The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-11-12
GEO. c. WOODS
ON TRIAL
Fer Killing Howard ]. Hannum
in the Stable Yard of the
White Horse Hotel.

placed on trial In Oyer and Tcrminer
Court this morning for mansaughter. He
Is accused of having killed Howard ].
Hannum of Oxford, Pa, in the stable
yard of the White Horse Hotel on the af.
ternoon Of August II of the present year.
Mr.. Woods occupied II seat in tho Prison
ers' pen while the Indictment was being
read, to which he pleaded not guilty. Wal
ter II. Hayes Is his counsel.
Benjamin f. Doud, Jr., lis foreman OF
the jury drawn. The other Jurors are:
John w. Mitchell, Henry Leach Warren
p Mcssimer, Arthur l.. Draper, Herbert
Cannon, Benjamin Bond, John Hcndrick
son, 4. w. Morrison, James ". Donovan,
John p. Collins and Geo. Woolson. There
was only one challenge and 1t was cxer.
Gised by Mr.. Hayes against William H.
Voshell.
Deputy Attorney General Cooper defined
before the Jury mans slaughter. both volun-
tary and involuntary The latter was the
charge against Mr. Woods 1t is the kill.
Ing of human being while In the pur.
suance OF an unlawful act, not felonlous
in Itself, undesignedly kills another.
Mr., Cooper said that he would prove
that Hannum and the prisoner had had
wordy quarrel on the day Of the murder
which ended in blows. Those Inflicted by
Mr.. Woods, causing homorrhages Of tho
brain which caused the mans death.
: Architect William B. Carswcll, was the
first witness. He had Il chart of the stable
yard at the suggestion OF counsel on both
sides which he explained at the same time
pointing out the spot where tho killing
occurred.
Caroline Miller followed Mr.. Carswell.
She was In the employ Of Mr. Woods on
the day of the murder. She saw Hannum
In the stable yard about | o'clock and
three hours later had II conversation with
him regarding the trading of u Nurse.
The man was intoxicated. Mr.. Woods
interrupted the conversation and the two
disappeared. Aftcrwarl she was attract
ed by profane language from both men
and going to II window saw both men
lighting Hannum first struck Woods
The men exchanged blows and Hannum
fell to his knees, Then Mr.. Woods kick.
cd him and walked away.
"What did MIR Woods say when he
walked OFF, y asked Mr.. Cooper, to viii CHI
Mr.. Hayes interposcd an objection MIR.
Cooper was trying to bring out tho fact
that Woods had been reproachcd by his
wife for his conduct and that he had
answered 'like hi will,
Mr.. Hayes fought hard against the ans
wcring Of the question, but the court
thought it admissible and the witness said
the prisoner had made the remark after
his wife had told him to 90 and pick tho
man up. The injured man was aftcrward
picked up and put in one Of the stable
stalls.
The cross examination brought out the
fact that some one could lick any s. Of a
b. in the stable yard.
Oliver Gentry, Of No 204 West Twelfth
street, worked In II nearby grocery store.
on the day Of the murder. He saw both
Woods and Hannum aghtng. Both were
using their fists.
The witness saw Mr., Wood kick Han
mum in the stomach. The cross-eXanina
ton revealed nothing new.
John Greiner swore to passing the hotel
on tho day of the murder un0 seeing two
men lighting, Witness did not know
fighting men. When the witness appear
ed the little man, meaning Hannah, was
refining his horse when the big man
(Woods) struck him In the face. Then bo,h
men exchanged blows.
Woods afterward kicked Hannuln in the
stomach
Police officer Ward testified to meeting
Mr.. Woods ut the station house and hear.
ing him state that lie had trouble with
man at his hotel and that he was about
dead Police Captain skane COrrobJrated
tho testimony. DR.. joseph h. Smith was
driving past the hotel at The time of the
murder and was called IN to attend the
man who was dead. He assisted in post
norton examination, which revealed tho
system Of blood circulation cOngested,
probably due TO alcohol and tho warm
weather.
There were also ruptures Of the blood
vessels. Death had been caused by pres.
sure of blood on the brain. Such cond.
ton might have been produced by blow
from the fist or tie head coming in con.
tact with some hard substance 1t also
might have been caused by tho hoo weather
and alcohol without a blow. The contl1
ton Of Hannums brain did not show that
very great violence had been used against
him. The doctor saw no indication Of any
great violence having been used OH any
part of the body. Tho doctor proved
good witness for the defense.
DIR. David MCCaulley also assisted in the
poslmortcln. llu believed death was due
to hcmorhages caused either by direct or
indirect violence.
He saidithe condition was different from
upopleXy in that the hemprrhags in that
case was localized while in that Of Han
NUNS was general. The blows inflicted by
Woods might have caused the condition
Of tho brain but the witness did not feel
satisfied in saying that they did
William II. Mcndinhall OF Oxford Pa,
testified to identifying the body. Coroner
StiGham also gave testimony and the court
adjourned until afternoon.