Evening star., 1896-11-19
GONE TO THE JURY
Ending of the Pearson Murder Trial
Today.
Defense Claims Fatal Shots Were
Fired Without Intention to
knl@udge's Charge.

~ ~,
pus' aiias Lum, Pearson. an elderly man.
for the murder OF John l.. Ford. n Young
man nineteen years of age, in Georgetown
August last. was resumed before Judge
Cole In Criminal Court No this morn
ing. with the expectation that the trial will
be concluded this afternoon.
After The Stars report of the trial con-
cluded yesterday Glenn s. Ford, the father
OF the alleged murderer's victim, testified
to Pearson having visited his house shortly
before the shooting. Pearson mentioned a
Mrs. Lille M. Cooper. saying that she be-
longed to him. and that If young Ford con-
tinued to go with her he would kill him.
Several witnesses next testified to hearing
tne TWO shots and to seeing the flashes
aithough they could not identify the person
firing them. Margaret White. living next
door to the house occupied by Pearson in
Cissell alley, Georgetown, said she saw
Ford come into Fearson's back yard and
knock at his door. Pearson, she said. look
ed out from his upper window and fired
twice at Ford.
For the Prisoner.
But two witnesses testified on behalf of
the prisoner. himself and Mrs Cooper Mr..
Thos. c. Taylor. of counsel for Pearson,
having first explained to the Jury that the
shooting would not be denied, but that IL
would be shown that Pearson, in the be-
lief that he was expelling an unlawful entry
upon his premises. accidentally fired the
shots. Pearson then testified that about
Two weeks previous to the shooting Mrs
Cooper had asked him to allow her to stop
In his house until she could obtain a sit
uation. He denied that he had ever been
Jealous of Ford. and also denied ever hav-
ing threatened to kill or injure the young
man. On the other hand, the prisoner stat
ed that Ford had stoned him in the street
and had threatened to kill him. The old
man said he had seen Ford and Mrs.
Cooper together. and had never protested
against their alleged intimacy
referring to the evening of the shooting,
the priso said Ford came into his house
and asked for Mrs. Cooper. He told the
young man that she was not in the house,
when Ford cursed him. threatening TO en-
Ter TIE house and kill him. Pearson said
ne then took his pistol in his left hand and
nred Two shots. But, he explained, he did
not nre at thr young man, as he believed
and only fired 10 frighten the intruder off
ms premises. The prisoner denied the ex-
istence OF improper relations between him.
sell and Mrs. cooper, and also denied the
STORY on the witness stand of Ford's father
and OF others as to having threatened the
young man.
Mrs. Cooper. the other witness on behalf
or the prisoner. said size acted as his house
keeper. but denied holding improper rela.
tions with him
Margaret White and Julia A. Rogpett
called by the government in rebuttal said
there Was no disturbance Immediately be.
lore the shooting between the prisoner and
young Ford
That concluded the testimony in the
case. and the trial was adjourned until to.
day.
Among the instructions to the jury asked
!or py counsel Tor the prisoner when the
hio
the effect that If the jury believed Pearson
shot Ford In the belief that he had entered
MS premises for an unlawful purpose ht
snould not be convicted of murder Bur
Judge cole held that there was nothing in
| the testimony to warrant such an instruc
| tlon, and declined to grant it, The iudg,
| also decided that there was nothing i'm til,
testimony to show that the prisoner firec
| In selfdefense
Assistant District Attorney John f. Las
| Key then addressed the jury, insisting tina
no clearer case has ever been made out i,
the District. and he claimed that a verdic
| Oh guilty OF murder was the only one war
ranted by the facts in the case Mr. las
Key was followed by Messrs Andrew Y
Bradiey and Thos. c. Taylor on behalf q
tne prisoner. they contending that IN,
OF either hatred or malice
Distrfct Attorney Blrney made the con
GUIDING argument in the case insisting 8,
uld MT Laskey. that the prisoners gull
whatever ' "ouo
Judge Cole charged the jury after tn,
| usual midday recess. briefly instr,Ictin,
| them as to their duty in the case unde
! the Jaw and In view Of the testimony pre-
sented Tor and against the prisoner.
The jury retired at 1:4o o'clock.
Inc jury at five minutes before 3 o'clorl
| filed into court and asked for instruction
| as 10 what constitutes intent manslaush h
| ter and reasonable doubt
! Judge Cole gave the desired inforr,,a ito,
| ana the Twelve men again retired for fur
| II er deliberation.