Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-30
COMMIT JAIL
Lancton Held Responsible for Mrs.
Wren's Death,
-,
VERDICT OF THE 'GoRo1ER's JURY
Evidence That Defendant Had
Observation-Disclosures Death.
DISCLOSURES BY AUTOPSY
DISCLOSURES BY AUTOPSY

James Lancton, who has been in custody
| several days on charge of having inflicted
fatal injuries on Mrs, Bette Lee Wren was
held for the action Of the grand jury to-day.
He was present at the inquest held at the
sixth precinct station this morning, having
been brought up from Jail Lieut.. l1olin-
berger of the fourth precinct and two Of
his officers who had made the investigation
were also present. Several witnesses were,
examined. none Of whom, with possibly one
exception. mad witnessed the alleged as
sault. charged to have occurred the 10Th Of
the month, at the home of the deceased,
No. 634 E street southwest.
The prisoner was represented by Warder
Voorhees, ard W. Nj. oflcy. After the YER
dict was rendered the prisoner; was re-
turned to Jail and the body of the deceased
was removed from the morgue to Lees TN
certaking establishment. The funeral will
probably take place tomorrow.
Physician's Testimony.
DR.. G. G. Morris. S15- 18th street north
west. testified that he was called to see
Mrs Wren Saturday morning following the
day she was injured. He found her in a
serious condition. showing evidences of
brain trouble. There was, also a man in
the room, who was very much under the
influence Oi liquor. =" HNeSS was IOlQ tnat
Mrs Wren's sister had complained that the
intoxicated man had assaulted her. The
man. whom the witness identified Lane
ton, left the room and went into the kitchen.
Mrs. Wren told him, he said, that the man
had assaulted her When witness ordered
the Intoxicated man from the house the lat
ter refused to go, saying DE was the i'll
jured womans husband. Witness helped
him on with his overcOat and that he
left the house. Witness then Informed the
police. He got. most of. his Information
from colored woman named King. She
told him the assault was committed Mon
day afternoon. the 18th of the month
When he was called he found a bruise on
the womans head, and there was paralysis
of the left arm
Afflicted Sister Witness.
Miss Ellen Wren. an invalid sister OF the
deceased. appeared before the coroners
jury She had to be Garfield on a chair and
was deaf and dumb. She motioned. with her
hand to show how her sister had been
beaten about the face did body, and then
pointed d. to the detendsst who occupied
John R. Wheatley, SOC 9th street north
west, testified that when ne heard about
Mrs. Wren's injury he called at her house
and found her in bed. She told him she had
been beaten and kicked by Lancton. Wit
the woman's life on several occasions
The night of February 2O' said witness,
.Lancton came into the house and said
I'll cut your throat and, TAI kill you. you
-" Witness added that he also said
TN murder YOU and. I'm poison YOU
Witness said he had boarded. at Mrs.
Wren's house for seven ssears Lancton
also lived there, and, said witness, he was
a very jealous man. On one occasion, the
witness satds Lanctor4 ordered him out of
the house, saying ha had married Mrs.
Wren, and he wanted to live there alone
With her. The prisoner. he said. became
acquainted with Mrs Wren at the Office
of Milo II. Stevens ere she Was en-
ployed. He changed his boarding house
after the prisoner told him he was mar
ried Witness mentioned the dates on
which the alleged threats were made On
one occasion he threatened to kill both
Mrs. Wren and witness, and said: "If I kill
both of you I'll get off, because they'll say
I'm crazy"