The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-21

The climax in the trial of Charles L.
McJin, charged with the murder Of Roo
ert Turner, on the night of December q
last, was reached yesterday when the de-
PENDANT went on the witness stand and
testified in his own behalf The story told
by McUin was a remarkable one. The de-
PENDANT said when called to testify;
My name is Charles l. McUin; l board
ed at Mrs. Crowns; l knew Turner for
about four months before he was killeI. l
did not kill him. l know Bertha Grown. l
was in love with her and at one time was
engaged TO marry her
The day before the killing 7 was
sweeping in front of my store al
Eleventh Street northeast, and Turner
came up and said to me: 1 hear you have
gone back to Mrs. Crowns to live ! guess
you are trying TO get Miss Bertha back.
You had better leave her alone. for If you
bother her I'll kill you l told Turner to
go on. as ! did not want TO have any trou-
bic with him. Turner then started TO go,
and, turning around, he said 10 me: You
had better remember what say
The movements of the defendant, as de-
scribed by the witnesses for the Govern
were III the main ny
McUin, up to the point OF the meeting with
Turner in front of 101 Eleventh Street,
where the tragedy occurred.
McCin stated that he was at the Grown
house when Turner returned home with
Bertha Crown. He was on the step at the
time and started to walk out, and when he
arrived on the pavement Turner took hold
OF him. He then struck him and they both
fell to the ground. When he arose he did
not know that Turner was hurt. The
knife with which Turner was killed was
his, but IL had not been in his possession
for three or four days before the trouble.
AS he arose from over Turner he saw the
knife lying on the pavement near Turner.
He recognized it as his and placed it in his
pocket.
McUin did not make it quite plain as TO
how he believed Turner came TO his death
From what he said he wanted it under
stood that Turner had the knife in his
hand when he fell and that it was under
his head when they both tumbled to the
ground.
In reply to questions by Mr.. Jeffords,
the defendant admitted that he had killed
a man in Rutherford County, Tenn; he
had been convicted of murder and sem
fenced to a term of ten years in the peni-
Tertiary, and was pardoned after he Lad
served little more than year.
When the court convened yesterday
morning the first witness called to testify
was Scott E. Grant, brother-in-law OF
Bertha Grown, the only eyewitness to the
tragedy. Grant stated that soon after the
trouble the defendant admitted to him that
he was the man who killed Turner.
Coroner William p. Carr Deputy Coroner
Larkin W. Glazebrook, DR.. II. A. Do5son,
~. oscar Darrole, and Dr. William E.
Whitscn. the latter resident physician at
the Emergency Hospital, at the time OF the
tragedy, testified as TO the nature OF Tur-
nerS wounds.
Policeman Arthur Stahl, who testified on
Thursday, was recalled and stated that
after his arrest, the defende nj said that
Turner was hurt by his head striking the
corner of one of the steps in front of
101 Eleventh Street when he fell. The
witness stated that after taking McUin
to the police station he returned to The
spot where the trouble took place. There
was snow on the ground and around the
corners of the steps il was unbroken.
Further than this, Stahl stated that when
found, Turner was lying on the pavement,
outside the fence in front of 101 Eleventh
Street, and over nineteen feet from the
steps.
Miss Lottie Brown testified that she was
often at McUin's place of business. She
was in his store at ? p. m. on the Jay
Turner was killed. Bertha Brown passed
when the defendant said to the witness:
II used TO go with that girl She goes
with Turner now, but ii l catch him with
her III kill him
Policeman Benjamin F. Williams search
cd the prisoner on the day Of the tragedy.
In the righ;-hand pocket OF his coat he
found knife, which was smeared with
blood.
James p Rose, a clerk in the Patent Of
fee, stated that he boarded at l0f Eleventh
mo- rha fff11a Tftrfn
killed. He frequently conversed with Nc
Yin concerning his relations with Miss
Crown. The defendant seemed to want to
talk Of nothing else except his feeling for
the girl Rose said that at the jail McUin
had stated 10 him: Il started to do it a
time or two before, but always changed
my mind before l saw him
Joseph 6. johnson said he saw McUin at
the police station after Turner was killed.
McUin stated to him that he did not stab
Turner: tina; he struck him OF the breast
with his fist, and that if Turner's head was
injured il was the result of his fall on the
pavement.
Mrs. Sarah A. Crown. the keeper OF the
boarding house at 10l Eleventh Street
northeast. where both the deceased and de-
PENDANT had lived. testified that McUin
had asked her for her step-daughter, Ber-
tina Grown, in marriage. Bertha and The
defendant remained good friends for about
four months after this. Later McUin be
gan to prosecute Bertha, and she ordered
him to leave the house. He did so, but
about two weeks before the killing of
Turner he came back and got her TO serve
him with meals
Florence s. Crown, a sister of Bertha
Crown, testified that she had accused Nc
Yin of making threats against her sisters
life. Her sister had informed her, shortly
before Turner was killed. that McUin met
her in the street, and when she refused
to speak TO him. he caught hold of her
and threatened TO take her life.
Arguments will be made this morning.
The case will be submitted to the jury
about p. m.