Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-15
READY FOR VERDICT
NO Testimony for the Alleged Knockout
Drops Men.
All the Witnesses Called ana the
Lawyers Argue the Case
The Drugs Found.

Mansfield, the alleged Knockout drops"
men. was resumed before Judge Cole in
Criminal Court No. 1 this morning. AS ex-
planned in yesterdays Star, the men are
charged with robbing Peter Outwater of
Paterson. N. j.. of SO. last March; w.
Ross Brown of Pennsylvania of watch
and pocketbook, last January. and James
l.. White of the sergeant-at-arIns' office of
the Senate, of a watch and chain, the oath
of last March.
During the hearing yesterday. Mr.. Out
water stated that he met the defendants
at the bureau of engraving and printing.
thai he drank with them, los. conscious
ress, and. waking up in park. discovered
that he had been robbed He identified the
defendants, who were also identified by Eu-
genia de Groot guide at the bureau, as
having seen the three men together there.
Charles A. Baker stated that the men
boarded at GIG E street in March, and c.
A. Senseney of 3O4 14th street testified
that the three men were supplied by him
with three cocktails, which were drank by
them. Detective Helan testified to search
ing the defendants rooms with Detective
Boardman and to finding therein bottles
conts lining liquids.
Mr.. White stated that he met the defend
ants near the Raleigh Hotel He accepted
their invitation to drink, and shortly after
they left the Raleigh he became sick and
stupefled The defendants supported him,
a hand in his pocket. He found himself
in tie station house the next morning.
minus his watch That day a District
messenger boy brought his watch back to
him with a note signed Your friend,
JOHN He knew neither the writer nor
the handwriting, and the writer explained
that he had taken the watch from him the
night before because he was afraid he
would be robbed
The manager of the Raleigh bar, j. Herd
man. said that White and two men, who
appeared to be the deferdants came in
there about II 30 the night in question.
served to the three men. and he remem-
bered that they asked them 10 be made
sweet. After taking the drinks the men.
together. left the place.
Did you put anything in the drinks to
produce Inconsistencies? inquired Dis
tr.ct Attorney Birney.
No, SIR replied the witness
We'll. don't Manhattan cocktail pro-
duce such an effect?' asked Mr. A. A
Lipscomb. of counsel for the defendants
Not once in thousand times" said the
witness: land 1 know one would have no
such effect on you, sir
No, don't believe it would" remarked
Mr.. Lipscomb.
John Mehling. an attendant at the Ra-
leigh bar. said that Mr.. White and two
men. whom lie thought were the defend
ants, ordered sweet Manhattan cocktails
ard drank them. Mansfield seemed to
keep Mr.. White in close conversation
MI Brown testified that he reached the
city one evening last January. and stepped
across to the Clark House, on 9th street
in the rear of the ST. James Hotel He
sat down and called for beer, when the
defendants joined him. They drank to-
sethef several times, he pulled out his
pCcketbook to pay mis- share, and after the
defendants left the place, he discovered
that his pocketbook was missing While
he felt little badly the next morning, he
could not say that it was the result of any
c0llld no Hat
the defendants are the men he met in the
Clark House.
Chas. H. Clark. the proprietor of the
house, gave similar testimony positively
identifying the defendants as the men who
were present and drinking with Mr.. Brown.
The Drugs Found.
AS his Eext witness District Attorney
Birney called District Chemist John D.
Hird. He identified the bottles found in
the defendants rooms. stating that the
large ones contained choral hydrate crys-
tails. and the small ones, tiny walls, con-
tanned the solution of it. about thirty
grains in each of the walls. DR.. Hird, at
the suggestion Of Mr.. Birney. explained
that the action of choral, when taken in
doses of from fifteen to thirty grains on
the brain is that of a hypnotic, producing
sleep in from ten to thirty minutes. When
taken In greater doses 1t paralyzes the
Lervors system. causing death Dr. Hird
also explained that, although the taste Of
choral is caustic and bitter its odor being
pungent and disagreeable. it can be dis
guised by the use of sugar and other sweet
materials There Is, he said, no recognized
aDtidote for choral poisoning.
Detective Horne testified to examining
the rooms of the defendants with Detec-
tiVes Weldon and Helan. and to finding the
bottles. The men, when placed under ar
rest. said. smilingly. well. what is it? A
pinch?" They were told that was right,
when Mansfield said: well, you won't
hang us. will your He said: Now, tell
us straight what you want us for" They
were told. when they asked If it looked
bad for them. Weldon told them that it
did. and then the men went quietly with
them to headquarters.
CrOss-Exa mined.
Mrs Levy stated that the defendants
roomed with her at GIG E street for
short time last January, and returned in
March.
Policeman Kilmartin stated that he found
Mr.. White at 18th and E streets the night
he claims to have been robbed by the de-
PENDANTS, hanging to a tree in a helpless
and daZed condition. He said he had been
robbed by two companions, and appeared
to have been drugged.
What did you do with the man." asked
Mr.. Lipscomb.
II sent him to the station house and
charged him with being drunk"
Why"
Because couldn't charge him with be-
ing sick
But wasn't he a sick man."
well. l didn't know. But he was
stupid"
We'll, why didn't you put him on the
police force. instead of locking him up?''
The policeman declined to reply, and De-
tective Weldon took the stand, testifying
i'll confederation of Detective Horne. Mr..
Birney then announced the close of the
governments case. After a few minutes
consultation with their clients, counsel for
the defense occasioned not a little surprise
by stating that they had no evidence to in
troduce. A discussion of the law applying
in the case followed, after which counsel
proceeded to make the closing arguments
to the jury.
A verdict is expected late this afternoon
In Bad Condition.
Bicycists all over the city are complain