Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-09
William M. Strather on Trial for the
Crime. a.
BE TESTIFIES IN Els own BEHALF
Calmly Charges That Rosa Was
the Aggressor.
THE TESTIMONY CLOSED

The trial of William NJ. Strather. colored
| charged with the murder, the 18th of last
October, of Rosa Talbot, by cealing her
| half a dozen blows with a Ratchet. was
| continued today before Judge Bradley in
| Criminal Court No. 2.
Nathan Horn, Thomas Revelles, Rev.
VIM. J. Howard, David Lucas and VIM.
| Carroll were called in the interest of the
defendant, some to testify as to the rep
utation Of Strather for peace and good
order and some to state that the murdered
| woman was of qrarrelsome disposition.
Strather then took the stand. He stated
that he is twentyfour years Of age. and
was born in Virginia. He had lived in this
city regularly for twelve years past. and
mad known Rosa Talbot for six years. He
mad hved with her Tor nearly three years.
The defendant added that he had been en-
gagged In the sale of newspapers for twelve
years in the vicinity of 18th and streets.
Strather denied empha tically that he had
Quarreled with Rosa the day before the
murder Murder. or that he had at any time
the night of the 14th of October their re-
lations were entirely peaceable
witness arose, he said about 5 O'Clock
the morning of the 18th and went down
TO me yard to wash at the hydrant Re
turning, he noticed Ratchet lying on a
shelf. He carried it upstairs for the pur-
pose of fastening a latch on the door. AS
witness entered the room he placed the
Ratchet on a chair. Rosa was standing by
a window. She said to him:
Il had a dream last night that you were
going with other women, and a fortune
teller told me the same thing, so l believe
it,"
Witness told Rosa that she was foolish
to listen to pack of lies and waste her
money on fortune tellers. Rosa became
very angry and quarrel followed. Rosa
iv,pnc 4,
saying:
RI kill you because of your running
with other women
The blows fell a wound in witness
face caused by an liberated TOOTH Intense
pain was caused. Witness thought Rosa
was going to kill him. He was very nerv-
| Gus and frightened for fear she would kill
him, and was greatly excited because of
fear and pain. Witness, at the height of
his fear, excitement and suffering struck
Rosa with the Ratchet. He was very sorry,
he said when he realized what he had
done.
Says Rose Wns QuarrelsOme.
Continuing, Strather said that Rosa was
continually quarreling with him and had
frequently assaulted him, because of her
supposition that he was running with other
women. She had once cut him on the lip
with a penknife. Rosa had often threat
ened to kill him, and such threats on her
part were repeated to him by other per-
sons.
Strather denied that several letters. adj
dressed to Rosa Talbert, and produced
by the prosecuting attorney, were written
by him. With the utmost composure he
underwent a rigid cross examination.
rs that the hatchet with which Won
killed Rosa Talbot asked Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Shillington, Indicating the
bloody weapon.
1T is replied strather, calmly.
Are those your socks and under
clothes?' then inquired Mr.. Shillington.
They are" was the answer
Is that h. Rosa Talbots blood on the gar
1T probably is"
AT the instance of Mr.. ShilIjngton
Strather took the Ratchet and indicated
the manner in which he delivered the blows
that caused the death of the woman
Did you see that great cash in her fore
head? asked the prosecuting attorney
Il did," stated the defendant
why didn't you stop chopping her when
you saw that great CASH." Mr.. Shilinston
wanted to know.
Il was excited and didn't know what
was doing"
why did you think it necessary to chop
her up in that manner?'
Il didn't know what she had in her other
hand-a razor or what" Strather said.
Why did you finally stop chopping p"
Mr.. Shillington inquired.
Because Baylor knocked at the door,
Why didn't you let him IMP
because Rosa was not dressed
ana that was after you had chopped
her IN the manner Indicated" remark ed
Mr. Shillingtcn. What were Rosa's last
words?" A' last
II don't know" declared Strather.
D ,N1,, she say: Let me up or Stop: you
are killing me?' F"
She may have"
Fletcher Corroborates.
fichard FLETCHER, at whose house Stra-
'her and Rosa Talbot occupied room
seine time ago, followed the prisoner on
the stsnd. He stated that while there
i'oS" frequently quarreled with Strather
ard on several occasions assaulted him
cutting him once with a knife on the LID
IN crcss-examinaticn the witness said that
ne had seen Strather strike the woman
Charies II. Young testified that he had
more IMAM once seen Rosa assault Stra Their
one such instance being about month
Trior to the murder Rosa told witness
she intended to kill Strather the first
chance she got.
several witnesses We're called by the de-
ieIse 10 snow that the mornings of the
18th and 18th of October. at D o'clock
slrather was selling papers at 18th and F
streets. This testimony was introduced to
contradict witnesses for-the government
WHO stated at the time mentioned Strather
was elsewhere making threats to kill Rosa.
Inc defense caused somewhat of a sur
prise by calling Lee Talbot husband of
the murdered woman
What sort of a disposition did Rosa
possess?" the witness was asked
assistant District Attorney Shillington
objected to the examination of Talbot on
the ground that any information he could
give In relation to Rosa was obtained dur
ing the marital relation
attorney Roodhouse, in reply, said that
the husband was called to state a fact; that
ne could state 1t IL he so desired, as the
marriage relation with the woman had ter
minated.
At this point Judge Bradley directed that
recess be taken. saying he would dispose
OF the question when the proceedings were
Testimony Ruled Out.
After recess Judge Bradley ruled that
Talbot could not testify, and the defense
noted an exception. Il Il
Susie c. Pollard wassthe last witness for
the defense. By her 1t was attempted to
snow that Rosa Talbot possessed a quar-
relsome and treacherous disposition.
In rebuttal. Mr.. Shillingto1f recalled jose
prime Barker. who testified that Strather
gave her letter to deliver to Rosa, and
that the witness had had given to her by
boy letter for Rosa. which the boy said
mad been sent by Strather
Mr.. Shillington offered the letters in evil