Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-19


nan designated as Rye, ne bad Just left the
CRIB in front of the Wyatt building He
started toward the Ebbitt House diagonal
~ across street. When the shooting be-
gan Rye was about twelve feet from the
Willard corner. He was much nearer VIII
lard Hotel corner than either of the other
corners. Rye stopped walking when the
shooting began, and fell after the shots
had been fired. He did not move Mrs.
Cooper was asked to designate on the
dia gram where Rye fell. She marked a
SPOT nearer Willard's thar the Wyatt build
ing, about where the building line of 18th
street would have crossed + street
Some little time, few seconds elapsed
she said, before persons came to Rye's as
sistance after he was shot. Then a few
persons ran and were followed by a crowd
Mrs Cooper was again taken to the dia-
gram and asked how much of crowd was
present when the shooting began. She re-
Piled that there were not many persons.
did you see a man standing on the curb
E=re?" inquired Mr.. Warrington, indicat-
ing.
II did not" replied the witness
What are you doing?' inquired District
Attorney Davis, quickly; trying to create
an individual the curb?'
"Oh, no., responded Mr.. Worthington,
blandy. "It is a creature of flesh and
blood, a witness. Wfdney. who testified h.
was staEding at the point indicated and
who said the crowd was so great between
that point and the man who was shot that
he couldn't see him."
Mrs. COoper's testimony closed with this,
and recess " as ordered.
Proceedings After Recess.
The first witness called after recess was
Edward Anderson of Austin Texas, residing
here at the Orleans Hotel He testified that
on the day of the shooting he was on the
curb just back of Villa rd's Hotel, on F
street, south side. He had a very slight
acquaintance with Rye. Did not know
CAVITY
Witness was exactly opposite the West
ern Union telegraph office. He saw a man,
who was standing at the mail box across
the street, raise pistol and fire at a man
about three feet in front of him. The man
shot at backed two and a half feet and
another shot fired. The man shot at
walked sdewse further, and two more
shots were fired at quick intervals. He
was then about thirty feet from the man
shooting and fell, or. rather, doubled up
on the pavement. Witness did not see the
man shot make any motion. He seemed to
retreat In sidewise position. with his head
turned to the north. Witness did not hear
either of the parties say anything Heard
some one cry murder three times but
could not tell whether it was Rye or not
Asked by Mr.. Davis to indicate how Cantv
held the pistol. witness said he had the
pistol down near his hip and raised IT
snShtiy at the first shot. 1t was then low
cred and afterward raised again. and the
two remaining shots were fred in Quick
succession.
stood Fronting Each Other.
On cross-eXamination witness said Rye,
when the first shot was fired, was directly
confronting Canty and about three feet
from the point of the pistol Canty was
on the curb and Rye en- the concrete. Wit
ness designated on the diagram the points
where the men stood when the shooting
commenced. He did not know what hal
occurred before the pistol was held m
Dld not notice the men until he saw the
pistol In Cantys hand. When the last shot
was flred Rye was about five feet from
Canty. He then moved in an awkward
way for about twenty-five feet before he
dropped. When the shooting began witness
thought there We're some men standing near
me parties and just beyond them. Did not
notice anybody Immediately with them.
Rye fell with his right hand extended to
the concrete, and when it touched the
ground his knees gave way and he fell and
roIled on his back No one was with Rye
when he fell, but several persons ran To
him Immediately afterward.
Was In the Line of Fire.
The next witness was Berkeley c. Waller
Of 1919 l. street, student. Witness hap
pened to be crossing 14th street diagonally
from the Ebbitt House to Wyatt building
the day Of the shooting. He heard a pistol
shot and saw man with a pistol pointed
at another man, who was reeling Two or
more additional shots were fired in quick
succession. Witness did not pay very close
attention thereafter, as he was in the line
of fire and retreated toward Wilards cor
ner Witness designated on the diagram
the positions of the man who did the shoot
ing ana the man who was shot at the time
he saw them after the first pistol report
attracted his attention. The men were
about ten feet apart then There was an
interval of about five seconds between the
first shot and the Others the latter COM
Ing RAPIDLY, Rve acted ''wrjpplyf hap no
went down. When he fell he seemed to
reel, with his hands in the air Couldn't
say whether Rye's hands were closed or
whether there was anything in either of
them. Witness was present when Rye was
picked up.
Cross-examned, witness was asked by
Mr.. WOrthingtOn if he had testified that he
had turned around on his way from the Eb-
bitt to the Wyatt building, when he heard
the pistol report. He said he did and ex-
planned by the diagram how he did SO.
This closed Walters testimony.
Messenger Boy "a Witness.
The next witness was Willard Taylor,
seventeen years CID, a messenger in Ike
District Mutual service. AT the time of the
shooting witness was on 14th stree. at the
rear of the Wyatt building dismounting
from his bicycle at the curb. Witness saw
the two men standing at the corner of 14th
and + streets. They locked very much eX-
cited. Witness saw MIR. CAVITY, whom he
knew, draw pistol from his right side ami
hold it up. Mr. Rye made sort of a side
step back with his left side toward CAVITY.
He was about seven feet from Canty when
the first shot was fired.
He kept backing. At the second shot Rye
thraw up one hand and said something that
sounded like murder" At the third shot
Rye went slowly down to his knees and
then keeled over his back.
On cross-eXamination witness said the
two men were standing together and seem
ed very much excited. COIll not RVa'S
right hand, because pole was in the way.
W hen the first shot was fired Rye had one
foot on the curb and one foot on the con-
crete.
next Witness
He was a bootblack at the time of the
shooting. and was thu corner of 18th and
F streets. Knew both MeSsrS. Canty and
Rye by sight Witness version of the
shooting did not differ from that Of the
QrECpliQlr witnesses lltiQD |