The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-26
IN THE DISTRICT COURTS
Criminal Branches Will Lack I'm
portant Trials and Interest.
Result of the Pcstponement of the
Case of william NJ. Alexander, Al
legged Murderer of Matthew Snow
The Grny-Crompton Tragedy-Ar-
gument I'm Behalf of Lanckton.

No important cases will be tried during
the current week in the criminal branches
of the Supreme Court Of the District. 1t
was expected that William N. Alexander,
who is under Indictment for the murder
Of Matthew Snow. on August 16 last, In
Marble Hall Alley, would be put on trial
today, but the prisoners counsel, Albert
Sillers, applied to Justice Clabaugh for
Q postponement of the case. While the
court granted the continuance asked for
It did SO with much reluctance and JUS
tice Clabaugh's statement in reference to
The matter, made in open court, convinced
all who heard him that postponement
of cases set for trial will be very few
In the future, and then only for
unavoidable causes. The court pointed
out that the postponement of cases which
will take week or more for trial, on
very limited notice, works great incon-
venience not alone to the court and at
torneys retained in other cases awaiting
hearing, but generally results in frus-
trating the plans of the District Attorney.
Expecting that the Alexander case would
take up the time Of the court for the
present week, the disposition Of minor
Jail cases was set for the week beginning
Monday next. 1t will be very difficult
to get the witnesses in these cases into
court during the present week. SO the
most OF them will be continued to the date
Of their original assignment.
AS the time of service of the petit
Jurors now doing duty in the criminal
courts will expire on Tuesday, a week
from tomorrow, and the new panels for
the month Of December will report on that
day, none Of the three murder cases now
awaiting trial win be called before the
second Monday in next month. Exper-
fence has shown that it is very seldom
that the panels OF new Jurors are ever
completed on the day they are ordered
to report for duty, and for this reason
no important case is ever set for trial
during the first week Of service of Jurors.
Although the Alexander case is first on
the calendar, 1t Will not be called for
trial until after the trial of Harry C.
Gray, which will begin on Monday De-
cember 10. II this case is concluded be-
fore that time, Alexander will be put on
trial on December IL. As 1t is expected
that the Gray case will occupy the atten-
ton Of the court for more than a week,
1t is doubtful IL the trial of Alexander
will be finished before the Christmas
holidays begin. Under these circum-
stances Wallace Boyd, colored, who is
charged with the murder of Robert Stat
ford, also colored, will probably not be
called to trial until the January term Of
the Supreme Court Of the District.
Gray Is charged with the murder Of
Resin Oliver CHAMPION, In Georgetown, in
September last. and from what is known
Of the circumstances under which Cramp-
ton met his death 1t is safe to say that
the trial will attract more attention and
create a deeper interest than any other
case now upon the criminal dockets of the
District courts. Champion was shot by
Gray in the presence Of the formers wife,
who, 1t is acknowledged. was the imme-
diate cause Of the trouble which led 10
the tragedy. Mrs CHAMPION will be a
witness at the trial. and her presence.
as well as whatever she may say concern
ing the killing Of her husband, will in