The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-08-27
Proceedings Will Be Renew
ed Tomorrow Morning,
if Possible.
ATTEMPT TO PROVE AN ALIBI
Theory of Defense Supported by Many
Witnesses-Statements That Defend
ant Was Not at Jackson City at
Time the Fire Broke Out

John Nelson. who is on trial at the
Alexandria court house on the charge
Of having burned the gambling Joints
at Jackson City on the night of July "A
last, was suddenly taken sick in the
courtroom while the hearing was in
progress about 1:30 this afternoon. and
Judge Love adjourned court until
O'Clock tomorrow morning. Nelson had
complained during the day Of feeling
badly. and while enc Of the witnesses
was on the stand he became too III 20
sit IN his chair and had to be removed
to the open air.
His wife sat beside him during the
hearing today and at several intervals
broke out in tears. His sister and
brother and two little nieces also oc-
cupied seats in the court room and
we're attentive listeners to the testi-
mory.
Deferse Trying to Prove an Alibi.
The third day Of the trial was opened
by the Introduction Of witnesses for the
defense. From the first it was appar-
ent that it Is the plan Of the defense 70
prove an aI.bi and ten or twelve wit
nesses who gave testimony stated that
Nelson could not have been at the south
end OF the Long Bridge in time to set
FIRE 10 the buildings owned By Frank
Foster and Charles Sanderson-
Several testified that he was in Al
mans saloon At Fourteenth and z
Streets southwest az f6.se ,. m. while
others saw HIN crossing Long Bridse
shortly after that tine on his way .
Jackson City. The Ere started about
1920 p. IA
The defense viii have all its &esti-
mony in BY tomorrow noon if Nelson re-
covers sufficiently and then the pleas
viii be made. The case will probably
be in the hands OF the jury by Friday
afternoon.
The prosecution announced last night
that it rested its case on the evidence
already in, but when court convened to-
day Sheriff Palmer was put on the stand
again by the prosecution The sheriff
testified that John Tighe was lame This
evidence was evidently elected as tend
Ing to connect Tighe aith the lame man
that one OF the former witnesses testi-
fed 20 having seen swabbing the floor
OF the policy shop
Defense Opens It's Case,
The defense then opened its case
Charles " Smith. of Washington, who
owns a boat and fishes in the Potomac
for living, was the first witness put
OF the stand.
The object Of the defense was to refute
with MS testimony the statements OF
William J. Smith. the hack driver, who
told the story OF the FIRE for the prose-
cution.
The driver had told the jury that he
saw Nelson coming out OF the policy
shop shortly before the fire started
Charles " Smith, the witness for the
defense. stated that William J. Smith
had told about the fire TO him few days
afterward, the latter stating to the wit
ness that he had not. seen Nelson in sus-
p!cious proximity TO the scene OF the
confagration On the night OF July H.
Contradicts Prosecution Witness
Edward 5. Hines, of 1925 D Street
southwest. a bartender at AIman-s sa-
loon. Fourteenth and Streets south
west, was called to further impeach tbs
testimony of WEIiam J. Smith The
witness testified that the bus driver
came into the saloon where he worked
between . and 5 O'Clock on the morning
after the fire and in the course OF
conversation said that Nelson could
not be guilty Of starting the IRE the
night before as he. the defendant was in
Washington the night Of the FIRE. This
testimony Was directly opposite to that
given by the bus driver on the stand
on Monday afternoon.
Orange McNesl. Of 63S B Street
southwest this city. a signal repairer
employed by the Pennsylvania Rail-
road. stated that he was at the north
end OF tie Long Bridge on the night of
July Il, when the fire broke cut at
Jackson Cit.
Nelson Wore White Hat.
McNeaI said he saw Nielsen and an
other man driving south across the
bridge toward Jackson City about 1885
O'Clock. He said he had known Nelson
for several years. and On me night in
question he wore white hat
The fourth witness OF the day vas
Frank z. FTere, produce dealer, Of
1881 c Street southwest. He had
known Nelson for about ten years, and
cn july II had been with him from )
o'clock in the afternoon until Io:20 at
night. when he left nim in A1maH's
saloon at Fourteenth and c Streets
soUthrest.
Charles II. Gruckenmiiler. plate
! printer employed at the Bureau of En-
craving and Printing. swore he WIS IN
Alman's saloon at 1899 p. N. Juiy "a
and saw Nelson there. He left there