Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-17
FOR NUMBERING WIFE
Benjamin G.. Hill Arraigned
in Criminal Court.
OPENING OF THE TRIAL
TESTIMONY GIVEN By EYE-wIT-
NEssEs OF TRAGEDY.
Deputy Coroner's Statement Relative
to the Autopsy-The Defendants
Alleged Admissions.
OPENING OF THE TRIAL

Shortly after Criminal Court No. 1 was
opened this morning twelve men competent
to sit as jury and pass upon the quit
or innocence Of Benjamin g. HILL accused
Of the murder OF his wife. Carrie Theoda
Hill, by shooting her November 8 last, were
impaneled as followed: William w. Tuckey.
Frank B. Jonas. John T. Wade, John r.
Darcy, w. s. Richardson, Noble ]. Walker
W. Seymour Mcleod. Frederick E. Queen,
Frank D. Hospital. George w. Fairfax.
James Garvey and Richard ]. Bean. or.
The defendant, who Is Of middle age.
with gray hair and moustache, and neatly
dressed. paid close attention to the proceeo-
ings It is alleged that late during the AT
ernoon of Saturday. November last ne
appeared at the boarding house. 80 MIS-
souri, avenue. which was conducted by Mrs'
Hill, and without warning began discharg-
ing the contents Of revolver at ms WIZ;
who was at dinner at the time. Mrs. Ati
died at the Casualty Hospital NovemDer ~
The first witness called by the govern
ment was Dr. L. w. Glazebrook. the dep
uty coroner of the District. Dr. Hiaze-
brook performed an autopsy on the pooy
Of Mrs. Hill at the morgue. lie described
the condition In which he found the re-
mains, and declared that one Of the three
bullet wounds was necessarily fatal
Dr. L. Y. Gichrist who last November
was resident physician at the Casualty aos.
pital told of Mrs. Hill being received at
that institution about 6 o'clock Saturday
evening November 8. The witness also de-
scrfbed the wounds and testified that Mrs.
Hill died at the hospital November Il.
After Mr.. VIM. Schoneberger, superln-
tendent of the morgue. had explained that
he removed the body of the deceased from
the Casualty Hospital to the morgue, Mr..
Edward r. Kane. who was one OF MRS.
Hills boarders. was called to the stand as
Of no aya-witpeSSeS of the shooting,
Witness Kane's Statement.
According to Mr.. Kane, the prisoner.
who had not been living at the Missouri
avenue house for several days. put In an
appearance there about five minutes before
o'clock. Saturday. November 8. Hill en-
tered the dining room. The witness, Mrs.
Hill, the latters step daughter Bertha
Marsden. Mr.. Wilson and one other person
were seated a the table.
As Hill entered the dining room, the witt
ness stated. he had on his hat and cigar
was in his mouth. He remarked Good
evening. ladies and gentlemen" then pass
ing around the table, he added. sneeringly,
Hello, Carrie" Next he fired three shots
at his wife, Turning to Bertha Marsden,
Fill, saying land you" fired one shot at
the girl but the bullet did not take effect.
Mrs. Hill ran from the room, but turned
while in the hall and uttered the words,
Let me go back and let him finish me-"
The witness in company with Bicycle
Policeman Bean found HILL soon after the
shooting occurred, near the rear yard Of
the house. '.-'-4
"Where is the pistol?" Inquired the po-
liceman of the prisoner.
There is what shot her with" replied
Hill, pointing to a weapon lying on the
ground. SO Mr.. Kane testified. "If didn't
kill her / made the saddest mistake of my
life"
AS the prisoner was taken to the street
nv IA cd 10
crowd that had assembled and remarked:
Here I am Look at me. If l didn't
kill her l made the saddest mistake of my
life
Mrs. Hills Wounds.
After a recess DR.. J. r. Wellington was
called witness for the government. He
described the wounds received by Mrs. Hill
and expressed the opinion that death was
due to blood poisoning. the result Of the
wounds.
Mr.. James NJ. Goldsby, the next witness,
explained that he has been appointed guar
dian Of Mrs Hills daughter and is now in
charge at the boarding house formerly con-
Quoted by the deceased.
The appearance on the witness stand late
this afternoon of Bertha A. Marsden, Mrs.
Hills little daughter. attired in mourning
garb. was a somewhat dramatic feature of
the hearing. Bertha at times almost gave
way to tears when referring to her mother.
She described the details of the tragedy
substantially did Mr.. Kane, and also
told Of repeated assaults OF which, the wit
ness declared. her mother was the victim
and the defendant the perpetrator.
Mr.. Hill was arrested several times Ber-
tina testified, for assaulting the deceased.
Almost continually while on the stand the
little girl gazed at the defendant with an
expression on her face that plainly indi-
Gated an opinion OF him far from kindly.