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

The climax in the trial OF Charles /.
MeJn charged with the murder Of Roo
ort Turner, on the night of December 70
last. was reached yesterday when the de-
PENDANT went on the witness stand and
testified in his own behalf The story told
by McUm was a remarkable one. The de
PENDANT said when called to testify
"My name is Charles /. NcUiD; board
ed at Mrs Crowns; ! knew Turner for
about four months before he was killed. I
did not kill him. I know Bertha Grown. l
was in love with her and at one time was
engaged to marry her
The day before the killing was
sweeping in front of my store. al
Eleventh Street northeast, and Turner
came up and said to me: I 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 ! told Turner to
90 on, as did not want TO have any trou-
bic with him. Turner then started to 60
and. turning around, he said 10 me: You
had better remember what ! say.
The movements of the defendant, as de-
! scribod by the witnesses for the Govern
( ment were in the main corrohorated by
? McUin. up to the point OF the meeting with
( Turner in front OF 1Ol Eleventh Street,
where the tragedy occurred.
McUin stated that he was at the Grown
house when Turner returned home with
Bertha Grown. He was on he 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 ne arose he dill
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.
I He recognized it as his and placed il 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 SEN
fenced to a term OF ten years in the peni-
Tertiary. and was pardoned after he Lad
served a little more than a 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 10 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 ". Glazebrook, Dr.. II. A. Do5son.
10. oscar Darr0le and br. William Z.
Nhtscn. the latter resident physician at
the Emergency Hospital, at the time Of the
tragedy testified as to the nature OF Tur-
nef wounds.
Policeman Arthur Stahl, who testified on
Thursday was recalled and stated that
after his arrest. the defendant 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 10l Eleventh
Street, and over nineteen feet from the
steps.
Miss Lottie Brown testified that she was
often at McUn's place Of business. She
was in his store at = p. ~. on the Jay
Turner was killed. Bertha Brown passed
when the defendant said to the witness
Il used TO go with that girl. She goes
with Turner now, but If l catch him with
her III kill him"
Policeman Benjamin F. Williams search
ed the prisoner on the day Of the tragedy.
In the RICH; hand pocket OF his coat he
found a knife which was smeared with
blood.
James P. Rose. clerk in the Patent Of
] fee stated that he boarded at lO1 Eleventh
! Street northeast at the time Turner was
killed. He frequently conversed with Nc
/ Yin concerning his relations with Miss
4 Crown. The defendant seemed TO want 10
4 talk Of nothing else except his feeling FOR
! the girl. Rose said that at the Jail McUin
1 had stated TO him: Il started to do it
/ time or two before but always changed
( my mind before I saw him"
! Joseph s johnson said he saw McUin at
/ the police station after Turner was killed.
/ McUin stated to him that he did not stab
/ Turner: that he struck him on 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 l0l Eleventh Street
/ northeast. where both the deceased and de
| PENDANT had lived testified that McUin
/ had asked her for her step-daughter. Ber-
! tina Crown, 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 bat
| about two weeks before the killing Of
/ Turner he came back and got her 10 serve
| him with meals.
Florence &. Crown a sister Of Bertha
| Crown. testified that she had accused Nc
Tin Of making threats against her sisters
/ life. Her sister had informed her shortly
/ before Turner was killed, that McCin met
| her in the street and when she refused
to speak TO him, he caught hold Of her
! and threatened 20 take her life.
Arguments will be made this morning
/ The case will be submitted to the jury
about p. N.