Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-02
CALLED FOR DEFENSE
Miss Roberta Somerville a Witness
for Dennis Canty.
THAT RYE DREW A KNIFE
Evidence in Rebutta! Submitted by
District Attorney
PROGRESS OF THE TRIAL

Miss Roberta Sornervlle. a witness
for the defense in the Canty trial, hitherto
unknown to Misrepresentation was placed ON
the stand for the first time this morning,
and her evidence was both sensational and
amusing. The jury woke UP, so to speak,
| from the somnolent condition toward which
it had been rapidly gravitatiIg, and heard
with deep interest the fair young witness
say much toward clearing the defendant
Of the charge of willful, premeditated
murder.
The prosecution evidently was somewhat
taken aback by the testimony, and MIR.
Davis seemingly used all his skill in an
effort to break down her positive asser
lions that she saw Rye draw II long knife
from his hip pocket. and saw it concealed
under his coat on the right side during the
moments he luarrelins with Canty.
During the remainder of the day evidence
in rebuttal was submitted.
VIM. c. McIntire, a clerk in the patent
office Was then offered by Mr.. Davis. OBJ
jections brought from the prosecutor the
statement that he wanted to prove by him
that Rye was man whose bark was
worse than his bite, and that his gestures
and language at the time he was shot
we're no more than usual with him. The
judge ruled otherwise and excused the jury
so that he could state his reason: 1t being
that had Mclntire seen the shooting and
then said that Rye's actions were not un-
usual, it would be competent. but not
otherwise.
| New Witness for Defense.
In opening Mr.. Worthington stated that
the defense had learned, after adjournment
yesterday, of the Whereabouts in Virginia
of a new witness. who was near the Wyatt
building corner at the time of the shooting.
| Ha he n f;e
desired to have the testimony given. No
| objection was made by the district attor-
| ney, and the name of Miss Somervlle was
| called.
The new witness, Miss Roberta W. Som
| erville, is pretty young lady, not over
| nineteen, and she wore q fetching black
| hat. with large roses adjoining it,a handsome
| shirt waist and a large satin necktie. She
gave her evidence in a clear, resonant
voice, her cheeks becoming slightly flushed
as she told of the shooting. Her tesd-
| mony was regarded as by far the most i'm
portant of any yet offered by the defense
| to prove that Rye had knife.
| Now. Miss Somerville.'' said Mr.. Worth
! ington, tell the jury what you did on the
| morning of the shooting after the witness
had replied to the Usual preliminary ques-
| tons
Miss Somerville, blushing. but undaunted,
| turned directly toward the jury. and with
| the most positive air gave her evidence
| for the defense.
ION the day of the shooting + left 9th
| +
toward the treasury. l walked moderately
| fSst and when got near 18th street / saw
| a large man and small man on the cor
ner of 14th and + streets. They were
! quarreling. The small man had on long
| coat. My attention was particularly at
tracted by seeing long bladed knife in the
| right hand of the small man. did not See
| a pistol in the hands of the large man.
| Would you mind stating what you heard
| the small man say?" asked Mr. Worthng-
! ton.
! Dislikes to Repeat.
| I'D rather not" replied the witness,
| looking down in embarrassment. HE was
using very rough language. He was ges-
ticulating with bis left hand"
| What was he doing with his right
| hand?' the counsel asked.
| why, he had the knife in that hand"
please tell the jury how the knife
| looked
why, as nearly as I could see, 1t had
a long blade. l couldn't see the handle.
| The blade was bright and seemed abous
| four CT five inches long. Perhaps the blade
was half an inch wide-maybe wider. l am
| not positive"
| please say If this looks like the one you
saw" said Mr.. Worthngton, the clerk
handed her the savage-looking knife sub
mitted in evidence as the one Rye had.
| Yes, sir" she replied.
| Now, show the jury how you saw it
held by the small man"
Really, l. stammeringly said the wit
| ness gingerly taking the weapon. He
held it in his right hand. So said she,
| bringing her white-gloved hand, claspng
the ht, down to her right side in an atti-
| tude of concealment.
Now, please step down from the box
and show the relative positions Of the large
and small men," said Mr.. Worthington.
| Miss Somervile came quickly from the
box into the open space back of the court
stenographer, and Mr.. Worthington went
to her in order to assist her in the demon
| stration.
/ hey or five
/ should say, just this way she said, plac-
ing herself in position toward Mr. Worth
| ington.
| Spectators Greatly Interested.
During this recital breathess interest was
shown by the audience CAVITY the prison.
er, with hand tightly clasped and brows
uplifted in close attention. watched her
every movemest. His wife. with redeemed
cheeks and parted lips, followed every turn
of the testimony, now and then glancing
triumphantly toward her husband. The de-
PENDANTS mother, sister, father and friends
showed the keenest interest and frequent
ly exchanged significant glances. The jury
heard her with unbroken attention and ap-
peared to be very much impressed by her
straightforward evidence. The counsel for
the prosecution kept silent all during the
testimony. but took frequent notes of the
points developed.
| Miss Somerville, l am very sorry, but
/ must ask you to repeat what you heard
the small man say" said Mr.. Davis when
the witness was given to him for cross-ex-
animation. IF you'd rather write it down
you may do so, said he.
I'D rather write it,, said the witness, I'M
buttoning her glove and writing a few
words sheet of paper. 1t was handed
| to counsel but not read in court
THE morning of the shooting at o'clock
went to call on my friend, Clara Mills.
! at Virginia avenue and 18th street." said
the witness. She was not there and
| went over to the Bradley school to find her.
| Afterward l went to 18th street and Mary
land avenue and took a car. Then I went
| to street and paid another fare on the
| MetrODolitan line At T. street 7 1ot a