Evening star., 1901-04-02
HELDFOR GRAND JURY
Charles Williams to Answer to the
Charge Of Murder.
VERDICT OF THE CORONER'S JURY
Substance of the Testimony Ad-
duced at the Hearing.
ACCUSED MAN SENT TO JAIL

Charles Williams colored, who confessed
to the killing of Mrs. Mary Virginia Brown
Saturday night, at her home, No. 102 14th
street southeast, as published I'm yester-
days Star, was held for the action of the
grand jury today by jury of inquest con-
vened for the preliminary examination at
the sixth precinct station. The prisoner
was present at the hearing and took a deep
interest in what was said by the witnesses.
At the conclusion of the hearing Williams
was committed to Jail and Undertaken Bet
ter took charge of the body.
Mrs. Brown, the victim of the accused
man, was the widow of Jefferson Brown, a
well-known colored man who died in this
city about ten years ago. Her son, Oscar
Lee Brown, is an electrician in the navy
and is now in the Philippines During his
first enlistment he allowed his mother $12
a month, and upon the expiration of his
term of enlistment she was several months
without this allowance. Friends who in
tereSted themselves in her behalf arranged
to have her cared for at the Home for the
Aged, conducted by the Little Sisters of
the Poor. Charles Williams, who exerted
an influence over her, induced her to go
to the almshouSe instead in order that he
might visit her and take her away If he
>
and when the monthly allowance came
again Mrs. Brown left the almshouse and
went to live with Williams against the
protests of her relatives. The latter had
often advised her to have nothing to do
with Williams. She refused to take their
advice and the result was the affair of
Saturday night. Her remains will be buried
at Woodlawn cemetery later in the week.
First Witness Examined.
Prentiss Patterson. colored, who occupied
room at the house where the crime was
committed. was the first witness examined
He told the jury he returned home Sunday
morning about ten minutes before o'clock
Charles Williams, the prisoner, opened the
door and let him in. Witness said lie went
to his room and Williams entered the room
that Mrs. Brown occupied. Williams, he
said, told him when he returned home THAT
he could not get the old woman to speak
and witness went up to see her. She was
breathing when witness entered the room
and he advised Williams to go for doc
tor. The bed was broken. and Mrs. Brown
who was occupying it, was only partly
dressed.
Witness remained there about ten min
utes. All the blood witness saw at that
time was on Williams coat and shirt, and
there were several spots on the wall. The
woman's face and eyes were badly swollen
Williams, the witness said, told him Mrs
Brown must have fallen down the steps
have come and Mrs Brown must have
fallen when she went to hurry to the door
This was the only solution he gave Wit.
ness told the jury Williams was very much
under the influence Of nquOr when he
reached home Sunday morning. Williams
told witness he had quarreled with the wo-
man.
'How did you think Williams got the
blood on his shirt" the coroner inquired
II thought he had been holding the old
woman in his arms bathing her head" was
the response of witness.
Williams did not tell witness about the
assault. He had never heard Mrs Brown
and Williams quarrel.
L Had a Number of Drinks
Robert Perry, colored, 232 l4th stree,
southeast, testified that he was with VII.
liams from II o'clock Saturday morning
until ) O'clock in the afternoon when he
(witness) left him at the latters gate He
did not see him again until Sunday morn
ing. Witness said he went with Williams
ID the Navy Department Saturday morn
ing to get Mrs. Browns money on account
of her sons pay. They had a number OF
drinks on their way home, but the liquor
affected Williams more than it did wit
ness.
On their way home they stopped at Dono
hoes real estate office and Williams paid
the house rent. He also got a pin out OF
pawn, and witness spoke to him about
" iiiiams said he had control of the money
and could spend what he pleased. Sunday
morning Williams called at witness house
and told him Mrs. Brown was dead.
I'm what condition did Williams appear
to be when he came to your house?" wit
ness was asked.
His eyes looked funny" the witness an
swered. HE didn't look like the same
Charlie he was the day before"
Witness said he had known Williams
about five months, and had always found
him to be quiet and inoffensive man.
PoIiceman's Testimony.
Policeman Frank Howard of the fifth pre-
cinct testified that he first learned of the
woman's death at the 3 o'clock roll cal
Sunday morning. An hour later he reached
the house and found the defendant there
The latter escorted him to the front room
on the second floor, where he found the
dead body Of the woman resting on 6
broken bed Witness heard Williams ex.
planation of the affair, in which he tolG
of the woman having fallen down the steps
The officer said he questioned the colored
man closely about the affair, and, suspect
ing something wrong, he detained him al
the house until the arrival of the coroner.
Witness exhibited to the jury severa
garments that had been taken from the
house. Some of them We're torn and blood
stains were on most OF them. One garment
stained shirt, the property Of the prisoner
was also exhibited. This garment had
been found under the house, where it haG
been thrown by Williams.
Testifes to Prisoners Confession.
Detective Sam Browne testified to the
confession by the prisoner, made after ht
had been questioned at some length. Dur.
ing the course Of the interview the coloret
man told witness Of having gone to the
Navy Department and obtained the money
for Mrs. Brown, and said when he wen
home late Saturday night he was drunk
Upon going upstairs Mrs. Brown got aftel
him about coming home intoxicated and he
struck her. He said he used loaded cane
which was broken. Afterward he threw
the woman upon the bed Williams tolG
witness about the return home Of Prentiss
Patterson and about his movements Sun
day morning when he went for doctor
then for an undertaken and finally to this
police station.
Deputy Coroner GlaZebrook described the
condition of the woman's body. He told O,
the bruises about the head and said three
ribs were broken. The skull was not frac