Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-15
TRIAL FOR .HpS LIFE
Edward Smith Before the Court on
Charge Of Murder.
TIE KILLING OF EDh9 \ ! JACKSON
Testimony Given Today by Police
Officers and o u
STORY OF THE CRIME

The trial of Edward Smith, colored. for
the murder the 18th of last November of
Edmonia Jackson, colored, was continued
today before Judge Bradley, in Criminal
Court No. 2. The first proceeding after the
opening of court was to complete the jury
the twelve men finally selected being
Messrs. John S. Mcdonald James W.
Simpson, Charles D. Collins. Otto L. Wolf
steiner, Samuel D. Phillips. Theo. B. Crow,
William NJ. Beall, Wylie Palmer, Edward
F. Davis, William H. Harrison, Nathan
Newman and George w. Wagner.
Assistant District Attorney Laskey, in
his opening address to the jury, explained
in detail the circumstances surrounding
the alleged murder of Edmonia Jackson.
Smith occupied the down stairs front room
in house 124 Madison alley, between list
and I'd, E and streets, said Mr.. Laskey,
while Edmonia had a room directly above
that occupied by Smith The other rooms
in the house were assigned to different
persons. About 5 phi, Friday, November
IS, Edmonia was found dead in the bed in
Smiths room. with wounds in her neck
and threat. There was a pool of clotted
blood beneath the head Of the woman,
and nearby was a bloody Ratchet. A
blade of a knife was embedded in the
clenched hand of the woman. This knife,
was the property Of Smith.
Continuing, Mr.. Laskey said thai No
vember Is Edmonia went to the District
jail to visit her husband, who was confined
there. When she returned to her room she
called to Smith, requesting him to get her
some beer. He upbraided her for going to
the Jail. She denied going there. Smith in
CURED of several of the other roomcrs in
the house if Edmonia had visited her hus-
band, and received replies in the negative.
Not being satisfied, he quarreled with the
woman.
Later she went to Smiths room. Tha.
night other parties in the house heard a
noise, as though a person had fallen.
few minutes thereafter some person left
the house and proceeded to a hydrant in
the yard. The water was turned on, sounds
as though some one was washing followed
then the water was turned off, and the per-
sen returned to the house.
The Inquiry Made.
The next day, Tuesday, Mr.. Laskey said,
as the government expected to prove, Mar
tina Williams, who rented a room in the
house. asked Smith what had become of
Edmonia. He replied that she had gone to
a service place. The following. day, saying
she had an important message to deliver.
Martha demanded to know where Edmonia
could be found. Smith made answer that
she was working at 11l5t 11th street. At
that number Martha learned that nothing
was known of Edmonia jackson. The at
tention of Smith was called to that fact,
and he explained that he intended to say
1135 18th street, instead of 1115. When
Martha called at 1875 18th street she met
with no greater success than at Ills.
Mr.. Laskey declared that from Monday,
November 10, till Friday, November 10
last. Smith occupied the poom wherein was
lying the body of Edmonia Jackson. Thurs
day he moved his pallet from his room to
the kitchen, taking it by way of the front
door, and not opening a door leading from
his room to the kitchen.
Friday Smith met a police officer and told
the latter that he Thought Edmonia was
dead. The policeman began an investiga-
ton that resulted in the finding of the
body and the arrest Of Smith.
The prisoner told different stories of the
flair, the attorney said, denying that he
killed the woman and declaring that she
took her own life.
Last July Smith had trouble with Ed
mona's husband, Mr.. Laskey explained.
and both men were sentenced to Jail for
the woman that If she ever again lived
with her husband he (Smith) would cut
her - - throat. While in jail serv-
ing the sentence for assault Smith made
threats to kill Edmonia, and at the time OF
his release from Jail remarked that he
would soon return, but on a charge far
more serious than that for which he had
just served time. Smith was released from
Jail the 10th of November. Five days later
Edmonia was dead.
The First Witness.
Dr. Sterling Ruffin the first witness for
the government, stated that he performed
an autopsy the Goth of last November on
the body of Edmonia Jackson. From the
appearance of the body, said DR.. Ruffin, the
woman had been dead probably four days.
The throat had been cut and there was a
deep wound in the back Of the neck. There
was also a wound in the palm of the hand.
Death, in the. opinion of the witness, had
cn6 NV he fha hnp 1f nf
the neck, which had probably been inflicted
with a Ratchet.
On cross-examination the witness stated
he was positive that the wounds had been
Of the woman was not due to smothering,
poisoning or any cause other than the
| wound at the back of the neck.
William Schoenberger, in charge of the
room at the time of the finding of the
body; Of the condition of the body, and of
the removal to the morgue
Lieut.. John F. Kelly of the sixth police
precinct, identified the Ratchet and knife
exhibited in court as the articles that had
been in his possession since the time of
the finding of the body and which had
been found IN Smiths room.
Policeman COx's Story.
Policeman Cox of the sixth precinct fol-
lowed Lieut. Kelly on the stand.
The 10th of November, he said, he met
Smith on the street. The latter asked:
Where is Mr.. Hartigan"' meaning the
precinct detective. Witness replied that
he did not know. Smith then said he had
an important case and wanted a good man
to take charge of it. Later Smith said to
the witness:
do you know Edmonia Jackson?"
The reply was in the negative.
Smith then said: We'll, she is dead
The witness went to the house In Madison
alley, made search aud discovered the
body When he broke into the room Smith
was with him. Perceiving., the condition of
the body, the witness said to Smith:
you killed that woma4r a.
In response, Smith murmured, ''Oh, my!'
and turned aside.
Some time thereafter, Policeman Cox tes-
titled, he was present at the station house
during the progress of an Interview be-
tween Detective Hartigan and, Smith. The
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