The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-29
APRIL'S MURDER TRIALS
Busy Days in Criminal Branches Of
the District Supreme Court.
THE Cases of Four Men Charged
With Killing Disposed Of-Charles
ing Hearing of the CaseJ of Oiof
PaIIessen and Charles Bowen.

The April term of the criminal branches
of the Supreme Court OF the District,
which ended yesterday, was a very busy
one The coming term, however. promises
TO be quite as busy. During the last
month four white men. William Stump,
Charles McUin, William Sauer, and
Charles ormsby. were tried for murder
OF these, two, Ormsby and Sauer, were ac-
quilted. and of the others. McUin was
found guilty as Indicted. and Stump was
convicted of manslaughter. All these were
tried in Criminal Court No. !, Justice Cla-
baugh presiding.
From the present outlook it is expected
that the coming term OF the Criminal
Courts will be quite as busy the last.
AT present there are two prisoners in the
District Jail awaiting trial on charges OF
murder. They are Olof Pallessen. who is
charged with the murder OF his wife,
Josephine Pallessen. and Julia. the two
ye2r-old daughter of Charles Hagensbach,
q neighbor and Charles Bowen, colored,
charged with the murder of Samuel Jones.
John Lancton, charged with the murder of
Bette Wrenn by coroner's jury, is also
in Jail.
1t is also expected that Frank Turner.
James Gray, Robert Pendleton. Joseph
Mack, Henry Ware, Howard Berry. and
Lemuel Smms, who are charged with
making a criminal assault upon Dora
Linkins. near the west end of the bridge
which crosses the James Greek Canal, on
the night OF July 10. last. will be put on
trial again during the May term Of the
Supreme Court OF the District. The pris-
oners were tried in January last before
Justice Cole. They were convicted. end.
after molten for new trial was over
ruled. were each, with the exception of
onment in the penitentiary at Mounds
Vile, W. Va. Additional testimony tend
ing to prove an alibi for the prisoners
was presented TO Justice Cole, who pre-
sided at their trial, and he vacated the
judgment and granted the defendants
new trial. For a second time they ere
called TO answer for the offence charged
last week. in Criminal Court No. 2. After
two days occupied in hearing testimony
the case was submitted 10 the jury on
Thursday afternoon at o'clock. At the
hour of adjournment a verdict was not
reached and the jury was locked in the
consultation room during the night Next
morning when the jury was called before
Justice Cole the foreman announced that
1t was impossible to agree upon a verdict
and the jury was discharged
In connection with the jury in this case
rather unusual incident occurred. II was
taAltN " A34S oAASANloA VI AuS 1ouil iAdl
one Of the Jurors, William Sewall had
made certain remarks while Alexander II.
semmes. Assistant United States District
Attorney, was addressing the jury.
II was stated 10 Justice Cole that the
Juror named had said in a loud tone. dur
ing Mr.. Semmes' address, "Oh, That's all
rot. / don't believe word of it,
Justice Cole ordered the clerk of the
court, Harvey Given. to issue a rule
sgainst the juror requiring him to show
cause, tomorrow morning, why he shall
not be held as in contempt of court. The
matter will come up for hearing tomorrow
before Justice Cole at 10 a. m, in Criminal
Court No.2.
In connection with the work done In the
Criminal branches Of the Supreme Court Of