The times., 1899-11-21
ON TRIAL FOR MURDER.
Evidence Against Dock Tharpe
Heard in the Criminal Court.

Evidence Against Dock Iharpe
Heard in the Criminal Court.
Seldom q man charged with murder faces
the jury which is to pass upon his inno-
cence or guilt with the oalmness ard ap-
parent consciousness Of his innocence as did
Deck n. Tharpe who was placed on trial
for his life yesterday in Criminal Court
No. l. Tharpe is charged with the murder
of Aaron d. Bishop, at the Baltimore and
Potomac depot on the night of May 81. His
defence is that he was drunk; that he was
not conscious of what he did, and that his
victim being one of his best friends, he
would not knowingly have harmed him.
The prisoner is represented by Major
Fred Beau and the Government by AS
sistant District Attorneys Taylor and
Semmes. The trial progressed rapidly dur
ing the day Before the recess hour q jury
had been selected, and at 1 O'Clock the
taking Of the evidence commenced. Before
the adjournment of the afternoon session
the Government announced it's case closed,
| and Major Beall made his opening state
| msnt. Aside from the plea of drunkenness
the defence will claim a verdict of ac-
quittal on the ground that, as a matter of
fact, Tharpe was not firing at Policeman
! Joseph Acton when he shot and killed
| Bishop.
When Tharpe entered the court room it
was with a bold fearless step. His coun-
| tenance was bright, and his face was not
| paled by his long confinement in jail. He
| appeared to have the utmost confidence in
| securing an acquittal, and before taking
! his seat near his counsel, Major Fred Beall.
! greeted some ladies who were present and
who have manifested much interest in the
| outcome of the trial. The prisoner, when
| brought into court for trial was dressed in
| the uniform of a volunteer of the United
| States Army
| Tharpe and the man he killed were men,
| bers of the same company in the Fifth
! Regiment of Immunes. They had been to
| Cuba during the late Spanish American
War, and had been mustered out of the
| service on the morning of the day upon
| which Bishop was killed. They were mus
! tered out at Camp Meade and were passing
| through Washington On the way to their
| homes in Mississippi when the difficulty
| which ended in the death Of Bishop oC
| CURED at the Sixth Street depot.
Before the selection of the special panel
which would try the case, Justice Cia-
| bgugh explained the charge for which the
prisoner was on trial to the jurors. The
| empaneling Of a jury then commenced
At this point it WAS developed that there
would be some difficulty in securing the
panel
The first juror called was B. N Cham
beTs He stated that he has formed an
opinion from what he had heard of the
case, and was satisfied that it would take
! strong testimony 10 remove his prejudice.
| Harry H. Skippon admitted that he, too.
/ has formed an opinion, but stated that he
| could render an impartial verdict based
| upon the evidence. He was challenged for
cause by the defence, but the challenge
was not allowed The defence then made
| the challenge peremptoTy, and the juror
was made TO stand aside.
W. II. c. Bayly, the fifth juror called,
| had also formed an opinion in the case
| from reading the newspapers. Four or five
other members of the panel were made to
stand aside for similar causes.
The following Jurors were finally chosen
tC pass upon the guilt or innocence of the
| accused: William f. Slater, Robert l. John
SON Andrew Miller. Orlando Smith, John
H. Anderson, Malcolm Henry, George w.
White John w. Dunbar H. j. Bridget
Dent Freeman Ralph ". Lee, and VIII
liam Lanham.
When the panel was chosen the defence
had exhausted only eight of its peremp-
tory challenges. The Government did not
take much advantage Of challenges Be
fore being excused for lunch the jurors
were not sworn, in order that they might
attend to any private business before en-
tering the jury box.
When the court convened after recess
| Assistant District Attorney Thomas c..
| Taylor made the opening statement COW
erng the Governments case. Mr.. Taylor
also called particular attention to the fact
that, although the defendant fired directly
at Policeman Acton. he was guilty Of the
murder Of Bishop.
The first witness called for the Govern
ment was Policeman Joseph Acton, who
told the story of the killing OF Bishop in
every detail. He stated that Tharpe fired
five shots. the first and second of which
were discharged directly at the witness.
The first shot, the witness stated, struck
him on the left elbow. Acton said that
Tharpe had been drinking, but he did not
consider him drunk.
Deputy. Coroner DR.. L. w. Glazebrook,
was the next witness called. His testi-
mony was TO the nature of the wound
which caused the death Of Bishop. Police
Sergeant James S. Kramer and Officer
Richard T. Payne. who were present when
he shooting took place. and placed the de-
fendant under arrest We're then called.
| They corroborated the story Of the affair
as told By Officer Acton. At the station
house the morning after the shooting,
Sergeant Kramer testified that Tharpe
stated to him that he did not know that
he had killed anyone. and that he did not
intend TO shoot Officer Acton.
The other witnesses who testified on
behalf of the Government are Thomas J.
Parrish John f. Carlin. of Alexandria,
Va ard John NJ. Acton, of Trustyille,
Miss.
Il is expected that the trial Will be con-
cluded today and the case given to the
jury about p. N. The testimony which
will be offered on behalf Of the defence
this morning will be mostly in the form
NJ affidaVits tending to TO- the Charanter
for peace and good order L. Tharpe in
the community in which he lived
cEpToIrc Tose