Evening star., 1901-10-30
Charles Doyle Denies That He is
Guilty of Murder.
SAYS HALLARD DENT PURSUED BIN
Story Of the Crime Alleged Re-
lated by Witness.
MONY CONCLUDED

Shortly after the trial of Charles Doyle,
colored, under indictment for the murder
the 18th of last July of Hallard Dent, also
colored. by cutting his throat with a ra-
zor was resumed this morning in Criminal
Court No. United States Attorney Gould
announced that the case of the government
was closed. Attorney Frisby of counsel
for Doyle thereupon outlined in an address
to the jury the position Of the defense.
According to Attorney Frisby, Thomas
Grayson, who appeared yesterday wit
ness for the government, was intoxicated
the evening of the 18th of July. Grayson
demanded that Doyle go to a lunch room
and get him something to eat. Doyle s
refusal to do so angered Grayson. Doyle
walked up an incline into the stable and
Grayson followed. Doyle told Grayson to
go away.
At this point Dent interfered, taking
Grayson's part. Dent stood over Doyle in
a menacing attitude. Doyle walked away
frcm them and proceeded to the harness
room preparatory to going home. Dent
followed and Doyle admonished him to go
away, explaining that he did not want to
have any trouble with him. The latter
reached for pitchfork and was in the act
OF using it on Doyle, when the defendant
cut him. If the foregoing facts should be
established, said Attorney Frisby, the de.
fense would expect a verdict of guilty of
manslaughter, but not of murder.
After The Stars report of the trial yes
terday closed Marion Jones. employed at
the stables of the United States Express
Company, and who claims to have wit
messed the fatal cutting was called to the
stand. He corroborated the assertions of
Thomas Grayson, who had preceded him,
before the jury. The government closed its
case this morning by examining Fannie
Schcneberger, keeper of the morgue; Police
man David E. Langley, Policeman Law
renee A., ODea and Detective Thomas b.
McNamee for the purpose Of establishing
tho death of Dent and the manner of the
arrest of Doyle.
TestiRes In His own Behalf.
The defense was opened by Doyle taking
the stand in his own behalf. He told Of the
exchange of words between Grayson and
himself relative to going after the lunch,
and of Grayson following him up into the
stable. Doyle says he sat down when he
reached the second floor of the stable, and
Grayson remarked to him:
You're not so warm, II you keep your
feet on the ground"
At this point, he said, Dent interjected: !:
IF you can't make him keep his feet down
tie 'em down."
Doyle testified that he told Dent he did
not want to have any trouble with him.
Dent stood over him. he said as though
he meant to strike him, and exclaimed:
''You'e nothing but coward, anyhow,
be the end of YOU"
Doyle started for the harness room, he
said and Dent followed repeating the re-
mark: You amt nothing but a coward,
nohow.''
Continuing, Doyle says he noticed razor
lying in the harness room. He took it out
with him, thinking the others would not
trouble him if they saw he had the weapon.
Dent put his fist over Doyle's shoulder and
repeated the remark quoted Doyle showed
Dent back, and, seeing he could not get by.
started to return to the harness room.
Dent followed, showed his right fist over
Doyles shoulder, grabbed the pitchfork
with his left hand and again declared, i've
got a great mind to smash you anyhow
If 1 give you a blow it will end you
Cut Dent and Ran Away.
Doyle thereupon cut at Dent with the
razor and ran away. He and Dent had al
ways been good friends, he said. Dent, he
said, was a much larger and stronger man
than he. The defendant further said that
Jones was under the influence of liquor
when he reached the stable that evening
and had pint of whisky with him.
The witness said he was so upset on
learning that Dent was dead that he did
not realize what he was saying wnen ex-
amined at the coroner's inquest.
when did you first apprehend that Doyle
was dead?'' asked the United States at
torney.
Il can't comprehend your prognostica-
tion," replied the defendant.
The defense called in turn W. E. Clark
John O'Brien and H. NJ Haynor, who had
employed Doyle. They testified that his
reputation for peace and good order,
truth and .yeracity had always been good,
so far as they knew. The case of the de-
fense at this point closed.
In RebuttaI.
The government called in rebuttal De-
tective McNamee and Policeman Burrows
The former said that after the arrest Doyle
said to him that he ran away because he
was afraid Dent would hit him with the
pitchfork. According to Policeman Bur-
rows Doyle said that after he cut Dent
the latter reached for the pitchfork.
The testimony was about all in when this
report closed.