Evening star., 1902-04-17
JOHN ST. CLAIR HELD
Accused of the Murder of
Daisy Maddox.
DENIES THE CHARGE
HE CLAIMS THAT THE WOMAN
SHOT HERSELF.
The Testimony of an Eyewitness Con-
tradicts Him - Result Of
Coroner's Inquest.


John st. Clair, the one-legged colored
man accused of numbering Daisy Maddox.
also colored. by shooting her in the head,
in A B alley. Tuesday night, as pub
lished in yesterdays Star, was held re-
sponsible for the crime today by jury
summoned by the coroner. He was there
upon committed to jail. The body of the
victim was taken in charge by her sister,
who will make the necessary funeral ar
rangements.
Mrs. Lizzie Hutchinson, colored, In whose
house the woman received her fatal wound,
was the most important witness examined
by the coroner. She is widow, forty-fiv
years old, from whom Daisy Maddox rented
room. John ST. Clair, she said, was In
the kitchen writing a letter, and he claimed
that Daisy Maddox had taken a dollar
from the table where he was writing. Daisy
went to the yard, but returned in few
minutes, Minnie Barton following her.
Daisy went upstairs to her trunk in the
front room, she Said and when she heard
John ST. Clair approaching she started to
leave her room.
He slapped her and knocked her across
the bed. Minnie Barton meanwhile came
downstairs, and when witness heard the
other woman scream she ran upstairs. Be
ing unable to get into the room, she broke
open the door.
John had Daisy against glass case
choking her" declared Mrs. Hutchinson.
Il told him to stop beating her, and he
pulled out a pistol and fired twice"
Witness said she went downstairs, but
that st. Clair remained in the room beat
ing the woman, and witness heard two more
shots fired. She saw John come down with
the pistol in his hand. and she followed
him until she met two colored men. They
promised to cause his arrest, and she re-
f1Iry ,a6 nd Wi VI n
The Evidence Submitted.
Mary Brown. colored. testified that she
heard John st. Clair and Daisy Maddox
engaged in a quarrel.
Did you hear any pistol shots?" the wit
ness was asked.
Il heard four Shots" she responded.
Witness said she went upstairs and met
the man. She asked him what was the
matter. but he made no response.
Did you see the woman?"
Il found her lying between the bed and
the trunk"
Mrs. Brown said the woman was groan-
ing. and she saw blood coming from
wounds in her head.
ST. Clair. she informed the jury. had a
stick in one hand and pistol in the other.
Witness helped him to find his crutch. She
followed him short distance and then re-
turned to the room. Daisy asked witness
for glass of water, which witness gave
her.
DR.. Stewards Statement.
DR.. David l.. Stewart, resident physician
at the Emergency Hospital, explained that
the woman was unconscious when she
reached the institution. There was
superficial bullet wound Of the forehead.
and there was a second wound in the back
Of the head. The latter wound penetrated
the brain. The patient died about o'clock
yesterday morning.
Minnie Barton, colored. was next examin-
ed She lives at No 20 Logan place. Wit
ness said she stopped at the house to see
Mrs. Hutchinson on her way home from
concert Several women, including Daisy
Maddox, were seated in the front room,
while st. Clair was in the rear room writ
ing letter. Daisy went to the rear room
and st. Clair appeared as If he thought
she wanted to see what he was writing.
They had some words and witness thought
st. Clair struck her, for she cried. She
heard Daisy say, Il haven't got it, after
ST. Clair had spoken to her.
After they went upstairs. witness said.
she started home, and she had just left the
house when she heard three or four shots
fired.
Witness went back to the house. She
saw St. Clair leave the house, but did not
see the revolver in his hand.
Result of the Autopsy.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook testified that
uc peIlOIIueu Tic dulopoS lhio liAi6. AAC
found the wounds described by DR.. Stewart.
The wound in the back of the head, the
doctor stated was necessarily fatal. The
doctor said he was surprised that the wo-
man lived SO long. Under ordinary cir
cumstances such a wound would cause In
stant death.
Sergeant Sprinkle of the second precinct
testified that officers were sent out to in
vestigate the case as soon as the shooting
was reported. Tuesday night about II
o'clock. Witness went to the house and
saw the dying woman. Yesterday morning
the sergeant went in search Of the weapon
and found it in the yard in the rear Of 140
l. street northwest, where it had been
thrown.
The prisoner, who was not represented by
counsel was asked if he wanted to make
a statement, being told that If he did so it
would be of his own free will.
The Prisoners Denial.
He answered in the affirmative and then
proceeded with his denial.
II was there and had little difficulty
with this woman" said the prisoner. I'VE
went UP the steps and slapped her."
After this occurred, he said, they re-
turned downstairs. Shortly afterward
Daisy went upstairs and called him. When
he went to her room she told him she
knew he was going to see another girl II
he left her.
'If you CO. the prisoner said she told
him, ''Tll die right here"
He said she then drew the pistol and
began firing.
''I tried to push 1t away" he said, "and
was going out Of the room when Mrs.
Hutchinson came in." He declared Mrs.
Hutchinson did not witness the shooting
'.I had no pistol" he concluded.
He was not crOss-examined.
This concluded the testimony, and the
case was submitted to the jury.
Ex-Union Soldiers at Asylum.