The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-14
gave EVIDENCE BY SIGNS
Ellen Wrenn Testifies at James
Lanekt0n's Trial.
Pronounced Competent by DIR. f. VI.
GnIlnudct-Amicted Woman Tells
Saw the Prisoner Strike Her Sis
tcr-Other Witnesses on the stand.

trial for his life yesterday in Grim nal
Court No. 1. charged with the murder of
Mrs. Bette Wrenn. on March IL last. at
her home, 634 E Street southwest The
principal witness against the accused was
Miss Ella Wrenn, a sister of the dead
woman. Miss Wrenn is about sixty years
of age. and has but little use of any of her
faculties. Her vocal organs are nearly
wholly raralyzed. her sight is very bad.
and she is almost deaf. She, however,
identified the defendant as man who
used to live at her sisters house, and by
motions of her head and hands indicated
that Lanclton had struck hsr sister en-
the night he is supposed to have inflicted
the fatal wounds.
The taking of testimony was begin yes
terday morning about II O'clock aft n an
hour had been consumed in compile ding
the special panel OF jurors who are to
pass upon the guilt or innocence CT the
prisoner During the day Lanckton sat
near his counsel. Fred Bcail, and fire.
quently consulted with him concerning
the examination OF witnesses. AT times
smile would pass over his countenance,
while he listened to the evidence. This
was especially noticeable while Joseph
X. Wheatley was testifying against him.
Mr.. Wheatley had for many years Teen a
roomer at Mrs. Wrenn's, and stated that
he left there short time before she died.
When the court was convened the fifty
extra talesmen summoned on Monday for
jury duty by Justice Clabaugh RESPONDED,
ana in less than an hour the jury was COM
pieted. The special panel is composed of
the following: A!oysius B. McClozky.
James a. Paxton. James Pierce, Charles C.
kibtey. Otto III. Fischer. Ernest NJ Collins,
Timothy Craven. Charles l.. Mann. Charles
A. Cooper. John 7. Scott C. w. Hall, and
Samuel Nugent.
A short while before the hour of ad-
journment Assistant District Attorney Ash
ley u. Gould announced the Governments
case closed. Mr.. Beali stated that he was
not prepared at that time to make state
ment of his side of the case. and an ad-
journmert was taken until this morning at
10 o'clock.
Statement for the G0vernm ent.
The opening statement of the case on
the part of the Government was made by
Assistant District Attorney Ashley NJ.
Gould. The circumstances surrounding
the death of Mrs. wrenn as stated by Mr..
Gould, are substantially as heretofore
published. In brief they are that about a
year ago the defendant became acquainted
with Mrs. Wrenn and some time last Feb
ruary made an offer of marriage to her
This. it is said. she refused 1t is stated
that this so angered Lanckton, that on
March Il last. he went to her home and
assaulted her. From the effects of the
wounds inflicted by Lanckton on that &C.
casion it is said Mrs. Wrenn died on
March 10.
The first witness called on behalf of the
Government was Joseph r. Wheatley.- He
said that he knew Mrs. Wrenn for twenty
years. She was a widow. He boarded
with her for seven years. He said he saw
Lanckton often at Mrs. Wrenn's home
obiection was raised by counsel for the
defence to continuing the testimony CT
Wheatiey on the ground that it was out
Of the regular order.
Dr. Glazebrock, Deputy Coroner, kas
then called by the prosecution. He stated
that he had made an autopsy On the bcdy
of Mrs. Wrenn on March 80, and at that
time he was unable to find any external
evidence of violence. but discovered a
large blood clot in the left cavity Of the
skull over her ear. small blood cot
was also discovered at the base of the
brain.
Joseph II. WheatIey Recalled.
Joseph R Wheatley. on being recalled.
testified that he had heard Lanckton
threaten Mrs. Wrenn and abuse her In
the vilest kind of language He said he
heard the defendant say to Mrs Wrenn
On one occasion: Il can strike you with
sand bag and kill you and the doctors
would never know what happened to you
and I'd get of because they'd say / was
crazy" He also said he heard Lanckton
say to Mrs. Wrenn: iii cut your throat
and kill you
DR.. George C. Morris attended Mrs.
Wrenn at her homo. ga E Street south
west, Immediately after she is said to have
been assaulted by Lanckton. He found
her, he said. in a semi comatose state
and upon examination discovered that the
pupil Of one of her eyes was dilated and
the other contracted. He also said that
he discovered an abrasion under her left
eye. DR.. Morris stated that he had fire.
quently seen Lanckton in front of the
place where Mrs. Wrenn was employed
He also stated that Mrs wrenn told him
that Lanckton struck her. Lancktop DR..
Morris said. was present at the time Mrs.
Wrenn made this statement, and was I'M
der the influence of liquor. He told Lanck-
ton that he would have to leave the house
and he replied that he would not, because
Mrs. Wrenn was his wife DR.. Norris
said he asked Mrs. Wrenn as to the truth
Of this statement and she denied it.
Ellen Wrcnn Tcstiffes.
Ellen Wrenn, a sister of the dead wo-
man, was next called. The witness, who
is afflicted with rheumatism, was brought
into the court room on a wheeled chair.
She is very deaf and had to communicate
by signs. Miss Ida King, who has Lad
care of Miss Wrenn for a number of
years, acted as interpreter.
The question of Miss Wrenns .ompe-
tency as witness was raised and DR.. E.
NJ. Gallaudet was called and testified that
she is not what would be termed n deaf
mute. Her vocal organs. however. he
said, were partially paralyzed. The wit
ness was tested by DR.. Gallaudet and was
to be competent to testify.
Miss Wrenn identified the defendant,
Lanckton. and by motions, indicated that
he had struck her sister, Bette Wronn,
the dead woman in the head.
Charles $. Baum. member of the
police force, stated that on
the night it is claimed Mrs. Wreln was as
saulted he was called to her home and
asked to take out man who had broken
into the house. He identified Lanckton
as the man. Afterward Mrs. Wronn con-
scented that LaDckton should remain. The
witness stated that Lanckton was under
the influence of liquor.
Jealous of WhcntIcy.
Ida King. colcred, who was at Mrs.
Wrenns home on the night the latter was
assaulted. testified that she heard Lanck-
ton tell Mis-. Wrenn that if he ever found
her talking to Wheatley he would kill
them both She also testified that Mrs