Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-03-21
INNOCENT OF MURDER.

lNNOCENT OF MURDER.
As stated 10 the Gazatte of that day,
John Robert Heard, % years of age, OF
Berwyn, Prince Georges county, Md.
was yesterday discharged from custody
upon the charge of suspected murder of
William E. Howard, young man of
this city, whose dead body was dis
covered 10 front OF the residence OF Mr..
Arthur B. Smith, ct Berwyn, on Mon
day morning, October 1, last.
The preliminary hearing was held
before Justice OF the Peace Arthur Carr
at fayetteville yesterday morning, and
attracted mixed crowd that filed
every available spot in the courtroom.
The prisoner entered the room &C.
compsnied by bis mother, who sat be-
side him during the entire hearing.
The first witness summoned by the
State was Jennette w. Smith, the
young lady upon whom both Howard
and Hazard called the evening previous
to the finding OF the body. She Is
strikiug-looking, refined girl, with large
brown eyes and dark hair. Her testi-
mony was given In clear, straight
forward manner, and excited much
sympathy for the accused.
In answer to questions propounded
by States Attorney w. NJ. LEVIN, Miss
Smith testified that young Howard was
at her home 10 Berwyn on Sunday
evening, September Sd last. He came
about 5 o'clock In the afternoon and
left at 11:30 that night.
"Bsfore Mr.. Howard left" declared
the witness, "he ssked me 10 marry
him. refused. had been engaged to
him about two months. / drew the
ring from my finger and handed Il to
him, but he refused to take It,. When
be left the house he said, You will
never see me again.
she took pistol out of his pocket,
and remarked that he did not care II be
harmed himself. He placed the pistol
to bis right temple, and I grabbed bis
arm"
This was about 8 or o o'clock. When
be left the house saw him going down
the road with the lantern, and watched
him to the bend of the road. went
into the house, and about half an hour
later heard shot. This was about IL
O'Clock"
Witnts knew of the trouble between
Howard and Hazard, and had never
heard Heard say that If Howard came
to Berwyn it would be the last Of him
(Howard). Mics Smith said that she
had never heard the prisoner say any
thing unkind about Howard, and had
not heard Howard say that he had been
held up.
10 testifying as to the actions of the
young men at her home on the eve OF
the tragedy, Miss Smith said that Hsz-
ard came to the house 10 the evening.
when the family and Howard were at
tea. Later the witness and Howard
went into the psrlor, where Hazard YVES
waiting. Everything was very pleas ant
aud the two callers spoke cordially,
and Mics Smith knew of no unpleasant
words having passed between them.
| Hazard never had any illfeeling TO-
ward Howard Howard told witness
that he threatened to take Hazards life.
Miss Smith stated that she knew that
Howard disliked Heard, and hsd
| t lreatened 10 letters to take his life.
These letters the witness had burned
as she received them.
Hazard left about 9:15, and she went
out on the porch with him aod left him
talking to her mother. OG leaving
Hsz ard said be was going to New York
or New Jersey. The witness stated
that one night on the bridge Howard
pointed pistol at Heard and threat.
ened his life. Heard knew nothing
about the threat. Another time, at the
house, Howard pointed pistol at the
accused. On one occasion HowaT d
placed the pistol to his right temple, in
dicating where the bullet would enter,
and intimated that he intended to COM
NIT suicide.
Mr.. ]. G. Rogers, counsel for accused,
questioned the witness, who stated thst
she refused to marry deceased, who
sought her hand, while in Alexandra,
and that he then declared that he
would kill himself. He also threaten
ed 10 all bis letters to commit suicide II
witness did not marry him. Her en-
gsgement to Howard was broken two
weeks prior to the tragedy. Wit
ness stated that Howard told her
that the person who held him up
was q tall, heavily built man, who, he
thought. IVES negro. Heard is short,
stoully bunt man. Miss Smith was
shown the pistol found at Howard's
side, and stated that, so far % shs could
Judge, it was the same weapon she had
seen 10 Howard's possession.
| Arthur B. Smith, father OF Miss
Smith, testified to finding the body In
front of his home. The dead man was
lying partly on bis face, with bis hand
under him.
Benedict Wheatley, an undertak or OF
Alexandra, testified to removing the
body OF deceased 10 this city. He observ-
ed bruises on nose, left cheek and lips.
His attention was also called 10 bruise
across the breast. All these bruises
might have been caused by falling.
DR.. Hugh MCGUIRE, Of this city, who
assisted in making an autopsy, testified
that the ball passed through the brain
and fractured the skull. He exhibited
tie bullet taken from the dead mans
u ueh cut of shape.
Among other witnesses we're J. J.
Kleiner, foreman of the coroDer's jury
which rendered verdict of suicide; DR..
Abelbert H. Lee, who examined the
body and found powder imbedded in
| flesh about the wound: John Barly, OF
BerwyD, who corrob0rated statements
as to the movs ments Of y0ung Hazard,
and others, whose testimony was also
Capitalization