The Washington times., 1902-05-05
Justices Anderson and
Barnard Preparing for
Vacation.
MURDER CASES TO BE TRIED
-Four Persons Now Being Held on This
Charge-Freeman's Case to Begin Next
Monday-Case of Postal Clerk Ryan
May Be Concluded Today.

From now Until the end of the second
week In June the work OF the criminal
branches Of the Supreme Court Of the
District will be pushed along with all
possible haste. About that time il is ex-
pected that Justice Anderson, presiding
in Criminal Court No. /. and Justice
Barnard. sitting in Criminal Court No. 2,
will sail for Europe to spend the summer
vacation. In order that as many OF the
Jail cases" as can be brought to trial
may be disposed of, District Attorney
Gould is using his best efforts and hopes
by the middle of next month to have the
calendar clear Of this class of cases. At
present there are only four prisoners
charged with murder who have not been
called to trial. These are James Freeman,
colored, accused of the murder of Mary
Wells, also colored; Henry Silas, colored,
held for the killing of Nettie Carter, col
ored; Forrest Pendleton, colored, charged
with the murder Of Grafton Brown, color
ed, and Charles Thomas, alias John St
Clair, held for the murder Of Daisy Mad
dox, both colored.
District Attorney Gould has already fix
ed the dates for the trials Of Freeman and
Silss. The trial Of the former will be com
menced week from today in Criminal
Court No. before Justice Anderson. and
on the Monday following Silas will be
called to answer for the crime with which
he is charged.
Sitting for Probate Business.
At present Justice Barnard, who. as well
as presiding In Criminal Court No. 2. is
assigned to sit in the Probate Court, is
considering matters In that branch of
the Supreme Cosrt of the District 1t is
expected. however, that he will clear up
the probate calendar during the current
week, and then will take up the consider
alton Of criminal business.
The crime for which Freeman will be
put on trial for his life was committed
at Majors Alley on the night of Janu- |
ary 10 last. At the place mentioned he |
and Mary Wells, a girl about seventeen |
wears old lived as man and wife For |
some reason or other Freeman became |
Jealous of the woman and often quarreled |
with her. During these quarrels he is |
said to have repeatedly told her that IL |
she did not discontinue her association /
with certain men and women he would |
Xii her On the date mentioned Mary |
Wells came home late. about midnight, |
and. according to the ante-mortem state |
ynent of the woman, Freeman beat her |
with his fists and kicked her. inficting /
such Injuries as to cause her death. II
Died at Freedman's Hospital.
Two or three days after Freeman had
assaulted her. Mary Wells was removed
from her home to Freedman's Hospital,
- hr,,o Il,
In her ante mortem statement, she SAID
that on the afternoon of January I9 Free
man came home under the influence OF
drink. She was absent at the time he
came and when she returned he said TO
her that he had been out looking for her
Mary Wells said she went out again and
returned to her home about midnight IN
company with Joseph Reeder and Laura
Johnson. when she knocked at the door
Freeman, she stated, put his head out of
a window and asked Reeder II she was
with him On being informed that she
was Freeman, the woman said came
sown and opened the back gate and let
her into the house. Just as soon as she
5,ad passed within the gate Mary Wells
stated that Freeman struck her a blow
with HIS fist which knocked her down
md she became unconscious. When she
recovered she got up and went INTO the
house. Freensp, Epe declared, followed
hef and renewed the quarrel, and said
- you, have been looking 70.
you: told you TO stay at home. If yor
DON'T want to do what ] told you / viii
XII you" ~
II II Wanted 10 tell him where had been"
he woman said, "iiut he would not listen
10 me. and struck me again With bis fist
,nd lciclled me in the left side. fell ana
.o,,ld hardly move ] was an doubled
m. lie holiered 10 me to get up. but