The times., 1898-05-25
NEW LIGHT ON THE CASE
Witnesses Swear They Saw
Something in Rye's Hand.
LOOKS BETTER FOR CAVITY
several Witnesses Testify to Seeing
n Suspicious Object in Rye's Hand
and 10 the Finding of the hnife-
Many People Thought the Victim
Had a Weapon.


There was a great deal of new light
thrown on the circumstances surrounding
the killing of George W. Rye in March
last by the witnesses for the defense IN
the Canty trial, which is in progress in
Criminal Court, No. !. OF the three score
or more witnesses so far examined on
either side, it was yesterday that the first
one positively testified to having seen a
knife in Rye's hand before or after the
shooting. In fact, during the afternoon
session of the court two witnesses swore
positively TO seeing something" while
Rye was sinking TO the concrete after the
shooting. This Something was so closely
connected with the knife alleged 10 have
been found near Rye's body that there
was no doubt that it and the knife was
one and the same thing.
In contradiction of all the witnesses who
testified before him one of the witnesses
referred to said that when Rye had fallen
TO his knees and was supporting himself
with his right hand he threw his left up
into the air and as he did the witness saw
something bright in his hand" This
something" the witness testified fell to
He could not say whether it was a pistol
or knife.
On cross-examination by Mr.. Shillington
the witness said that when Rye was fall
ing neither hand was raised. and ii was
while falling backward after sustaining
himself for a moment on his knees and
right hand that his left flew up in the
air and something was seen 10 drop from
it.
.,,o.to,- ,,-g,nass, IA ba ca1v sopnatbip, .,
fall from Mr. Rye's hand; ii was in mid
air when he saw it. and 1t might, he said,
have been a cigar"
The First Witness.
AS usual on the other days of the trial.
the court room was crowded to its full
capacity.
Policeman Riley, who arrested Mr.. Can
ty after the shooting was recalled by the
defense for the purpose of describing the
two men who were standing near him
when the knife alleged to have been found
under Ryes body was handed 20 him.
The witness could not describe the two
men In question further than to say one
wore a light overcoat, and the other was
a smaller man.
The first witness was Mr.. Maddox, but
he was not permitted to conclude his tes-
timony because il related to threats said
to have been made by Rye against Can
ty.
Mr.. Henry c. Maddox is a travelling
man, and testified as follows: 81 knew
Mr. Rye; also knew Mr.. Canty. heard
of Canty & Co.'S failure in New York.
Last August l saw Canty in New York;
he told me he had failed. After this ]
saw Mr.. Rye in Washington few days
later.
The witness was then asked question
which ended with a request to repeat GER
tain threats against Canty which Ii is
witness. The court ruled that according
to the tentative ruling made yesterday,
such evidence would not be admitted al
this stage of the trial.
C. W. Johnson. a clerk al 1881 F Street
testified: Il was employed at that number
on the 18th of March last. know Canty
and knew Rye. The day before the shoot
ing ! heard loud talking in front of the
office. Canty was leaning against the
railing; Rye was cursing Canty and call
ed him liar, - thief and -
--. Rye was shaking his left hand in
Canty's face while he held his right hand
by his side. Rye was terribly excited: he
fairly shook with passion. l heard Canty
ask Rye inside. Rye replied: No you
might change your mind before you get
half way; the street is good enough fol
me- "
| The witness was not crosS-examined.
Andrew Lawrence, colored, a messen
ger boy at Mr.. Jeffordss office, testified
that he knows Mr.. Canty but did moi
| know Mr.. Rye. AT the time of the shoot
| ing he was at the corner of Thirteenth
and F Streets
The defense wanted to prove by the wit
ness what Rye said at that time, but tn,
court ruled against it.
Continuing, the witness said Rye wa.
standing by the step of 1881 F Street.
Rye's Hand Behind Him.
Henry Wilson, barber, colored, testified
as follows: 81 was in my shop at the
time of the shooting. About minute be-
fore the shooting saw Mr.. Canty and
Mr.. Pierre Waggaman talking in from
of my window. They went south toward
/ Z Street. The shooting occurred about
| two minutes after they left my shop
Alexander Brooks, colored, employed al
| Twelfth and F Streets, testified as fol
lows: II only know Mr.. Canty by sight
only saw Mr.. Rye after the shooting. A
| the time OF the shooting l was on tht
northeast corner of Street, near DIR
Stones office. / saw a man going from
the Ebbitt House toward the Wyatt
Building. ] next noticed him at the curl
| ar the Wyatt Building corner; the mar
who had on a silk hat made a motion t
his back pocket. The next thing knew
heard a shot and three more followed
rapidly. There was a car passing jus