Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-07
THE CHASE TRIAL RESUMED
Proprietor Of a Theater Charged With
Asssulting Patron.
Defendants Side of Case, as Repre-
sented In Testimony of Him.
self and Others.

The hearing of the case of Mr. p. B.
Chase manager of the Grand Opera House.
who. as stated in The Star of yesterday.
was then on trial on the charge of assault
ing N. E. Wetherless. November 49, was re-
sumed this morning at IL O'Clock
Mr.. woodward, counsel for the defense.
called the attention of the court to the
fact that when an adjournment was had
last evening there remained unanswered a
question propounded by Mr.. Mullowny to
Witness Stokes as to whether the actual
fact was not that Mr.. Wetherless was
elected from the first floor of the theater
because he was a colored man. Mr.. Wood
ward urged that the question was imma-
terial and irrelevant.
Mr.. Mullowny replied, maintaining that
the question was right and proper. and
asked for ruling of the court upon 1t.
Mr.. woodward again addressed the court
along the line of his first argument His
objection was sustained, and Mr. Stokes
was recalled to the stand.
Mr.. Mullowny asked witness if he
any colored people in the orchestra chairs
at the matinee attended by Mr.. Wetheriess.
The witness answered: Nurses, with
Children
Did you see any other colored people
there? he was asked
Mr.. Woodward objected to the question,
and the court sustained the objection.
Mr. Muiiowny questioned Mr.. Stokes at
considerable length. but the information
elected was not of Importance.
An Eye-Witness.
Mr.. William N. Harper. coal dealer
said he was in the Grand Opera House at
the time of the alleged assault He told of
the scene between the manager and Wetner-
less. heretofore published In The Star and
confirmed what most of the other witnesses
had said about there being great confu-
sion in the theater as the result OF the al
tercation. He asserted that when Mr..
Chase demanded the surrender of the seats
occupied by MIR. and Mrs. WetherIess, the
former. in defiant manner, refused to
give them up.
Policeman Warren testified tkct he heard
Mr.. Chase ask Mr.. Wetherless lpr the cou-
pons held by him. but the latter refused to
show them. Mr.. Chase then tried to put
Mr.. Wetherless out of the seat, but was
Murphy went to AIR. Chase's aid. and Mr.
Metherless was put out of the theeter.
The witness denied that any officer tried
to choke Mrs. Wetherless, and said she
tried to choke Officer Murphy. The wit
ness was shown Mr.. Wetherless' torn hat.
but he said he did not know how it was in
jured.
Appears in His Own Defense.
Mr. P. B. Chase next took the stand He
is he said proprietor of the Grand Opera
House. On the occasion of the alleged
assault, he added, he received a message
that a man had passed the doorkeeper
without giving up his tickets He did not
at once respond, and in q little while re-
ceived a second message. He then went
into the orchestra, and Mr.. Wetherless was
pointed out to him as the man referred to
in the message. The witness went to MI
Wetherless and demanded politely to be
shown the coupons for the seats He re-
fused to comply, and after some little de-
lay he laid his hand on Mr.. Wetherless
shoulder and told him he would have to
leave the seats. Mr.. Wetherless did not
comply. and the witness then got Officers
Murphy and Warren to eject Wetherless
This was done, he said, quietly as pos
sibie. He also asserted that Mrs. Wether-
less tried to choke officer Murphy.
On cross-examination. the witness denied
that Wetherless at any time during the
seats.
This closed the testimony for the de-
Tense, and Mr.. Wetherless was recalled to
the stand in rebuttaL
He denied that Mr.. Chase asked him In a
quiet manner for the tickets, and asserted
that he was not given any opportunity to
explain that If he was in the wrong seats
he would hike to be shown to those for
which he held the coupons.
AT this point court took a recess for half
an hour.
Prayers Granted.
Upon the reassembling of the court at l
O'Clock this afternoon Mr.. Woodward sub
mtted number of prayers to Judge Scott,
They were granted by the court.
Mr.. Mullowny stated that the prayers
were far and he could not make any Sc
rious objection to them, but he asked that
Judge Scott in charging the jury should
tell them that If they believe the evidence
for the government they should render a
verdict of guilty.
Mr.. Woodward offered one prayer, which
Judge Scott overruled.
Mr.. MuiIowny's offer of instructions was
approved by the court.
tod ~,
out argument, and shortly before o'clock
they retired to consider their verdict.
The jury had not returned a verdict at
o'clock.