Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-22
ON TRIAL For MURDER
Benjamin Sitter Arraigned Charged
With Kllhg His Wife.
THE TESTIMONY or IN EYEWITNESS
Is 50
The Accused Indicted Jointly With
Isaac .Kenner.
A SEVERANCE GRANTED
A SEVERANCE GRANTED

Benjamin Slater, eolored, was placed on
trial today before Judge Bradley in Grim
| inal Court No. 2, under an indictment
| charging manslaughter. Slater was joint
ly indicted with Isaac Kenner, also color
ed, in connection with the fatal shooting
| the Sd instant Of Slater's wife, Clara. On
| motion of Assistant District Attorney Shil
lington, the court yesterday, as stated In
The Star, directed that the defendants
be tried separately, in order that the wife
| OF kenler, the only eyewitness OF the
| homicide might be called as a witness
| against Slater, as she cannot, of course,
testify against her husband.
| Messrs. Thoma: L. Jones and Fountain
Peyton appeared as counsel for Slater,
| Assistant District Attorney Shillington rep
| resenting the government.
| An hour was devoted to empanaiing
jury, the twelve men finally selected to
serve in that capacity being Messrs. julius
Kaufman, Thomas c. Elliott, John Nc
Gregor. Charles w. Arnold, Meyer Green
baum, Pierre d. Lewis George W. Fowler,
Frank Magee. Grafton Tyler, jr., Edward
| F. Buckley. Charles w. Lesh and Walter
s. Gray
In his opening address Assistant District
attorney Shillngton explained to the jury
mat Slater and Isaac kenner were jointly
| indicted for manslaughter in connection
| with the killing the Sd of March of Clara
slater, wife of the man on trial. The
| homlclde occurred in house No. II Chester
| court, between and w, 18th and 14th
streets. At the time of the shooting Sla-
ter had been separated from his wife for
| about year.
The day before the homicide a quarrel
| occurred between Kenner and his wife.
me latter was Slater's sister
The morning of the shooting Slater visit
ed the house, II Chester court. The quar-
| rel between Mr.. and Mrs. Kcnner was re-
| neWed. slater fnterfered, and an alterca-
| Gon between Kenner and himself followed.
| slater drew pistol, Mr.. Shillington de-
! CARED, Tor the purpose OF shooting Kenner
me latter endeavored to secure possess
SION OF the weapon for the purpose of
| shooting kenner. when it was discharged
| me bullet struck Clara Slater in the left
| breast penetrating the heart and severing
the aorta. According to Mr. Shillington If
| nned the AFFAIR, the government would ex-
| pect the jury to return verdict against
| Slator of guilty of manslaughter
Deputy Coroner Testffies.
Deputy Coroner I. w. Glazebrook was
the first witness for the government. He
| performed an autopsy on the body of Clara
Slater, the day following the shooting. The
witness described in detail the condition of
| the body and the wound of the heart. and
stating the cause of death to have been
acute hemorrhaget following gunshot
wound of the haarts6
mamie N. E. kenner, sister of Slater and
wife of the other defendant, Isaac Kenner.
was next called The witness described the
quarrels In which her husband and herself
inquired, dwelling particularly on the row
the I'd OF March while Slater was at tn
mouse. Witness announced that she was
going to work nandafbegan preparations to
leave the houfe, when her husband de-
clared that She should not go out, accom-
panying the declaration with a threat
Slater said to witness:
s'If II yyjl Loo
Kenner followed witness ~ upstairs and
continued to strike her when Slater sug-
gested that he go down stairs and stop
beating his wife. The parties descended to
struck witness. She grsasped a tumbler and
was about to hurl it at her husband, w len
Slater knocked it from her hand, admonish-
ing her not to keep up the fight.
Slater, according to the witness then
told Kenner that the woman was Defense
less and that he should not beat her Ken
ner then struck Slater, and the two men
tussied. clara Slater and the witness hur-
ried three little children into an adjoining
room. While there witness heard Slater
call for his pistol. Returning to the scene
o. the fight, witness saw that the two men
had a pistol, each trying to gain nosses-
SIGN of it. The pistol was the property of
Slater. but had been on a shelf in Ken
ners room for about a month. During the
tussle the pistol was discharged. the bullet
striking Clara Slater
The latter ex claimed: "oh. Lord. Ken
ner, you've shot me-"
Clara died few moments later.
The Attending Physician.
DR.. David e. Buckingham, who was call
ed to the house Immediately after the
shooting, testified as to the condition in
which he found Clara Slater.
William Benjamin White, colored, who
occupied a room in the Kenners' house
told of the trouble between Mr. and Mrs.
kenner and of hearing pistol shot the
morning of the Sd of March. moment
after the report kenner visited the room
OF the witness, and remarked:
We'll, it's all over now
Lieut.. Kenney of the eighth police precinct
testified to being summoned to the Office of
Attorney Jones shortly after the shooting,
where he found Slater waiting to surren-
der The witness had talk with Slater
on the way to the station, in which ne told
story of the shooting practically the
same as that detailed by Mrs Kenner He
told witness that he had the pistol in his
pocket when the trouble began.
Lieut.. Kenney further stated that on the
way to the station, he noticed fresh pow
der burn on the left sleeve of the coat worn
by Slater. The attention Of the latter was
called to the mark. and he evinced what
the witness considered genuine surprise
thereat.
The defense attempted to show that the
pc WIDER mark could not have been made by
the discharge of a pistol in the hands OF
the wcarer of the coat, but, objection be-
ing entered, Withdrew the question.
At this point a recess was taken
For the Defense.
After recess Jesse Givens, Mary Walker
and Policemen HARRISON, Hauser and
Qualls. testified for the government, their
statements icing. generally speaking, I'M
important.
The case for the defense was opened by
the examination Of Edward Taylor VIM.
L. Burkhart RicRSrd Branford, Martha
Branford. 7. J. rally Benjamin R. Hodges.
T. w. Frisby, oPa.S. Lewis and Kate L.
Murphy, who testified that Slater has for
years possessedian excellent character and
is q man of peaceaBle disposition.
The defendarfe took the stand in his own
behalf. He detailef the scene the morning
Of the Sd of March, and declared that he
vas endeavorijY to keep the pistol in his
pc cket while the tAssel with Kenner was
In progress. After nfhe shooting the wit
ress summoned two physicians and then
Pre- ceeded to the Office of his attorney.
With the testimony of Slater the defense
ccicluded its case. The cross-examination
of Slater was In progress when this report
closed.
DR.. Carr's Trial Continues.
The Thrill 5,,S oft<h.