Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-27
". H. Van Sender a Witness in
Be half Of Canty7.
TRIAL FOR MURDER OF GEORGE RYE
Additional Testimony Touching
a. 81
Rye's Abuse of Canty.
MORE ABOUT THE KNIFE

AS the trial of Dennis J.. Canty, indicted
for the murder Of George NJ. Rye, at 18th
and F streets, March 10 last, approaches
&C Inclusion the interest in the case visibly
Increases and it is generally believed
among those cognizant of the circum-
stances surrounding the tragedy that the
defense and prosecution both have in their
possession developments of a character
| more important than any yet made in the
trial of the case.
The trial was resumed in Criminal Cour.
No. before Judge Cole this morning, the
first witness being Edward A Burdette a
conductor of the Metropolitan company,
who said his train was turning the corner
OF 18th and streets going toward George
town, at the time of the shooting, and wit
ness heard three shots. Saw nothing, how
ever, except the smoke from the pistol
James A. Mccall. another Metropolitan
conductor. knew nothing of the shooting.
The schedule time put his train at 18th
and F streets at the time the shooting was
said to have occurred. His train was be-
lind Burdette's. When it got to 14th
street there was a crowd there In reply
to MIR. Davis witness said he had been a
conductor for six months, but didn't know
how long it took his train to run between
18th to 18th streets.
Knife Was Open.
Fayette Waters of 600 l. street testified
to hearing the shots. He was near DR..
Stones residence. Witness described how
Rye fell, with his head toward the Ebbitt
House. Several men were around him.
One said, He's dropped something" A
boy with white overalls picked up knife
from under the body. Two men standing
near the boy told him not to close the
blade of the knife, but to leave it as it
was when he picked it up. The knife was
open when 1t was picked up. Didn't see
what the boy did with the knife The knife
In court looked exactly like the one the
boy had.
On cross-examination witness said he
was fixing the awning on Wells furnishing
store, next door to DR.. Stones residence
A German named Otto Boettger was hold
ing the ladder for him. Witness had been
paid off and was coming out of Wells store
When ne heard three shots Did not see
Canty with a pistol in his hand. Witness
curiosity was to see the man who was
shot. man with black mustache was
the man who first put his hands on the
man who was shot, and was the same man
who said He's dropped something
Mr.. Davis handed witness a typewriter
statement and asked him if'that was his
sworn statement made in the district at
torneys office March ~, and If his sigma
ture was affixed to It, Witness replied that
1t was. and Mr.. Davis, after Mr. Worthng-
ton had read 1t, proceeded to interrosate
witness about it. Witness said that some
not exactly as he remembered them now
Judge Wilson then took the witness in
hand. Witness said he went to the district
attorneys office on a subpoena and made a
statement. Mr.. Shilington, Mr. Taggart
and Mr.. Harvey Given were present None
of the counsel for the prisoner was pres
ent: Witness did not say anything to any
of the counsel for defendant until after he
had been called as witness in the case
CThis witness was one of those for the
government whom the defense objected to
last week because 1T had not received
proper notice of his residence)
Mrs. Cations Testimony.
The next witness. Mrs. Kate Cation, wife
OF Henry Cation, Post Office Department
Clerk. stated she had known Charles Keat-
ing since she was child. Had an engage
n.ent with Heating the day of the shoot
ing at 1890 o'clock to go with him and
get an affidavit in behalf of his pension.
Heating was late in keeping the appoint
ment, and in explaining his delay said u
man had been shot on F street.
Witness was not permitted to state what
Heating said to her. but said she had
communicated the facts to defendants
counsel. Mr.. Davis objected, and Judge
Cole sustained the objection. Mr.. Worth
Hgton, in noting exception, stated that
he had proposed to show by witness that
Heating had told her in less than an hour
after the shooting the same story he had
told the stand about seeing Rye with
the knife in his hand Immediately before
the shooting.
Mr.. Davis cross-examined Mrs. Cation at
great length upon her various places of
residence during the past thirty years. and
her various occupations. At last the wit
ness said the prosecuting attorney confused
her SO that she could not keep her memory
straight. She appealed to Judge Cole, who
told her 1t would be best for her to answer
the questions She had known Heating,
she said, since 1850 or 1861. Since 1877
witness had seen Heating here once in
Nnc hi tnv,
On the street. She saw him again here
just before the shooting. Witness met him
On the street, and thought 1T was in the
month Of March. Heating met her again
On the street and said he had lost his pea
sion, and witness said she could make an
affidavit that Heating was not deaf before
the war. Witness did go with Heating on
the day of the shooting and did make an
affidavit to the effect stated. Heating a
day or two afterward took up his resi-
dence at witness house. He remained
said she was born in 1853 and was there
fore forty-five years old. Heating went
into the army about 1864. Witness had
told Judge Wilson about what Heating had
told her on May l. She believed it was
her duty to tell Judge Wilson.
Followed by n Detective.
Further on in the lengthy cross-eNamina-
ton, Mr.. DAVIS asked witness if she had
not left the court house with Heating the
DAY the latter was on the stand. Witness
replied that she did; that she took keat-
ing home with her to give him some din
ner. as he had no money. She sat down
for five minutes or SO on a bench in the
City Hall Park with Heating, and Heating
talked about his examination and the
many unnecessary questions asked him.
The cross-examination being closed Mr..
Worthington asked witness
Did you know when you left the court
| that detective was following your
mo, l did not" RI
Did your" inquired Mr. Davis of Mr..
Worthington.
Yes" responded Mr!aVortIangon, prompt
! ly. Il did. That is, / was informed that a
secret service defective, followed the woman
and man when they left the court house.
| Mr.. Davis said he had Heard nothing
| about secret service detectives in connec-
| ton with the case N
| Mrs. Cation was them excused. and Fay
| cite Waters was recalled and recognized
| Mr.. Widney as very much like the man
| who was helping to lift Rye's body and
| who said. He's dropped something
Prof. Edward M. Gahaudet president of
! the Deaf and Dumb Institute. was sworn
| and Intercepted by Judge Wilson as to
| the ability of persons Who are partly deaf
of acquiring the faculty of understanding
1.Hy he. yrin re of