Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-12
T o, DEF END ORD
Messrs Peters and Donaldson Will As.
sumo the Task.
Mr.. ShillingtOn and Mr.. Walker Both
Declined-FOrd Visited Again
by Detectives.

Judge Cole this afternoon appointed Ar
thur Peters, formerly of Maryland, and r.
Newton Donaldson, attorneys to defend
Murderer Irwin Ford. Mr.. Peters is one of
the youngest members of the bar, and
81 aduated at the head of his class in the
law school.
AS it cannot be expected that they will
secure an acQuittal for Ford, it is to be
assured that he will be convicted only af-
ter being proven to be clearly guilty of
his crime. Mr.. Donaldson is also a clever
young lawyer.
Mr.. Joseph Shillington, who was yester-
day afternoon invited by Judge Cole to
conduct the defense in the case of Irving
Ford, the self-confessed murderer of Ell
sic kreglo. this morning informed the
judge that his engagements are such as
viii prevent his acceptance of the courts
invitation. Judge Cole thereupon invited
Mr.. Philip Walker to defend the prisoner.
informing him that he would request Mr..
Arthur Peters and Mr.. Richard Donaldson,
two younger members of the bar, to as
sist him. Mr.. Walker declined.
Mr.. Shllington explained to Star re-
porter that while he naturally felt re-
pugnance to defending such man as Ford
has confessed himself to be, yet had his
engagements permitted he would have ac-
cepted the assignment out of respect for
Judge Coles wishes. Mr.. Shillington in
timated that only insanity could be urged
in defense of the negro. and to properly
make such a defense would necessarily
quire considerable expenditure of time and
labor Mr.. Sbillington expressed some
doubt to whether the confess sion made
by Ford could be used against him. Ger
tainly not, he thought, if through fear and
undue influence the man made them. In
any event, he believed the case would be
carried to the Court of Appeals, although
he felt that no undue unnecessary de-
lay would be attempted by counsel as
signed to defend the man.
In speaking of the case to Star re-
porter today Judge Cole said that he is
extremely anxious to select such counsel
for Ford will secure for him every right
due him, and for that reason he had been
anxious to have Mr.. Shiliington assume
charge of the mans defense. Yet, he felt
that he could not insist upon Mr.. Shilling
tons acceptance of the assignment, es
pecially the law provides for COM
penSation for counsel assigned by the court
to defend an alleged criminal. However,
he believed that Mr.. Walker would accept
the assignment, and as he is a capable
man, he expressed himself as being con-
fident that the man will be earnestly and
Well defended.
Visited mt the Jail.
Yesterday afternoon Detectives Horne
and Weldon went to the Jail and had
conversation with Murderer Irving l.. Ford,
but learned from him nothing that he had
not already told them, so far as the charge
against him is concerned. The prisoner
seems to have taken a liking to the officers
and now he tells of how near he came TO
killing one both of them. AS hereto
fore published in The Star, he says he
saw the officers when they were in the
woods searching for him.
And" he said. I'm glad you didn't
come up on me. i like you, but If you had
come up much closer on me in the woods i
certainly would have shot you, for l had
pistol with six bullets in it
He says he dropped the pistol when he
jumped in the river at Harper's Ferry.
The prisoner expressed himself as much
pleased with the visit of his wife. for he
had feared she had forsaken him.
This time last week. said the muir
derer to the officers, Il didn't know what
L was doing"
While Ford has made up his mind that
he has got to die, he is extremely anxious
that every effort possible should be made
to save him. He says he wants somebody
to call and read the Bible to him, as he
wants to make the necessary preparations
for the next world.
Detective Weldon still thinks that Ford
killed the old shoemaker, Wesley Hall, and
thinks that later on he will tell the story
Of the crime There We're no new develop
ments in this part Of the Investigation to-
day, nor are any developments expected
for a few days. The prisoners wife Will
call upon him Thursday or Friday, and
she has promised the officers to get him to
tell Of the Hall murder if he really commit
ted that crime.