The times., 1899-11-04
DAVIS FOUND GUILTY.
Former Express Messenger Recon-
nended to the Courts Mercy.

Former Express Messenger Recon-
mended to the Courts Mercy.
George r. Davis formerly employed as
a messenger by the Southern Express
Company was late yesterday evening con-
victed in Criminal Court No l OF an as
sault with intent to kill Arthur Baumgar-
ten. The jury which considered the evi-
dence and rendered the verdict recon-
mended the prisoner to the mercy Of the
court. The attempt on Baumgarten's life
was made August 16 at the offices of the
express company, in Pennsylvania Avenue
between Ninth and Tenth Streets. II was
stated that Davis, because Of an aCCusa-
tion made by Baumgarten fired point
blank az him. He afterward discharged
his pistol three times in his efforts to
shoot Baumgarten.
The shooting was the result Of Baumgar-
ten having identified Davis as the
man who had purchased from him seal
similar to those used by the company.
1t is claimed that many packages, con
tanning yaluables and money, which passed
through Davis hands. had been tampered
with and an investigation Aas ordered by
the company. Detective Leonard was put
TO work on the case and suspected Davis
When Davis was confronted by Baumgar-
ten, he al once began firing a him. Davis
discharged his pistol four times before he
was disarmed by Superintendent Hockaday
The first witness called yesterday by the
Government was Arthur Baumgarten, who
testified that on the day in question he
was sent for by John B. Hockaday, local
superintendent of the Southern Express
Company, to come to his office for The pur-
pose Of Identifying the person for whom
he had made a certain lead seal When he
reached the office he pointed Davis out
and stated that he was the man who pur-
chased the seal from him. Davis, the wit
ness said, called him a liar and. drawing
a pistol, fired at him. George A. Leith
who was nearby, struck up Davis arm,
and the bullet went into the ceiling.
Before the pistol was wrenched from
Davis hands the witness stated. it was
discharged four times. OF the last thEee
shots two struck the floor and one the
window casing.
The next witness was superintendent
Hockaday who substantially corroborated
BaumgaTten.
George A Leith testified that ne vas
employed by the Southern Express Com
pany to look up the matter of the use of
an alleged false seal
From investigation made, the witness
said. he had traced the making of a seal
by Baumgarten for Davis. He stated that
he was present when BaumgaTten ideuti-
fed Davis as the man for whom he made
the seal The witness described the shoot
ing in the express companys office.
T. NJ Sullivan the policeman who was
called to take charge of Davis after the
shooting said he took him to the Twelfth
Street station. Davis said to him THAT
man lied on me, and l tried to kill him"
Special Officer Joseph L. Gil,ett testi-
fed that he heard the report of the firing
went to the scene and arrested Davis. On
the way to the statoHhouse, the witness
stated the prisoner said he shot at Baum
garten because he lied about him DAVIS,
he said also made the same statement in
the stationhouse. This concluded the
case.
Thomas J. Harris and Charles J. Owen
were TO testify to Davis reputation, but
were found to be incompetent
The defendant testified as follows: Il am
twenty four years old. and was born in
Prince Edward county, Va l was reared