The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-16
Defence OF LANCKT0N
The Prisoner Takes the Stand in
His Own Behalf.
Denies All Knowledge of the Immc-
ATTRIBUTES Her Injuries to n Fall
From n B~nch-CrOss-ExRm nation
md Evidence Given Ia Rebuttnl.

The climax in the trial of James Charles
Lanckton. who is charged with the murder
oflNrs. Bette l.. Wrenn in March last.
was reached when the defendant went on
the witness stand yesterday to testify in
his own behalf. He proved a most willing
witness and was inclined to talk at length
in reply to all questions asked him by
either his counsel or the counsel for the
Government
On the main point at issue. however, the
/ immediate cause of the death OF Mrs.
Wrenn, Lanckton professed 10 know moth
| ing. He was at her home on the night of
| March II. the date upon which it is al
! legged she was assaulted and from the
effects of which it is contended she died
on March 90. but he said he was SO much
under the influence of liquor that he has
no recollection of what happened.
! Although the witness was sworn when
! he went on the stand to testify, several
| times while giving his evidence he called
! attention to the fact that he was under
oath and most solemny protested that he
; would tell nothing but the truth Every
material point in the testimony given by
| other witnesses tending to prove his guilt
| Lanckton denied most emphatcally. He
seemed to have the date, hour of the day
! or night, and all the circumstances sur
rounding The death of Mrs. Wrenn at his
fingers ends except those things which
| occurred on the night of March II, when it
| is alleged she received the injuries from
which she died
During his testimony LancktOn stated
that on Thursday. March Is, Mrs Wrenn
being i'll in bed. she asked him to assist
her in getting up. He did so, he said.
and placed her on bench in the room.
He then, he said. went into an adjoining
room. IN few minutes, Lanckton stated.
he heard Mrs. Wrenn scream and return
ing to her room found her lying upon the
floor in an unconscious condition. The
trend of all the testimony given by the de-
PENDANT was 10 show that Mrs. Wrenn's
death resulted from injuries sustained in
a fall on this occasion
The testimony in the case was closed at
]: 30 p. m. and the remainder of the session
OF the court was taken up in the considera-
ton Of the requests of counsel for certain
instructions TO be given 10 the jury by the
presiding justice.
The arguments of counsel will be made
this morning and the case will in all prob
ability be submitted to the jury about
l p. N.
In his own behalf Lanckton said that he
is nearly sixty years of age and that he
was born in Hamilton. Ohio.
He came to Washington he said. in Oc-
tober, 1899. and about one month Ger met
Mrs Wrenn. who. he said. reminded him
very much of his wife who was killed in a
railroad accident five years ago. After
brief acquaintance he took up his resi-
dence al Mrs. Wrenn's house 634 Second
Street southwest.
1t was finally agreed that they should be
married and January II. 1900. was fixed as
The date. This date was changed, but
the engagement existed at the time of
the woman's death
When asked what he knew of the death
of Mrs. Wrenn. the accused gave it as his
belief that she died as the result of fall
on March Is. last. three days after the al
legged assault was committed. He said he
HAD never violently laid his hands upon
the woman. On March Is Lanckton said
Mrs. Wrenn asked him to help her out of
bed. He then went into another room.
He was not away from her many minutes
when he heard her scream. He hurried
back and found her lying on the floor ..all
doubled up. her head against the wall near
the foot of the stairs. Mrs Wrenn. he
said, was unconscious and he raised her up
and placed her on the bed again
On Thursday night she regained con-
sclousness. Lanckton stated that he then
asked her how she came to fall. and she
replied that she had tried to return to bed
unaided.
On Friday, March 1s. Lanckton stated.
he suggested that a physician be called
but that Mrs. Wrenn objected He. how
ever, sent for physician.
In contradiction of the witness Wheat
ley. Lanckton stated that he never abused
or cursed Mrs. Wrenn or threatened to
hpr 10 ieia
examined Mrs. Wrenn, Lanckton said. the
doctor asked him if he assaulted her, and |
he replied that he had not. The physi- |
ciaD, DIR. Morris. then ordered him to |
leave the house or he would have him ar |
rested. |
Lanckton stated that he prepared 10 go |
and went to the bedside to kiss Mrs |
Wrenn, and when he did so she put both |
her arms around his neck and returned |
his caress. After that he left
On cross-eXamination by Assistant Dis
trict Attorney Ashley NJ Gould Lanckton |
denied tht he ever abused or assaulted |
Mrs Wrenn or threatened to kill her. The |
defendants brother, Henry Clay Lanck-
ton, had denied that he had stated to
Capt. A. A. Maxim, Superintendent of the |
Temporary Soldiers Home on Missouri |
Avenue. that his brother. the accused,
had beaten that little woman" (referrine
10 Mrs. Wrenn) and that he believed
that she would die
Captain Maxim was called in rebuttai
and testified that Henry Clay Lanckton
had made this statement to him. Other
witnesses were called by the Government
in rebuttal, and they testified that they
had heard Lanckton abuse Mrs. Wrenn
and threaten to kill both her and man
named Whcatley.
Samuel Thompson. member of the
Metropolitan police force. who guarded
Lanckton while he was patient at the
Emergency Hospital testified that the de-
PENDANT had stated TO him that he was
ycxed with Mrs. Wrenn because she gave
money 10 Wheatley.