Evening star., 1899-04-13
Plea in Behalf of William Reed,
Charged With Murder.
ATTORNEY OUTLINES THE DEFENSE
Government Closes Case With
Testimony of Police Officers.
THE KILLING NOT DENIED

The trial Of William K. Reed coIored for
the murder of Elizabeth Logan, was re-
sumed this morning before Justice Ga
baugh. in Criminal Court No. 1. The gov
ernment caEed three policemen to the stand
| 10 testify regarding the arrest of Reed and
statements made by him at the time, and
then announced its case closed. The de-
fense thereupOn began the presentation to
the jury of the facts in it's possession.
After The Stars report of the trial yes
terday closed Mrs. Hattie Beverly took the
stand. She stated that Reed told her he
was the father of Lizzie's child, and that
he bought it clothes. Reed would come to
witness house and ask for Lizzie and
would send children to the house to ask for
her. a week prior to the homicide Reed
declared that if Lizzie did not make up
with him he would kill her. The night of
the homicide he called at the house, asked
for Lizzie and said. I'm going to kill you
all tonight Reeds wife also called to
see the witness with the information that
Reed had threatened to kill Lizzie.
John Fowler, who found the knife claim
ed to have been used by Reed in numbering
Lizzie testified to that effect
The witnesses placed on the stand this
morning by the government were Police
men Charles II. Corine, Emil A. H. Rinck
and Washington Sanford. In substance they
said that after Reed was arrested, and he
was told that Lizzie Logan was dead, he
remarked that he was glad she was dead;
that he had decided that should she refuse
to live with him he would kill her; that
when he called her, just prior to the homi-
eide, she declined to talk with him. and he
then stabbed her in the neck with knife.
Plea of Insanity.
Attorney Hughes, in outlining the defense
to the jury, explained that the killing of
Lizzie Logan by Reed would not be denied
hN-- he. ,1.afa a b.,
ever, that Reeds mother was insane, was
confined in an asylum for the insane, in
North Carolina, and that she died as the
result of insanity; that Reeds sister was
insane, was confined in an asylum and died
as the result of insanity; that the same ap-
plies to Reeds father and half brother,
and that an uncle of the defendant COM
mitted suicide, while insane Reed himself
1t was added by counsel had exhibited
symptoms of insanity, prior TO the homi-
clde, ana the contention was that, although
keed had caused the death of Lizzie Logan,
he was not legally responsible for the act.
Witness for Defense
William a. Joyuer of Concord, n. c., was
the first witness for the defense. Counsel
attempted to show by him that it was the
general understanding about Concord n
c.. that Reeds father was white man.
named John Means, sr., and that a recog-
nlZed son of the latter. John Means ir
claimed Reed as his half brother Objec-
t1on to this line of testimony was entered
by the assistant district attorney a re-
cess was taken and then the question was
argued at some length. Finally the ex-
animation of Mr. Joyner was continued
within certain limits prescribed by the
court. Nothing of all important character
however, was developed by the examna-
ton.
C. A. Pitts of Concord, n. ., a Justice of
the peace. was next called. He told of GER
tain relatives of the defendant being COM
mittCd 10 an insane asylum.
Alexander Reed, twin brother of the de-
fendant, resident of North Carolina, fol-
lowed Mr.. Pitts before the jury. Alexander
testified that he had been told by John
Means. jr--the latter, the defendant and
the witness were children of the same faith
er-that the father was insane and so was
John Means jr. II was added by Alexander
that the mother of the defendant was in
sane, as were also other members of the
family. The witness next recited num-
Der of acts on the part of the defendant
that. in the opinion of the Witness indicat-
ed insanity.
The examination of Alexander Reed was
in progress when this report closed.