persons that he had fully
identified Randolph as his assailant. and
would so testify before the inquest today.
This, of course, will settle all questions
about the coroners jury finding verdict
holding Randolph responsible for Sadie
Buttons death, and then the preparations
will be made for a vigorous battle in the
criminal court proper.
RandOIph's Attorney Will Fight.
MIR. Ashley NJ. Gould. who has been re-
tanned to defend Randolph. and who was
present at the inquest yesterday. says he
is well equipped with legal ammunition to
be used in the fight. The many statements
credited to MIR. Buxton. and to Mrs. Bux-
ton as well, about the man who is claimed
to have assaulted them will be utilized to
weaken the positive statements Mr.. Buxton
Is expected to make at this afternoons
session of the inquest, and the many SEEM
Ing improbabflities that are claimed to
have been introduced in the evidence al
ready given are expected to be given much
consideration when the case comes to reg
ular trial. While nearly every one at
Gaithersburg believes Randolph to be
guilty, there is portion of the population
there with strong doubts about 1t, and
these doubts ere shared in by many
lawyers In Montgomery. including the
states attorney. as well as by the county
officials who have been engaged on the
case. The testimony given yesterday did
net dissipate these doubts. either. There
sip which bears them up, in spite of the
evidence that has been thrown on the sur
face of affairs. These rumors will prob
ably be utilized by the attorneys for the de-
Tense when the time comes in the fall for
the trial to take place.
No Lynching Now Feared.
There will be- too, q legal trial of the
prisoner or prisoners. Two weeks ago
such thing was regarded as entirely
be dangerous to allow Randolph and Neale
to remain in the Rockville Jail even one
night. There is little of the feeling that
was then manifest left now.
Alter the testimony was all in at the
inquest yesterday the chief ques ton asked
was. Why was not Glenn Johnson taken in
custody the morning of the murder? No
one knew why, unless it was that Glenn has
good reputation, and is generally liked
Still. Buxton told several different people
that his assailant looked like Glen john
son. So does Randolph, who very closely
resembles Glenn
The inquest will probably conclude this
evening with a verdict holding Randolph
and Neale. An effort will be made to have
the latter released from custody, but will
probably be unsuccessful, Preacher
Lloyd's testimony about Neale's feet fit
ting the tracks in the ploughed ground will
be corroborated today by Deputy Sheriff
Thompson. 1t is singular and mysterious
case, Is this Buxton tragedy, and one may
not be oversanguine to expect additional
and greater sensations before it is finally
settled.
The Proceedings ut the Inquest.
The inquest over the little victim of the
crime, Sadie A. Buxton, was begun in
earnest today. The inquiry began last Sat
urday. but was adjourned as soon as or
ganization was effected by the selection Of
jury, composed of Messrs. H. w. Gladhill,
w. Fl. Coomes, DR.. l. G. Warfieid, H. b.
Cramer. l.. B. Hayes. r. B. Briggs. George
V. Grouse. w. H. Tschiffely and X. Dorsey
Trundle.
The hour set for the proceedings to be
gin was o'clock, and long before that
time crowd had gathered in the vicinity
of the opera house, as the town hall Is
called, where they were to be held The
question that was uppermost in the minds
of the people was whether they would be
admitted to the hearing or not. The an
nGuncement had been made that the wit
nesseS would be examined behind closed
doors, and great was the popular objection
thereto. When the jury repaired to the
hall and the front doors remained shut
there were many and emphatic expressions
of discomfort, and the throng pressed up
in solid mass against the entrance, COW
ering the porch, blocking the doors to the
stores and post office beneath and over
flowing into the road.
The Rush for Seats.
II was announced that the jury was con-
sidering the propriety of making the hear
ing public one, and at last the doors 20
the hall were swung back and there was
an excited scramble up the stairs. In two
minutes every chair In the place was occu-
pied and there was deep fringe of inter-
ested humanity in the rear and around the
walls. On the stage and scattered in front
OF the auditors were many Of the repre-
sentatives of the Montgomery county bar,
ICE whom the mysterious case naturally
possesses rare attractions. Among them
were Mr.. E. c. Peter. who will defend
George Neale: Mr.. Ashley NJ. Could who
will appear for Sidney Randolph. and
States Attorney Alexander Kilgore and
MIR. H. Maurice Talbot, the latter being
engaged by Mr.. Buxton to assist in the
prosecution. A number of newspaper men
kept close tab on the proceedings.
Picturesque Gathering.
From the stage the audience presented
picture well worthy of study. The jury, all
representative men In the county. occupied
seats in a semi-circle facing Squire Baugh-
man. who acted in his capacity of coroner;
Deputy Sheriff Horton Thompson and the
witness chair. beside which Mr.. Hunter
Calf Of Washington. the official reporter,
dashed of his notes. Behind them was a
mass of strained. eager faces. which be-
tokened their possessors' anxiety to hear
every word. They were young and old,
gray and grizzled. and fresh and smooth,
but on all the expression was the same
and every head was bent forward with
parted lips and straining eyes.
The windows were taken up as to their
stills by spectators and over them drooned