The semi-weekly messenger., 1898-01-14
THE MIDNIGHT MURDER
GILES ANDERSON ON TRIAL FOR
HIS LIFE
The Accused Goes on the Stand in the
Criminal Court Yesterday and Denies
That He Killed the Fireman of the Brit
tsh Steamship Kirkhili-His STORY of
the Affair-His Former Admission of the
Deed.


tsh Steamship Kirkhili-His STORY of
the Affair-His Former Admission of the
Deed.
Giles Anderson, white, formerly of
Wayne county, next a resident of
Sampson county, and Of late years a
citizen Of Wilmington, the alleged mur-
derer of Theophil Carl Won Cliszcyniski,
the firemen of the British steamship
Kirkhin at that time in this port, was
placed on trial for his life yes day
morning in the criminal court
The tragedy occurred early on the
morning of October 31st last on Mutt
street, near Brunswick, and is familiar
to all our readers, as the issue Of the
Messenger later on the morning Of the
killing contained a full and detailed re-
port of the tragedy
The case was called at 10 o'clock.
Though the accused arrived in the court
room some time previous to that time,
although one not knowing him would
have had difficulty in ascertaining by
observation that he was present, for
instead Of the burly, fierce looking per-
sonage or medium sized defiant crea-
ture, or detected, frightened appear
ing wretch, which your imagination
had possibly and very probably pic
tured, you saw a meek, demure indi-
vidual, small in statue and with
scanty growth of sandy hair sitting at
"a table between his two sombre, as an
i
seemingly perfectly triumphant counsel,
C. p. Jockey, Esq, and John H. Gore,
Esq, while around a table further to
the left was gathered Solicitor NJ. C.
Richardson, his associate in this case,
D. p. Sutton, Esq, and Geo. L. Pes
chau, Esq, representing the German
consul, as the deceased, Gliscyniski
was a native of Tstka, and a Polish
noblenaan. Mr.. Peschau, however, took
no active part in the prosecution.
Some little time was consumed by
counsel in ascertaining if their witnesses
were present, and as usual good num-
Tber were absent, possibly thinking it
fashionable to be late, but counsel
seemed satisfied that the necessary wit
nesses would soon appear and both
sides announced their readiness, and
the work Of selecting the jury COM
menced.
The defence rejected peremtorily E.
P. H. Strunck and Randall Allen
(colored) and rejected for cause E. M.
Mott, Ellis Patrick, Richard James, J.
H. Howe, J. D. Blocker, Andrew Hal
say, Jno. H. ROurk, London Cotton and
Tom Moore, all but the first two color
ed and the state peremtorily rejected
3. A. Carter, rejected for cause F. A.
Wood, R. c.. Holmes, Chas. H. Pitt
man, Chas. w. Craig, w. F. Butler,
March Walker, Anderson Gilmore,
Elijah Lane, Richard Ounce, David
Cause and Jacob Onslow, the latter six
colored, and stood aside L. a. Banton,
w. 3. Harker and Joseph Harris5
(colored(. c. p. Jockey, Esq, except
ed to the courts allowing the state to
stand aside ten per cent Of the jurors
summoned, who did not constitute a
special venire. Mr.. |. Shrier -as
called, passed by the state and rendered
Shrier then stated to the court that
he was opposed to capital punishment
and didn't think he could give the
state an impartial trial. Upon this
statement Judge Sutton excused him
from jury duty, to which ruling cOun-
sci for the defense excepted.
The jury was finally selected and is
IL. F. Penny, T. w. Wood, c. D. Smaw
J. J. Jackson, Richard Litgen, J. w
Eubank, Ephriam Dale, Hill Terry
Andrew J. Allen (colored, Washington
Brooks (colored) and Davis c. Brady
(cOlOred).
Coroner David Jacobs was the first
witness called and by whom the state
proved the corpus deficit and that nc
weapons were found upon the body OF
the deceased.
w. T. Spooner (white) was the next
witness and testified:
/ live in the southern portion Of the
city. 1 am night watchman at the Geo
L. Morton Company, place just across
the street from where the tragedy oc-
CURED On the morning of Sunday
October 31st last, between the hours
of l and o'clock l was sitting in the
office on the yard, where 1 am en-
ployed, when l heard the report of {
pistol and then the sound of hurried
footsteps. After obtaining a pistol
left the office, going into the yard, anC
started towards the gate, Which l hat
nearly reached when l heard a seconc
report of a pistol. When | reached the
gate I saw man standing near tht
gate of the Carolina Cooperage Com
pany and another man near BrunsWlcl
street running, and the former mar
was cursing. L started across tbs
street in the direction of telegraph
pole and when l got within six CIR eigh
steps of the pole saw man fall doWr
dead About this time the man Wh'
WAS cnrsing was near the corner o