Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-26
THE ARGUMENTS HEARD |
COUNSEL ADDRESS JURY IN
GoINGs MURDER TRIAL.
Defendant Deciares He Killed Mil
lard Birch ip self-Defense-
The Evidepce.

Final arguments were commenced in the
Alexandria county court this afternoon in
the case of William ] Goings colored,
| charged with the, murder of Willard r.
Birch in Rosslyn, October last. Most of
the morning session was taken up with the
testimony of the accused himself. and sew
eral witnesses introduced by the defense to
show that Goings had borne good reputa-
ton before his arrest on the charge of muir
der The plea Of self-defense was set up
by the prisoner in his examination and cor
roborated by several witnesses who fol-
lowed.
Goings was recalled to the stand when
court convened this morning. The cross
examination conducted by Mr.. Clements,
failed to shake. in the main, the story he
told Yesterday afternoon, which was, in
effect. that he had acted in self-defense.
He stated that he was attracted to Ma
gruder's saloon by hearing some Of his
friends talking there, and went in to get
glass of beer He passed between Birch
and REYNOLDS, he said, when the former
cursed him furiousiy. Goings said he ask
ed to be excused. but added that he did not
like to be treated so rudely, whereupon
REYNOLDS, according to the witness, yelled,
face from B;rch's fist and a moment later,
he said. Reynolds jumped on him and com
nenced beating and kicking him.
A friend of Goings named Jackson pulled
l "
the parties arose to their feet, Gongs said,
Birch made dash for him with a brick
bat In his hand The missile flew through
the air but missed its mark 1t was Sc
cured by Goings, who struck Birch over
the head with 1t.
The witness declared that he believed his
life was in danger when he used the brick
in his defense. He said that as his as
him, as If to draw a weapon.
When he came at me | was afraid Of
my life said the witness, "and struck
him. Then I ran out Of the door and went
home. and didn't know for a long time
that had killed him."
Statements of Other Witnesses.
The defense presented other witnesses to
prove that the fight was started by Birch.
Henry Cheatham, who said he was an eye
witness of the affair, swore that both Rey
nolds and Birch had jumped on Goings,
who had acted on the defensive. This
statement was substantially followed in
the evidence of Howard Smith, Martin
. Bailey and Charles R. jackson. Sam Hun
ter also stated that Birch struck the first
blow.
Following the ross-examnation of the
prisoner this morning, Messrs. Machen
and Moncure, counsel for the defense,
called several witnesses to prove gen.
Parsons and Capt. Rhodes of the United
States quartermaster's department at St.
Asaph testified that they had known moth
ing against Goings, while he was in their
employ. The same line Of evidence was
given by John n. Gibson, town councilman
of Falls Church; Charles l. Crossman and
F. S. Corbett COUNSEL for the defense then
announced that TIE evidence was all in
for their side. Before Gclosing, however
Mr.. Moncure desired to see the warrant
on which the prisoner was brought from
delivered into the Gus tody of Deputy Sheriff
Harry Palmer. He said0 she introduced the
matter in order to show that there was no
requisition, and that Goings came back
willingly for trial. The original warrant
was not in the court room and the point
was allowed to pass until Deputy Sheriff
Palmer, who was absent could be placed
on the witness stand. Z
Evidence In Rebuttal.
Attorney Clement announced that he
would introduce evidence An rebuttal. Jos.
R. Reynolds, who testified yesterday as to
the fight in Magruders saloon, was placed
on the stand. He swore that Birch had no
brick In his hand when Goings advanced
upon him. Other questioning was objected
to by opposing counsel on the ground that
the line followed had been gone over before,
which was sustained by the court. Carlyle
A. Hager was also recalled to corroborate
the statement that Birch carried no brick
bat in his hand. Prayers for Instructions
to the jury followed a recess. after which
the final argument wac commenced. At the
conclusion of the presentations the case
Will De given to the jury, and verdict IS
expected late this afternoon