Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-04-25
PLACED ON TRIAL
James Powell Answers to Charge of
Murder.
ACCUSED OF KILLING PATRICK LEE
Report of Evidence introduced To-
day by the Government.
LINE OF THE DEFENS

Shorty before noon today the jury 10
serve in the case of James Powell. on trial
in Criminal Court No. for the murder of
Patrick Lee. last October. was completed.
The twelve men selected to pass upon the
guilt or innocence of the defendant are
Messrs. E. n. Monkey. George Frederick
w. w. Fisher John H. Davis. John ID.
Schofield, Henry NJ. Padgett. William l..
Burroughs, Harry Kaufman, ida A Pestel,
Perry W. Pulley, John T. Newcomb and
VIM. A Pyles. The defendant is colored,
as was the man who was killed. Powell is
represented by Attorneys Thomas L. Jones
and l. Melendez King, who Will endeavor
to show that their client in connection
with the affair that resulted in the death of
Lee, acted in self-defense. Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Shillington appears for the
government
In his opening address to the jury the
prosecuting attorney stated that Powell,
Lee anu others attended dance at the
Armory Hail. on . street between 1th and
Sth streets, the 10Th of last October. Short
iy alter midnight a party of the young men
lett the hall and proceeded TO a point on
ith street between o and L streets Lee
had some trouble with a man named Lewis
Lee grasped light cane carried by Lewis
ana struck the latter with il. Some one
cried: hllI him.! Whereupon Powell rush.
eu at Lee ana thrust a knife in his neck
Lee staggered to the opposite side of the
street and fell. He was removed TO a hos
pltab dying soon after arrival there. Pow
Ell ran away, going to Grant street, where
ne met man named Fantroy, to whom he
related what had occurred. According to
Mr.. Shillingt0n, Powell declared to Lee that
ne was gong away. He induced Fantroy
TO accompany him to Banning. They passed
the night there. The following day Powell
changed his clothes and boarded a Bright
"cod car. He was recognized by a police
man, and although he attempted 10 escape,
was placed under arrest. To the police
man. according to the statement of the
prosecuting attorney. Powell admitted that
he had assaulted Lee.
Deputy Coroner's Testimony.
The first witness for the government. DR..
L. w. Glazabrook, deputy coroner, testified
That he had performed an autopsy on the
BODY OF Lee, and found that death resulted
from knife wound in the neck
Johh A. Wells, the next witness explained
10 the jury that shortly before midnight
tne o'h OF october. he was on 9TH street
between and p streets. He observed q
row IN which two coored men parricipatad
Next the witness saw Powell strike Lee as
me witness thought. in the breast with his
iLst; Lee started across the street, saying:
haven't done anything; I'm cut
Just as he reached the opposite curb Lee
leIl: Witness followed the crowd aud
nGtHed mat Lee was bleeding The wound
ca man was taken away soon thereafter in
Witness Cross-Exanined.
Wells was searchingly cross-examined for
iully an hour as TO the details of the fatal
assault, the positions occupied by the sey
erai parties. and the like Finally Attorney
Jones asked:
Now, Wells, isn't it the whole truth that
you dont know thing in the world about
thlS matter and that your whole of,iecr in
T ,iSns mere today is TO swear this mans
me away for the sole purpose of making
a dollar and a quarter?''
negative. IA 'Ne
considerable time was then devoted to a
discussion as TO the right of the soyern-
iIeht 10 pidce on the stand a witness whose
exact location h 2d not been made known To
the defense three days prior TO tho haairD
hlhS OF the trial. The house address of The
witness IN question was furnished but IN
ueNeloped the man was serving a sentence
IN JAN and could not be found at the housc
euuresS. The defense therefore Objected
10 the witness testifyiug
Rules Against Defense
justice CIabaugh ruled against the de-
tense and the witness in question Samuel
oiuhey' TOOK the stand. an exception to the
fuiihs being noted. Sidney's testimony as
regards the main facts in regard 10 the
murder was substantially the same as ,b.t
of Wells 80 'ii''
On cross-examination the defense at
Iehpteo to show that Sidney. Lewis and
LeG, the night of October 10 consriraF -
.niiIct po9lly harm on Powell. 1t was shou,n
mat the witness had served ar Ieast 49,
sentences IN Jail for assault.
az, Sot E Lewis was testifying in effect as
"heh TINS report closed.