The times., 1897-07-22
MATTHEW CHASECON YICTED
Entered Mrs. Quinlan's Room at
Night With Hatchet.
The Young Colored Mans Explana-
tion of the Affair Not Satis-
factory TO the Jury.

Matthew Chase, a colored man, nineteen
years old, charged with brea king into
the house and store Of Mrs Louisa Quin-
Ian, at No. 643 l. street southwest, on he
night of July 8, stealing So, and going
into her bedroom with hatehet while
she was asleep, was yesterday, in the
criminal court, tried and convicted OF
housebreaking. Two Of the jurors did
not agree to the verdict at first, con-
tending that the evidence was conflict
ing and not sufficient, but they gave in
finally
The attorney for the defendant was Mr.
Truitt Mr.. smnington was the prosecut-
ing attorney
Mrs Qulnlan, a large and rather hand
some blonde was the first witness called.
she testified that she kept small cigar
and confectionery store at No. 643 l.
street.
She went on an excursion down the
river on the sth OF July, leaving her
home alone. She came back at ] . O'Clock
and went to bed on the second floor.
Later she was awakeued by hearing the
dog next door barking furiously. After
that she heard q chair, which She had
placed against the door, move and a
moment after felt hand on her foot at
the bottom of the bed. She got up, very
much frightened, and screamed She
saw a man, whom she could not identify,
disappear out OF her door
Soon after two Officers made their ap-
the intruder Mrs. Quinlau testified that
Matthew Chase, the defendant, had
been scrubbing her store floor every morn
ing for few days at the time He
was never allowed TO go upstairs She
said that one of the windows of her house
was insecure. Afterward she discovered
that So was missing from her money
drawer She found u hatchet in her room
James Adams, who lives in the neighbor-
hood, testified that lie had seen Chase
leaving the yard of Mrs Quinlan's house
with no hat or shoes on, only pair OF
trousers. His shirt was on his arm
Another witness testified to seeing Chase
running away from the scene very scantily
clad. He recognized him as Chase, whom
he had seen once before, by his color and
height. He did not see his face
OFFICER Snyder testified to arrestng the
man the next afternoon. Chase told him
at first that he didn't know anything about
the affair, hut afterwards, when Snyder
tod him he might S well confess as
everything was known, he said that Mrs
Quinlan had told him to keep the house
for her while she was away on the excur-
sion. When she came back, as il was late
she allowed lin to sleep in the house
during the night. When she screamed I'D
stairs he had became frightened and ran
away.
Several witnesses, white and colored,
testified TO Chase's good character, but
it was developed that he had been at the
reform school for stealing.
The defendant made a peculiar state
ment. He said he staId at Mrs Ouinlan's
house until 1880, at her request, and
then went down to the wharf for her.
Mrs. Quinlan did not go directly home,
however, but up into the city-on d street
She returned at about O'Clock on a
car, under the influence OF liquor man
was in front Of the house with n cab
but he had not brought Mrs. Ouinlan IN
Mrs. Quinan told him to come around
by the back door, as she didn't want
the cabman to see him coming in. and
she would let him sleep in the house that
night. She let him In the back door
She then went upstairs, and soon after
screamed that there was a man in her
room. He called to her three times and
then ran away. He had carried the
hatchet UP to her the afternoon before.
TO drive down some tacks, and had left
1t there at her request