Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-19

ton. every WELL" remarked the Judge,
"but the court now gives you opportunity
object to-" Counsel for the defense per-
sisted in their refusal to accept the courts
invitation, when Judge Cole directed the
following twelve men to be sworn as the
jury: John H. Thornton, John D. Nauck,
Geo. w. Peritt, c. w. Henshaw. Fredk.
Upperman. s. w. Deckman, Addison
Bankett. John W. Covington, James F.
Sembley. Chas. F. Dietrich, John NJ. Moore
and Albert G. Brooke, Messrs. Peritt, Bank
EFT and Sembley being colored men.
A recess was then, at noon, taken until
l o'clock 1t is understood that the de-
fendants counsel refused to accept Judge
Coles proposition as to the six extra
challenges because they wished to pre-
serve their exceptions TO the courts rul-
ings in the matter of their challenges for
cause. 1t Is believed. however. that the
courts proposition render ed those excep-
tons valueless.
The Case Opened.
Upon the resumption of the trial shortly
after 1 o'clock, District Attorney Birney at
once explained to the jury the case which
the prosecution expected to make out
against the defendant. About $50 the af-
terno on Of the murder. he explained, Elsie
Kreglo. a mere child of sixteen years, left
her home to SO short distance away from
the house. Shortly afterward her screams
were heard. and when persons went to her
they found the child lying in a stream
with her throat cut from ear to ear. 1t
would also be shown that an attempt was
made to violate her person. Fortunately
for the ends of justice, revolver. known
to belong to the defendant, was found on
the scere. Then, too, the government
would show that Ford left his home near
Burnt Mills, Md, early on the day of the
crime, and was seen in the immediate
neigh5orhood of the girls home about the
time of the commission.
The flight of Ford to Harper's Ferry, his
capture there. his attempt at suicide, and
later his confession of the crime. would
be shown to such satisfaction Of the jury
as to leave no doubt whatever in their
minds of the guilt of the wretch, who. fall
irg in the accomplishment OF one crime.
committed another.the one charged against
him, that of murder.
Mr.. BirneyS remarks We're very brief
and while he spoke Ford hung his head.
staring intently at the floor. Mr. Peter
stated that the defense would reserve their
opening, and, at his request, the witnesses
on both sides We're excluded from the court
room until called upon to testify.
First Witnesses.
AS his first witness Mr.. Birney called
Photographer Henry A. Wise. who iden-
titled two photographs he made Of the
scene of the murder. Police man Chas. H.
Bradley, the next witness, testified that he
is familiar with the scene of the tragedy
and also identified the photographs of it,
His attention was attr acted by the screams
OF the unfortuI ate girl, and when he ar
rived the girl was lying on the bank of a
little stream at the foot of very steep
bill, with her throat cut by several slabs.
With other persons he searched about the
place and a fiye-chambered American bull
dog revolver was found, with but one
empty chamber.
An urdergarment belonging to the child
was also found, torn, wet and bloody. also
one of it's missing buttons. A hat band, or
piece of one was also found in the i'm
mediate neighborhood. The revolver was
marked .'227. IDA"
Mr.. Birney produced the articles.
William Thomas, a young colored man,
the first person to reach the girls side,
was the next witness. He said he heard the
girl scream, and also heard her father
cries. Running in the direction Of the
screams, he found her lying in the little
brook at the foot of the hill. covered with
running