Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-10
ON CHARGE OF MURDER
HARRY CLINTON GRAY ACCUSED OF
KILLING REIN CHAMPION.
The Testimony Produced in Court To-
day-Opanfng Statements
by Counsel.

Harry Clinton Gray, a young White man,
was placed on trial today in Criminal Court
No. 1. under an indictment alleging the
murder of Rein o. Champion, alias Doc
Champion, by shooting him the 9th OF last
October. 1t will be recalled that Champion
a man about forty!ffve years of age, was
found about 1870 o'clock the day men
toned at the old storehouse Of the indie
pendent Ice Company, about quarter of
mile west of the Aqueduct bridge, in dy-
ing condition. The man was conveyed to
the Georgetown University Hospital. An
examination there revealed the fact that he
had died before reaching the institution.
The body was removed to the seventh pre-
cinct station house, and later to the morgue.
Several shots were heard prior to the dis
covery noted coming from the direction OF
the ice house, and Champion was found
wounded. He was alive when placed In the
patrol wagon. 1t was discovered that he
had been shot three times. One bullet PEN
etrated the brain and two others lodged In
the body.
On information received the police ar
rested Gray, who admitted the shooting,
but claimed that he fired at Champion in
self-defense: Attorney A. S. Colyar appears
represented by Assistant United States At
torney Taylor.
Attracts Large Crowd.
That considerable interest is felt in the
trial was attested by the fact that the court
room was crowded to the limit of its capac-
ity throughout the greater part Of the pro-
ceedings today. A jury was secured with
out difficulty, those sworn to pass upon the
guilt or innocence OF the defendant being
Messrs. George w. Wells. John j. Coffey,
John F. LIE Barnes, William Carney, Albert
Wood. Philip M. Riley, w. ]. l.. Dyer F.
s Newman. Thaddeus Brashears. James E.
Chamberlain, Charles F. Mills and Thomas
r. Baker.
Opening Statements.
In his opening address to the jury Assist
ant United States Attorney Taylor declared
that the motive that actuated Gray to kill
Champion was Gray's partially for Cramp-
toms wife. The attorney declared that on
occasions when Champion was absent from
home, Gray had spent the night at the
Champion residence. and that the shooting
followed the discovery of Gray and Mrs.
Champion together at an fnfrequented spot.
Attorney Colyar followed the assistant
United States attorney before the jury, ex-
planning what the defense expected the evil
dence to disclose. He declared that the
meeting of Mrs. Champion and Gray the
day OF the shooting was purely accidental
While conversing with Mrs Champion,
Gray was approached by Champion, who
exclaimed. with oaths:
i've been laying off for two years to kill
you. and now I'm going to finish you"
He next hurled stones on Gray the at
torney stated and felled him. The assault
was repeated, and Gray was compelled to
shoot his assailant.
Continuing, Attorney Colyar declared that
the deceased was a, drunken. overbearing,
especially so toward his wife. Gray board
ed at the Champion house, and Mrs.
Champion often called on Gray to defend
her from her husbands assaults.
Several years ago. according to the attor-
ney, the deceased endeavored to pick
the father Of the latter as well He accused
them Of opposing him in politics. and
threatened to run them out Of the state
In summing UP Attorney Colger an
nounced that he expected to prove a case
The Testimony.
Dr.. L.. w. t..sslin ok. deputy coroner,
who performed the autopsy on the body Of
Champion, was the first witness called by
the defendant. He testified that death was
due to gunshot wound and described the
injuries sustained by Champion.
Next to testify, was John Heath, who is
engaged in business on the bank of the
river opposite the point where the shooting
occurred. The witness found Champion ly-
Ing on the ground He was wounded, and
although breathing heavily. was unable to
speak. The police were notified by Heath,
who was able to say Champion was alive
when placed In the patrol wagon.
Policeman on the Stand.
Policeman Edwards took the stand at the
conclusion of the recess and informed the
court and jury that about IL O'Clock the
morning Of the shooting Gray and Mrs.
Champion met the AQueduct bridge.
Mrs. Champion placed her hands on Gray's
shoulder and conversed with him. She left
him for few moments, gazed up the Canal
road as though looking for some one, and
then returned to Gray.
The witness lost sight Of the couple A
little later in the day he heard the shots
fired.
George P. Castleman. who was on the
opposite side Of the river, heard the shots
the 9th of October. The shooting seemed
to have occurred about 125 yards from the
Ice house. AT that point there Is a thick
growth Of bushes. After the body had been
found, the witness located a spot in the
shrubbery, hidden from the road. that indi-
Gated that some persons had recently been
there.
Lucy Rivers, colored. who was the next
witness stated that she saw Mrs. Cramp-
ton with a man In the bushes the 9th OF
October. Later she met Mrs. Champion,
who was arranging her hat on her head.
The latter informed the witness that she
was looking for her little boy, who had
gone swimming. and remarked that she had
stopped to talk with Mr.. Gray.
Mrs. Laura A Bremen, who lives near the
old Ice house on the river road, was called
say tnat ABOUT IL CLOCK the 9TH OF
October, she met Mrs. Champion. Later,
after the shooting, she saw Mr. Champion.
There were sever / pools of blood at the
edge Of the road. Alongside these was
considerable shrubbery of dense growth.
Tells of the Arrest.
Policeman Samuel c. Burrows, next cali
ed, told that he arrested Gray about
o'clock the 9th Of October in the vicinity
of Seven Locks" on the canal The de-
PENDANT returned to the city without re-
monstrance Grays left hand was wounded.
He explained that tn holding up his left
hand to ward off blow aimed by Cramp-
ton he shot himself, wounding one of his
fingers.
He also declared that Champion had
hurled a stone the missile striking him on
the head. The shooting, the prisoner de-
clared. was done in self-defense.
Lieut.. Swindells of the seventh police
precinct testified that Gray made state
ments to him substantially as recited by
Policeman Burrows.bi
Samuel Goodman, ST. alton keeper Of the
seventh precinct. identified the pistol Of
fered in evidence as, the one taken from
Gray at the time oftnfhe arrest of the de-
PENDANT.
Next to be called In court was Thomas H.
Champion, brother Of the deceased He