The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1896-01-30
DENOUNCED THE OFFICER
Policeman vermiI|ion Verbally
AssaiIed in Court.
ALLEGED ASSAILANT'S CASE
Davis, Enrly and Hurley the Men Who
Were With Dempsey the Night He
Was Killed by the Patrolman-Dra-
matte Scene In Court-CounseI Turn
Their Batteries Upon the Accuser.

| Policeman William vermiliion was prac-
ticaily put on trial this morning before the
bar of public opinion for killing Timothy
| Dempsey at the Malone lot on September 20
| last.
The case called was before Judge Cox,
and the defendants were John Early. alias
Jimmy john" Richard Hurley and Morris
| Davis, on a charge of assaulting an officer
at that time and place.
The men were represented by Andrew
Lipscomb, ex-COagressInan c. II. Turner
and Joseph shillinGton. An effort has been
made to have VerIniliion indicted. and the
attorneys from the outset began vigorous
onslaught upon his character. Intelligence
and capacity.
aided by Mr.. John Laskey. attempted To
of the charges against the three men on
trial. and considerable feeling was devel-
uped between counsel.
Mr.. Lipscumb, IL will be remembered,
formerly occupied precisely the same po-
sitiun in the district attorneys office now
held by Mr.. Jeffurds.
An incident of the hearing was the dis
covery that Mr.. Vermillion. who was in
hic piotpi ch hiIhs
unloading it in open court to allow the at
torneys TO look for its caliber.
THE CASES HISTORY.
Mr.. Jeffords opened for the government
by stating that Policeman VernilliOn found
four men carousing about key OF beer al
First and L streets, on the night OF Sep
TENDER % last, about l a. III.
They were cursing and swearing, and
when spoken TO by the officer. threatened
him. AZ row ensued, in which Timothy
Dempsey knocked VermillioD down, Then
he, with the others, jumped on him, took
his club away, and were beating him when
he threatened 10 shoot.
They continued to beat him, and he shot
aud killed Dempsey. He then called for
help, and other policemen came to his
aid. Two men were arrested, the fourth
escaped. This fourth man came 10 the
station twelve hours later and told of a plot
that night tn harm Vermillion. He made
much OF the alias Jimmy John.''
EX-CongresSman Turner, giving to the
jury the DEFENDANTS version. turned atten-
ton almost exclusively to Mr.. Nermilliun.
He said the four men were gathered at
the corner OF vacant lot on one bf the
hottest nights OF last summer. Two were
lying down.
Vermillion, Familiarity known as "Butty,'
who boosted OF his shooting recbrd. came
along, drunk. He noticed Dempsey lying
asleep on the ground and struck him a
heavy blow on the foot. A fight followed,
Dempsey getting the better. Then, fear
ing more trouble, Dempsey started away
and Vermillion shot him dead. The other
men then attacked him and We're arrested.
a DRAMATIC ASSERTION.
He said he would bring Dempseys clothes
into court. They prove these things true"
he exclaimed, with that sort OF evidence
which the great God OF eternal justice
creates when He intends to mark a muir
derer beyond doubt"
Policeman VermiIlion was the first wit
ness called. He said q little after mid
night OF September % he was passing
where some ladies were pla wing ON the piano.
He said he was sorry he couldn't stop. He
heard Il disturbance near the Malone lot
and he expected he was going to get into
trouble.
He came up to where the four men. the
defendants and Dempsey. Were drinking,
quarreling and cursing. He commanded
them to stop the disorder and disperse
Dempsey answered: You've shaved off
your mustache. you - - -, but ynJ
can't disguise yourself. You can't run a
beat here as You have in South Washing
ton. This is your stopping place right here"
He told Dempsey that would do for him;
come along Dempsey knocked him down,
He got up, blew his whistle and the four
jumped on him, threw him down, took his
club away and were beating him. He
threatened TO shoot. They tried TO get his
pistol 1t was discharged and Dempsey was
killed.
Then Mr.. Lipscomb began a fusilade of
cross-eXamination that was taken up
later by Messrs. Shiilington and Turner
and continued two hours.