Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-11
Unusually Large Number Of Cases
the Past Year.
JUSTICE CLABAUGH TRIES EIGHTEEN
Three Defendants Convicted and
Hanged, One Under Sentence.
IMPRISONMENTS FOR LIFE

The year ending the Both OF last month,
the date the active work of the several
branches OF the Supreme Court of the Dis
trlct OF Columbia terminated for the sum-
mer SO far as trials are concerned, was
Unusual by reason of the exceptionally
large number of homicide cases disposed
OF In Criminal Court No. l. Justice Cla-
baugh took the oath of office as an asso-
ciate justice of the court the ed of March,
1899, and was assigned to Criminal Court
No. 1. In addition to the regular run Of
cases, from second offense petit larceny
to manslaughter, he had, up to the 3Oth
ultimo, presided throughout eighteen homi-
eide hearings. His friends point with pride
to this record, and to the additional fact
that not one Of the causes with which he
was connected has been reversed by the
higher court though many of them were
appealed. Only one person under indict-
ment for murder Is now in the District
Jail awaiting trial. The case was set for
nearing several times during last month,
but was finally postponed until fall for
the reason that counsel were unable to Sc
cure from the defendant an Ineligible
statement In connection with the alleged
crime
OF the eighteen defendants placed on
triai for murder before Justice Clabaugh
during the year. ten were colored Two
OF the latter were females. Three were
Soii'ieteu ana hanged, and one is now I'M
der sentence of death Five have been
taken to the West Virginia penitentiary at
Moundsville to be imprisoned for life. Three
were acquitted and the remainder were
sent to the penitentiary for varying terms.
The First Case.
The first man under Indictment for muir
der to face Justice Clabaugh was William
X. Reed, colored. He caused the death Of
Elizabeth Logan the evening of September
4, 1898. The verdict Of the jury was novel.
1t was: Guilty as indicted, with q recon-
mendation to the mercy of the court. The
recommendation could be of no effect be-
cause guilty as indicted made it com
pulsory on the court to impose the death
sentence Justice Clabaugh sentenced
Reed to be hanged the 4th Of August, and
warrant Of execution was issued. On the
strong showing made indicative Of insan-
fty, the President committed the sentence
to imprisonment for life.
James Powell. who inflicted mortal
wound on William Patrick Lee while on
night of October IL. 1898. was convicted
and sentenced to be hanged the 18th of last
August. The President exercised executive
clemency In this case, and Powell Is also
in the West Virginia penitentiary for life.
The next murderer was George Grant
SeWeil, colored. who murdered Susan Ma
money the 2Ith of October, 1898. The YER
net of the jury was guilty without capital
punishment, and Sewell will spend the re-
mainder of his days with Reed and Lee.
George w. Horton, white, formerly po-
Hceman. next appeared in court to answer
for the brutal killing of Mrs. Jane Nichol-
son. He was found to be guilty as indicted
and was sentenced to be hanged the 10th
of last November. stay of execution was
granted until the Sth of December, pending
an appeal to the Court of Appeals. The
decision of the lower court was affirmed,
and Horton was duly executed.