Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-27
THE HALL MURDER TRIAL
MORE TESTIMONY DAMAGING TO
THE DEFENDANTS.
States witnesses Testified to Seeing
DufIin Shoot the Murder
ed Man.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
ROCKVILLE, Md. November T-The
introduction of testimony for the prosecu-
ton in the trial Of the eight negroes
charged with the murder Of Howard Hall
was resumed in the circuit court here this
morning The testimony produced by the
state today, while contradictory in some
particulars, was on the whole damaging to
the prisoners, especially to Dimes, John
Duffin and Key.
At yesterdays proceedings q large crowd
of spectators was present. The state closed
it's case about noon, and at O clock, when
the court took a recess for an hour, one i'm
portant witness for the defense had been
heard
Frank Corn was the first witness this
morning. He testlned that he attended the
Germantown social and witnessed every
thing that went on at that festivity. His
testimony was straightforward and was
very damaging to the accused.
The cross-examination failed to shake his
testimony in any important particular. He
said:
Hall and several others engaged in a
cake walk at the social and while the
walking was going on one or two members
or the Boyds Band were accidentally run
into. The members of the band who were
Columbus Bowens make threats. He struck
me with brass knuckles and almost knocked
me down
About the same time Perry Dimes drew
his revolver and fired twice at AlonzO Hall.
One of the bullets struck and slightly
wounded Mace Day. Dimes father-in-law,
Howard Hall, was standing nearby, but was
not misbehaving, and had not taken part
In any of the fighting Dimes and John
Duffin started after Howard Hall and pur-
sued him around the house and up the road.
l saw John Duffin shoot twice at Hall.
THE other members Of the band followed
close behind Dimes and Duffin, and as they
ran we're shooting and crying Shoot the
-.' AT the break in the road
saw John Duffin and William Hebron fir
ing. l was standing in the road in from
of the house. and as the night was as
bright as day l could see distinctly. VI
the men that ran after Hall all had on band
uniforms except James Day and Columbus
Bowens. 1 heard eight shots altogether.
l undressed Hal, and found no weapons on
him. neither did l have any
Moses Hoe followed Corn and his testi-
mony in some particulars was helpful to
the defense. He contradicted the preceding
witness by stating that he saw Howard
Hall. the man that was killed, throw a
stone and strike Columbus Bowens, one of
the prisoners in the head.
Witness also heard Hall declare that he
put up fair fight. He swore that he
heard Perry Dimes. one of the accused, say
to Hall: You are looking for trouble and
will get it if you fool with me- Hoe saw
Dimes shoot at AlonZo Hall, and little
later saw several members of the Boyds
band pursue Howard Hall around the house
and up the road and saw both Dimes and
John Duffin shoot at him.
On croSS-examination witness stated that
he said to Howard Hall and Joshua Terry
before the shooting: You are not treating
those boys right referring to the members
of the band.
William Holly swore that he helped to I'M
dress Hall after he died. and that pistol
or other weapon was found on him.
Thomas Beckwith stated that he saw
pistols in the hands of Dimes, John Dunn
and Key, and that he saw all three pursu-
ing Hall up the road and shooting. George
Prather, Henrietta Newman and Clarence
Jenking corroborated preceding witnesses
Hattie Corn heard John Duffin say after
he came back from chasing Hall: I'VE got
Edward Jenkins testified that he heard
Dimes say before the shooting: Il do not
want to have any trouble, but if it comes
l am prepared to cut and shoot"
The prosecution here rested its case, and
the defense began by placing Mace Hebron,
a brother of two of the prisoners and
member of the Boyds Band on the stand
Hebron swore that he saw Howard Hall
and Joshua Terry stumble against John
Duffin. They went away and came back,
each furnishing a pistol, and that Hall, in
a reply to a remark. said to Duffn Go to
I'll shoot your heart out" Witness de-
clared that Howard Hall fired first two
shots. and that neither John Duffin nor
Key followed Hall up the road. He could
not say who shot at Hall.