The Washington times., 1902-08-28
Jackson City Arson Trial
IS Unexpectedly
Halted.
PRISONERS SUDDEN ILLNESS
Case to Be Resumed Today-Defense
Produces Number of Witnesses to
Prove an Alb; - Sheriff Palmer
Placed on the Stand.

A sisterly kiss so wrought upon the
emotions Of John c. Nelson. the alleged
frcbug. that the progress Of his trial was
brought to a sudden halt in the Alex
andria county courthouse yesterday aft
ernoon. and he left the courtroom at 1:3O
o'clock. fcycrish and unnerved.
Yesterday was the first time during the
proceedings that the prisoners bearing
has been other than calm. Throughout
the trial he has manifested extraordi-
nary alertness. paying careful attention
to the testimony of every witness, sug-
Eesting questions to his counsel and gaz-
ing unninchingly in the faces of his ac-
cuseTs on the witness stand.
Yesterday when his wife. who has oc
cupied a scat near him since the first
day of his hearing. entered the court
room. she was accompanied by his sister
and his two little nieces. Many whis-
pered conversations were carried on be
tween the prisoner and his relatives on
the outside Of the rail. and at one period
both Nelson and Mrs. Nelson were in
tears.
Nelson Pleads Illness.
The accused man appeared unwell
when ne entered court. and after his
siste, had kissed him he seemed TO
struggle with his emotions. Attorney
Moore. fer the defense. arose and stated
to the court that Nelson had been sick
tha; morning several times, that he was
suffering from d fever.
-, ha
Judge. in which he said he was faint with
fever. The prosecution offering no ob-
jeciions. Nelson was led from the court
room and the court adjourned until $50
o'clock this morning. that the prisoner
might receive medical attention. Or.
H. c. Corbett. of Arlington, attended him
last night.
The defense opened its case yesterday
morning. eleven Witnesses being put on
the stand in behalf of the prisoner. The
main efforts of the defense We're directed
toward establishing an alibi. Several
witnesses were also introduced for the
purpose of impeaching me testimony of
several importaut witnesses of the prose-
cution.
s1AA aNhlt Ai4HA Nhts AisAA 7ttAA -NtA7pAA
in Alman's saloon, Fourteenth and c
Streets southwest about 1890 o'clock
the night OF the fire. Three others tes-
tihed that he passed them few miDutes
later going south on the Long Bridge
toward Jackson City and that the fire
was ther burning.
These three witnesses said that the
accused was il a carriage with another
man, and two OF them testified that he
10 have broken out about 1925 Monday
night, and one of the witnesses for the
prosecution gave the time of 1923
o'clock as the period when lie had first
seen the blaze in the policy shop.
Witnesses for Defense.
Five or. six more witnesses Will be
called by the defense. Their testimony
Will likely be in before l o'clock today.
II so, arguments will be begun at 2
O'Clock and The case 20 to the jury some
time tomorrow.
The twelve peers Of Nelson who have
his fate in their hands will be confront
cd by a difficult problem. \ number OF
witnesses for the prosecution have sworn
positively 10 having seen Nelson in the
vicinity Of the red shanty where the
policy business was conducted and which
was the first set afre. Some stated that
they saw him enter the building and the
flames break out upon his exit One
made the statement that he himself en-
tered the building attracted by a CLEAN
of light, and upon entering saw Nelson
on the inside and with him a lame man.
who was swabbing the floor. The wit |
ness stated that Nelson ordered him out
side.
On the other hand, nine Witnesses for |
the defense, as already stated. are as
positive in their declarations under oath !
that they saw Nelson on the north side |
OF the river at such a time as would ab-
solutely preclude the possibility OF his
having started the fire.
Testimony has been introduced by the |
prosecution TO show that Nelson had dis
agreed with his former partners, a mo- |
tive Tor the alleged crime being i'm |
piled. The defense in ross-examiuation !
Of these witnesses has drawn out the /
details OF The business, showing 1t to be |
8 profitable one.
Sheriff on the Stand.
The first witness called yesterday
morning was Sheriff Palmer Of Alex !
andria county, for the prosecution on |
Tuesday night the prosecution announced |
that their case was all in. but yesterday |
stated that they had one more witness. |
The sheriff testified that Joha Ti-be, |
who stands indicted jointly with Nelson, |
was lame. This evidence was evideatly /!
ELECTED Tor the purpose OF CO meeting |
Tighe with the lame man that ona of the |
former witnesses testified 10 having /
seen swabbing the floor of the policy |
shop.
The defense then opensd its case.
Charles ". Smith, OF this city, who owns
Z boat and fishes in the Potomac for a
living. offered evidence in rebutfal Of
that OF William J. Smith the bus Griv
er. who testified Tor the prosecution. me
driver told th< jury on Monday that he
saw Nelson come out OF the shartv
shortly before the blaze was noticed. c.
". Smith testified that he saH W J.
Smith a few days after the fire and that
the latter had told him he saw Nelson
do nothing "out of the way on the
night OF the fire.
Edward y. Hcines. Of 1925 d Street
southwest, bartender at Amans sa-
loon, Fourteenth and c Streets south
west, was called 10 further impeach the
testimony Of William j. Smith The
witness testified that the bus driver
came into the saloon where he worked
between and o'clock on the morning
after the FIRE and in the course of
conversation said that Nelson could
not be guilty Of starting the fire the