The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-29
In THE DISTRICT COURTS
The Trial of Charles Williams for
the Murder of Mary Brown.
Potomac Flats Cases to Be Reopened
Tomorrow-Justice Ciabaugh's Or
der Regarding the Preparation
of Cnscs in Circuit Court No. z.


of Cnscs in Circuit Court No. 2
Charles Williams. colored, will be put
on trial today in Criminal Court No. !
| for the murder of Mary Brown, also col
ored, about two months ago. Justice Bar
! nard will preside and the prosecution will
be personally conducted by Thomas II.
| Anderson, United States District Attor-
! ney. assisted by Thomas c. Taylor. 1t
| is expected that the trial will continue for
two days, and will be the last time Mr..
Anderson will appear in the District
courts as prosecutor, as it is expected that
on May ! he will take the oath of Of
fee as an Associate Justice of the Su-
| preme Court of the District, to which he
was recently appointed to succeed Charles
| c. Cole, resigned.
| The crime for which Williams is to be
! tried was committed at l02 Fourteenth
, Street southeast. where he and the wo-
man whom he is charged with killing had
/ lived for some time. According to the
report of the affair made at the time of its
| occurrence, Williams became jealous OF
the woman and tainted her with receiv-
| ing the attentions of another man. This
! the woman denied. and words ensued
which resulted in fight. In his anger.
/
Brown on the head with a chair. He
! placed the woman on a bed in the room,
and then retired himself. AT an early
hour in the morning he awaked, and
| found his companion was dead. He then
| went out and informed a policeman that
| there was a woman dead in the house, in
| dicating 102 Fourteenth Street. The po-
| liceman entered the house and found
| Mary Brown lying on the bed. "he Cor
oner was notified and at an inquest the
| next day Williams was held responsible
| for the woman's death. He was arrested
| by the police of the Fifth precinct
Steps will be taken by the Government
tomorrow before Justice Hagner, presiding
| in the District branch of the Supreme
/ Court of the District looking to the re-
| opening of what is commonly known as
the Potomac Flats cases, for the pur-
pose of determining the valuation of the
wharf property along the river front
within the District. The proceedings will
be conducted on behalf of the United
! States by Charles C. Cole, who, on Satur-
day, was appointed special attorney for
the Government by Attorney General
Knox, on the recommendation of District
Attorney Anderson.
1t was the intention of Mr.. Anderson
ago but the continued illness of Justice
Hagner caused it to be postponed. Mr..
Anderson has, however already sent no.
tees to all the owners and lessees of
wharf property informing them that the
matter would be taken up with a view
of determining the valuation of the prop
erty. When the matter is called up to-
morrow ex-Judge Cole will file petition
supplementary TO that already filed by
Mr.. Anderson, asking the court to require
all persons who claim any of the property
in dispute to file their claims stating the
nature of property of which they claim
ownership and the amount of damages
estimated by them.
The coming week is expected to be a
busy one in Circuit Court No 2, over
which Justice Clabaugh tpresides. On
Tuesday last, although there were twelve
cases on the assignment, when they were
called it was discovered that rot a single
one of them was ready for triad This did
not please Justice Clabaugh and he an
nounced that hereafter cases placed upon
the assignment will be tried or continued
until the following term of the court
which means delay of at least thirty
days. In addition to this he instructed
the clerk Of Circuit Court No to post
hfty cases, numbered from ISL to 20l in
elusive, on the call for this morning. and
TO notify the attorneys interested In this
way II will be determined which cases
upon the calendar for the month of April
are ready for trial. The cases ready for
hearing Will be assigned for trial and all
others will be continued to the next term
of court. f.t
In Equity Court No. q the hearing
in the suit of Admiral Sanlpson, his off,
GERS, and men regarding certain Spanish
vessels and stores captured III the battle of
Santiago Bay on July 3, 1855. win be re-
sumed before Justice Bradley, sitting for
admiralty business.
1t Is expected that Justice Hagner. who
has been i'll for some time, will today re-
sumo his judicial duties in Equity Court
No, /