Evening star., 1897-05-13
Outcome of the Public Cowhiding
Episode.
ALL PARTIES WERE FINED
Civil Suit and More Trouble Likely
to Follow.
OF H ER LOCAL OTES
Evening Star Bureau,
No. $40 King Street,
Ro1l Tolonhono No 1tn

The court room at police headquarters
was we'll filled with people this morning
to hear the trial of Daniel M. Steers, who
was publicly horsewhipped at the corner
of King and Pitt streets about noon yes
terday. Mr.. Steers was fined so for car
rying concealed weapons and Mr.. and Mrs
Kirby were fined IS each for assaulting
Mr.. Steers.
The trial was an interesting one, and q
number Of ugly facts were brought out
in connection with the trial. Officer Knight
was the first witness placed on the stand.
He told Of making the arrest. When he
took Steers to headquarters the officer ask
ed MIN what the trouble was. Steers re-
piled, said Officer Knight, Il guess that -
old - must have told him something" ;"
referring to Mr.. Kirby's wife. Mr.. ]. NJ
White was the next witness. Mr.. White
said he was attracted to the scene by the
noise. When he got to the door he saw a
pistol in Mr.. Steers hand. Could not say
whether or not it was cooked. He grabbed
Steers and Steers gave up the pistol. He
did not see Steers strike Mrs. Kirby.
b. B. Smith, deputy sergeant, was the
next witness. He was just going into War
fields drug store, when he saw the dis
turbance and saw Steers in the act Of cock
street and saw Mr.. White take the re-
volver from Steers.
J. H. Evans saw the disturbance. Saw
Mrs. Kirby in the act of cowhiding Mr.
Steers, also saw Steers with pistol. Officer
Knight testified that the pistol was cooked.
]. Stanley Neale testified to having seen
the disturbance, and his testimony was
about the same as the others, as was also
Atkins and T. E. Duaney.
Mr.. Steers was then put on the stand in
his own defense. He said that he was
walking down Pitt street toward King
W han he X trhv uyff I'm m
King street. Steers said he crossed dag
onally across King and Pitt to avoid meet
ing Kirby and his wife. He told of Mrs.
Kirby cowhiding him, and how he threw UP
his hands to defend himself He denied
striking Mrs. Kirby, and said that he had
given the pistol to Mr.. White, fearing he
would become excited and shoot He gave
as his reason for having the pistol in his
pocket that he had to go out to Braddock
Heights, and feared he might be attacked.
The cross-examination of Mr.. Steers was
conducted by Mr.. Brent, attorney for Mr..
and Mrs. Kirby.
You stated just now, Mr.. Steers, that
you tried to avoid a meeting with Mr.. and
Mrs. Kirby, why was that?" asked Mr..
Brent.
To this question counsel for Steers OBJ
jected, but the mayor made Steers answer.
Il had heard that he made threats
against my life'
What kind of threats?'
He threatened to shoot me on sight"
when and where was this threat, and
who communicated it to your
Counsel again interposed objection, but
the mayor made Steers answer.
Kirby told me himself in his own
house."
who was present"
"Mr. Hugh Crockett and Mr.. Pyne."
why did he make this threat?
At this juncture there was a sharp parley
of words between counsel on both sides.
the counsel for Mr.. Steers claiming that
Steers would not have to answer question
that would incriminate him, while Mr..
Brent. counsel for Kirby, claimed that he
could bring out anything that would show
provocation for the assault.
The mayor modified the question by ask
ing Mr. Steers II he had not said something
derogatory to the character OF Kirby's
wife, and he answered: II had said some
thing about his wife that he did not seem
to relish.'
What was itr' asked Mr.. Brent. But
the mayor would not compel him to an
swer, claiming that the remark made by
Steers to Officer Knight when he was ar
rested, which he admitted would let every
one understand what he had said to
Kirby.
Whom did you mean by that - .old
- when you spoke to Officer Knight?'
asked Mr.. Brent
Il meant Mr.. Kirbys wife,
Just one more question, Mr.. Steers, did
you cock that pistol?"
Il did not"
Mr.. Brent opened up the argument fol
hHDy, anu III an eloquent speech re1erreO
to the fact that only villains and men OF
low degree DETAINED the characters Of wo-
men. That Mr.. and Mrs. Kirby were per-
fectly justifiable in the assault, and that
they would have been justifiable had they
put Steers under the sod for defaming the
fair name of Mrs. Kirby.
Mr.. Flanagan for Steers responded in
eloquent terms. and said that he, too was
fair name Of woman. but said Mr.
Flanagan, ut has never been shown that
my client has DETAINED the character OF
any woman. 1t has not been proven that he
Mrs. Kirby"
The attorney for Mr.. and Mrs Kirby did
not put them on the stand because Steers
had admitted that he had spoken in de-
rogatory terms Of Mrs. Kirby both to Mr.
Kirby and to Officer Knight.
The mayor. in summing up the evidence,
said that he would have to fine Steers $40
for carrying concealed weapons. and Mr..
and Mrs. Kirby IS each for assault
Mr.. Kirby told The Star reporter that he
would at once enter civil suit against
Mr.. Steers. and make him prove or swal-
low the charges he has made against Mrs.
with much interest. More trouble is likely
to result from the occurrence.
Notes.
AS forecasted exclusively in The Star,
Governor O'FerraI has appointed Colonel
James M. Love of Fairfax Court House
judge Of the Fairfax and Alexandria coun-
ty courts, to fill the vacancy caused by the
death of Judge D. M. Chichester. The ap-
pointment gives general satisfaction
Thomas P. Davis Post. G. A. R., has
completed the arrangements for the cele-
bration Of Decoration day. The religious
ceremonies will be conducted py Rev. l..
j. McDougle. and ]. R. ellison Of Tennes-
see will deliver the Grafton.
Mrs. Rosina Dufrey, one of Alexandria 8
oldest citizens. died late yesterday after
noon.
Mrs. ]. E. Thacher, wife of the new pas
tor Of the Second Presbyterian Church,
arrived in the city last night.
Rev. Sam Small will preach in Trinity
M. E. Church Sunday.
The illustrated lecture on the Life of Ma
poleon at the Lyceum last night was q
great success.
The ladies of the M. E. Church South
will have strawberry festival tonight
Biking ON the Ceiling.
From Answers.
daring bicyclist. who rides head down.
ward, suspended from the ceiling ia thf