Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-18
HIS LIFE AT STAKE
An Agsd Pnscna Charged With Muir
dR.
Eesyson Faces q Jury The Killtna
of Ford Set Down to
JeaR0usy.

Christopher c., alias Columbus. alias
LIm Pearson, was placed on trial before
Judge Cole in Criminal Court No. l this
morning, charged with the murder OF John
L. Ford In August last. District Attorney
Birney, assisted by Mr.. John e. Laskey,
represented the government, Messrs. An
drew Y. Bradley and Thomas c. Taylor ap-
pearing on behalf Of the prisoner, white
haired man Of nearly seventy years Of age.
About an hour was consumed In getting
a jury, the following being selected: Isaac
Rollins, Joseph ]. Farrell, L. G. Thompson,
Thomas Hyatt, George w. Amiss, Thomas
Giles. J. Fred. Kelley. George w. Reardon.
Michael Keegan, Charles H. Zoos, J. D..
Avery and 8. A. Coombs. The case was
opened by Mr.. Birney, who stated to the
jury that the government would show that
the murder was committed because of the
prisoners jealousy Of Ford, a young man
of abont nineteen years Of age, over a
young woman who occupied house on
Cherry Hill. Georgetown. with Pearson.
Previous to the killing of Ford, said Mr..
Birney, there had been hard feeling on the
part Of Pearson against Ford, due to the
formers jealousy.
1t would indeed, be shown that Pearson
had declared he would kill Ford. About
o'clock the evening of August 7 last Ford
visited the house occupied by Pearson. He
entered the back yard of the house, stu
dteO ClS3elI diley, near water street.
Georgetown. Pearson was the only one in
the house at the time. and he saw Ford
from an upper window. From this upper
window Pearson fired twice at Ford. one
Of the shots taking effect in the young
mans side. Ford fell, and crawled a short
distance away. whore he was found by
Policeman Seymour, who was attracted by
the shots. The police found Pearson In the
house. and, after some search. discovered
recently discharged revolver in a trunk in
an upper room.
Policeman George H. Seymour, the first
witness. testified to hearing theStwo shots
short distance away from the house, but
was not allowed to give Ford's version of
the shooting. Police Sergt. James w.
Haney testified as to the arrest of Pearson
in his house Immediately after the shoot
ing. and of the discovery later Of the re-
vulver In FearsOn's room.
Death of Ford.
DR.. Bernard F. McGrath, a member of the
Emergency Hospital staff, testified that
Ford was brought to the hospital shortly
after the shooting. The man was suffering
gunshot wound In the back to the right
of the spinal column and in the neighbor-
hood of the lower rib. The ball was found
to have passed through the body, being
discovered in front of the body, having
passed nearly entirely through. The tan
was extracted and such other surgical at
tention given as was deemed necessary.
The man died the morning of the 10th CT
August. On ton the witness
denied having cut the intestines. The man
died from shock, due to the pistol wound,
and not to shock occasioned by The prob
ing. The course of the bullet was about en-
alignment.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook testified to
making an autopsy on Ford's body. Ford
was feet inches in height, weighing ap-
parently about 100 pounds, and being of a
delicate frame and body. He described the
wound. saying that everything had been
skillfully done for the dead man at the hos
pital. Death. he believed, resulted from
shock occasioned by the pistol wound.
Policeman Witt testified to searching Fear
sons house and to the discovery of the
pistol In trunk in the upper room, and at
the conclusion of his testimony a recess
was taken at 1870 until o'clock.
After recess Glen. s. Ford, father of the
murdered man; Henry B. Bradley and sew
eral others, testified. The prosecution had
not closed its case when The Stars report
closed.