Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-19
Conviction Of Qolored Woman for
Numbering Her Infant.
PLACED IN JAIL 10 AWAIT SENTENCE
Motion Made by Counsel for a
New Trial.
EVIDENCE AT THE TRIAL

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
UPPER MARLBORO, Nd, October 10
Considerable interest was shown here to-
day in the trial of Della Boone, colored, in
dicted for the murder of her infant child
in the woods near Forestville, about four
months ago. She was indicted with Mary
Cook also colored, but the latter was used
as a witness in the case. There was no ev-
idence against the latter, and the states
attorney consented to an acquittal in heI
case without trial.
Della Boone, whose plea of guilty at
the time of her arraignment was not ac-
copied, was represented today by Attorney
Hampton Magruder. Judges Merrick and
Crane were on the bench. The testimony
was in before noon, and about o'clock
the jury returned a verdict of guilty of
murder in the first degree The verdict
means the imposition of the death penalty,
but as counsel gave notice of a motion for
q new trial, sentence was not imposed this
afternoon. She was remanded to jail to
await sentence. There were two colored
men on the jury.
Interest in the Trial.
Court convened an hour earlier than
usual, in order to finish the trial today.
The room was crowded. many colored peo-
pie from all parts of the county being in
attendance. Della Boone and Mary Cook,
also under indictment for alleged participa-
ton in the crime, occupied seats on the
prisoners bench. The former was much
affected at the testimony, while the latter,
who seemed Indifferent, was called as
witness before the case Of Della Boone was
concluded.
States Attorney Bells examined a num-
Der of witnesses. He started out by prov
ing confession, after establishing the fact
Of the finding of the dead body of a child.
There was no means of Identifying the body
on account of the work Of buZzards. Wit
nesses said that the women were together
one day the latter part of June with the
baby That evening the babys absence was
noticed and inquiry was made by citizens.
Il gave the baby to white lady" Della
told the first inquirer.
Afterward she said she gave 1t to a color
ed woman. She could not tell the name
of the woman to whom she had given the
Infant. Magistrate Young of Forestville
told the court that Della led the way to the
woods where the body was found
What did she say about the death of the
chtld?' he was asked.
''she said she held the child and Mary
Cook twisted it's head off
Witness told of his part in the case, and
of the holding of an inquest.
On cross-examination he said he may
have told her that it would be better for
her to tell the whole truth Because of this
alleged lnduceHent tfle court ruled out the
confession.
Corroborative Testimony.
Constable John Suit gave similar testi-
mony, as did DR.. Warren. Della Boone's
confession to the doctor was made in the
woods where the body was found, and
while the jury Of inquest was there. No
Inducements were offered by the doctor, but
this confession was made subsequent to
that made TO the magistrate 1t was ruled
out.
G. j. Grant, newspaper reporter, related
a confession made to him in jail by the
woman, but this. too, was ruled out.
Judge Merrick. commenting on the nu-
merous confessions, said the law presumed
the statements made subsequent to the
first confession were made because of the
alleged inducement offered at the time Of
the first confession.
Jane Smith, mother of Mary Cook, identi-
fled babys clothes shown her as the gar
ments worn by Della Boone's baby the day
the child disappeared.
William Boone, colOred, met Della shortly
after she was alleged to have come from
the woods after killing the child. He asked
about the child, and her response was that
she gave 1t to an unknown white woman.
He said she had a bundle under her arm
which the prosecution contended contained
the dead infants garments.
The defense offered practically no testi-
mony.