Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-20
JAMES STROSNIDER ON TRIAL
Hearing Of the Man Alleged to Have Swindled
McKahan.
Assistant District Attorney Shilling
ton outlines Case for Government
Attorney Taylor for the Defense.

Inc trial of James Strosnider the young
man who is charged with having last May
OBTAINED $2J0 from James E. McKahan and
S25 and $50 bicycle from Blanche Wheeler,
by pretending that he desired to bet the
money and machine on foot race between
William Boyd. alias Billy Stibbs, and an
unknown runner, said to have been brought
on from Philadelphia by one Arthur Lewis,
commenced before Judge Cole in Criminal
Court No. 1 yesterday afternoon was re-
sumed this morning. The two indictments
alleging false pretenses were consolidated
with one charging Strosnider with the lar
ceny CT $50 diamond ring from Mr.. Nc
kahan about the same time
In explaining the case to the jury, AS
sistant District Attorney Shillington stated
that the government would show that
Strosnider and McKahan had known each
other from boyhood, both having resided at
Naynesburs, Pa: that Strosnider came TO
Washington about the middle of May; that
he introduced Boyd TO McKahan as Siibbs.
explaining that the latter was a very fleet
runner; that Lewis had brought on to
Washington runner whom the Phila-
deiphia desired to bet S31ao. the
proposition being that his man could de-
feat StibbS: that StroSnider represented to
Mckahan that Stibbs was a sure winner,
"a 1ead-pipe cinch;" that he (Strosnider) in
formed McKahan and the Wheeler woman
not lose, and that in that way Strosnider
got the money from them.
Played "a Myth.
Lewis and his unknown runner. said Mr..
Shillington, We're fictitious persons, the
race never occurred, and Strosrider and
Stibbs, after getting the money and ring.
suddenly left town, the former being sub
sequently arrested III West Virginia.
Strosnider, said Mr.. ShllingtCn. obtained
the ring from McKahan by stating that he
wished to flash it on Lewis. and in that
way lead him to believe that he (Stros-
nideD had plenty of stuff"
On behalf of Strosnder his attorney,
Mr.. Thos. c. Taylor, said he would show
that Mckahan really loaned the money to
be equally divided between them and
Stibbs. provided the latter won. The ring.
said MIR. Taylor was also loaned by Nc
kahan to Strosnider, while the woman,
having bet Strosnider in race be
tween him and Stibbs few days before
at the Alexander Island track, gave the
former SO and s2o more she got from a
sale of her bicycle to again bet on him.
McKahan on the Stand.
Mr.. McKahan was the first witness, and
his testimony and that of Miss Wheeler
substantially corroborated the contentious
Of the government. Mr.. McKahan was
subjected to a long cross-eXamination, dur
ing which he admitted that he loaned the
money and ring to Strosnider, it being
understood that he (McKahan) was to act
as stakeholder. He denied that he won
the money at a game of poker with marked
cards with a western representative in
Congress. He explained, however that
he loaned the money and ring on Stros-
nider's representations.
Mr.. Shillington showed that the Wheeler
girls bicycle was found in the possession
of the defendants wife in West Virginia,
and after Mr.. Taylor, much to the surprise
of every one, had stated that lie would call
no witnesses on behalf of the defendant.
Mr.. Shillington addressed the jury.
The Government Case.
He claimed that there could be 10 doub.
of the defendants guilt. He submitted
that the evidence showed that Miss Wheel
er sold her bicycle to a friend Of the pris-
ober for the very SO she had a few min
utes before given Strosnider, the latter,
he claimed, having gone out and handed
the money to the alleged purchaser.
Mr.. Taylor argued that his client received
the money from both Mckahon and Miss
Wheeler as a loan, and in the same way
obtained the ring.
The jury retired shortly after o'clock.