Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-26
DEFENSE CONTINUES
Additional Testimony in Behalf Of
Dennis ]. Ganty.
WITNESS TELLS OF RYE'S THREATS
Those Who Saw the Shots Fired
Describe the Scene.
EVIDENCE ABOUT A KNIFE


The tenth day of the trial of Dennis J.
CAVITY. indicted for the murder of George
NJ Rye at 18th and +. streets, March Is
last, began in Criminal Court No. l, before
Judge Cole, at 1915 this morning. Not
withstanding the interesting character of
the testimony given yesterday, there was
d smaller attendance at the opening than
on any previous day of the trial, few per-
sons being present besides those directly
corrected with the case. Mrs. CAVITY. the
wife of the prisoner. whose devotion to him
has been the subject of SO much pleasant
comment during the trial, was at his side.
and Ills mother. father and brother occu-
pied their usual seats near him.
The crowd soon began to gather how
ever, and was large when the first witness,
Charles L. Craig, called. Witness re-
sides at 26l0 p street, and Is employed at
Ii3 Market space He testified to being at
the corner of f and 14th streets, near the
t1tfbitt House. at the time of the shooting.
He was looking east ana did not see first
shot, but saw smoke of the last three shots.
Saw a man Stagger out in the street and
fall about fifteen feet from the northeast
corner. crowd gathered around the pros
trate nan.
n Knife Drops.
w Hcii Inc bOuy WAS llltSu up Witness saw
dirk knife fall and saw a young man
pick it up. The knife was open, and the
young man tried to close it.
Il said to him." said the witness, "'You
better not do that; you better give it to
the officer l went with the boy and he
gave it TO the officer who got into the
carriage with 1t while the blade was open
ought to say. also, that when the boy
picked up the knife and had it in his hand
L examined it, and my finger on its
edge. It had dark bone handle and had
spring in the back. l would know the
knife again If l It,"
Witness was then asked to locate where
the man who was shot fell, and where ne
was when he first saw him.
He fell about fifteen feet from the curb
at the wyatt building corner he replied.
When | first saw him he was. l think,
| about one or two feet from that curb.
The boy who picked up the knife was
probably about seventeen or eighteen years
old, and had on overalls. Witness recog-
nized Battenfeld as the person who picked
| ii UP, and said the knife in court looked
verJ much like the one that was picked up.
Cross-Exnmined mt Length.
Cross-examired, Mr.. Craig said he had
| been employed as a clerk by Johnson &
Luttreli for over twenty years. Mr.. Davis
questioned the witness at great length
about his residence in Washington, and his
| interrogatories showed the attorneys de-
suggestion that the youth who picked up
the knife was dressed in a workman's suit
that looked like a paper hangers was his
own idea. Witness had not followed the
case closely in the newspaper reports of the
trial Witness reiterated the statement
that he was close to the body of Rye when
1t was lying on the pavement. at one side
| of it, to the east side of Rye
Rye Was lying on his back. Witness was
| rear his feet. He heard some one say
| take him to the drug store Did not sec
xryitv V.,.l
| not See DR.. John w. Drew at the time.
| Witness was not shaken in his recital Of
| the picking up of the knife under the body
! when 1t was lifted. The knife fell from the
body when the body was lifted. apparently
| from point between his hip and his knee.
| When the boy picked up the knife, the body
| had been moved about Il foot towards the
| drug store. Witness, with Mr.. Davis repre-
senting the boy, illustrated how the knife
was picked UP. Witness did not see the
| boy sip the knife into his pocket. He was
| certain no one else told the boy to give the
| knife to the officer.
What was the officers name?"
Riley
How do you know his name?'
He came to my store a day or two after
| the shooting answered the witness.
Witness had given some one his name at
| the time of the shooting, and supposed that
| caused Riley's call. He heard Riley tell
| the boy who handed him the knife, and
saying. here's the knife to come to the
Had Told officer Riley His Story.
Witness Craig said he first spoke about
the shooting imme diately after the occur
renee to Mr.. Thor,as Miller. whom he met
On F street Had known him a long time,
but did not know where he lived. He be-
loved re was once employed at Offutts
store in Georgetown. Some one suggested
II witness that he should so to see Mr..
WorihinSton. and he cid 50 and told him
his story.
On redirect examination witness said he
ted Riley the day after the shooting thu
same story he had told in court. but had
never been asked to go to the district at
torneys office had even been asked by
any one connected with the Office to tell
his story. Witness had been surprised a.
not being called at the coroner's inquest.
William H.. Toler. coiored, was recalled
and asked If he had put the knife near
Rye's body. He replied no. Other wit.
nesses were rec llled and asked the same
question and gave answers in the negative.
Thomas +. Coyle of A / street northeast
an employee of the Washington Gas Light
Company. was sworn. He reached the
scene of the shooting after 1t was over lie
said, and saw mans body picked up. and
saw boy with light overalls on reach
down and pick something up from Under it,
DIDN'T see what the object was. The body
had just been lifted. He saw nothing else
James Doyle, a War Department laborer
of 214i l. street, was next sworn. The day
of the shooting was on his way up street
to the department. Witness was crossing
diagonally from the iIbbitt House to the
Wyatt building. and nearing the latter saw
a tall man and short man on the corner
Alleged Threat by Rye.
Il heard the tall man say" said wit
ness, you owe me $500 Then l heard
the short man say: You liar, and if
you say that again I'll cut your -"
The end of the sentence witness did not
hear. as he had passed the two men. Then
he heard a shot followed by three other
shots. Witness saw the last three fired
All seemed to take effect in the small
mans body. They were fired by the tall
man. The short man was on the sidewalk