Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-27
GOVERNMENT CLOSES
Finishes Presentation of EVi-
dence in Weldon Case.
ON CHARGE OF MURDER
OPENING STATEMENT FOR THE
DEFENSE TODAY.
Probability That the Trial Will Not
Be Concluded Before
July g.
ON CHARGE OF MURDER

The government concluded the presenta-
ton OF its case this afternoon against An
drew Weldon. for the murder of his moth
er-in-law. Mrs. Rachel Beall. and Attorney
]. Edward Mitchell made the opening state
ment for the defendant. The indications
are that the trial will probably not be con-
cluded until the middle of next week. The
defense will require about three days. per-
haps longer. to present its side. and there
will probably be day or more consumed in
rebuttal testimony, so that 1t is not believ-
ed the case will be given to the jury before
July 9 or Z.
The evidence adduced today was intended
to strengthen the case the government
built up last week Mrs. Lucy H. Beall,
who was on the stand when court adjourn
ed Friday. was cross-examined this morn
ing, and witnesses were placed on the stand
to show that Weldon was in the vicinity
OF his home between 10 and II o'clock the
morning of the day the murder was COM
mitted, and to prove the condition of the
pistol found in the Oelrichs house.
Policemen were placed on the stand to
Identity the three cartridge shells intro
duced In evidence as having been found In
the alley In the rear of the Oelrichs house
by the boy Toomey, who testified Friday
afternoon.
Cross -E1amination Resumed.
The cross-examination of Mrs. Lucy H.
Beall. wife of Warren Beall, son of the
murdered woman, was resumed when court
opened this morning. This witness had
testified under direct examination that the
defendant came to her house the morning
the murder was committed and announced
that he had killed Jessie Beall"
counsel questioned the witness as to her
tesumony before the coroners jury. and
asked why she had made certain state
ments on the stand Friday, which she did
not make at the coroner's jury. Mr.. Lips
comb read from the stenographer's re-
port or the record Of the testimony
at the corOner's inquest the statement
made by the defendant to the witness when
he came to the house the day of the MUIR
DER Ihls statement it was alleged differ
ed somew what in construction from that re-
ported by the witness when on the stand
FRIDAY. The witness admitted having used
the words reported from the coroner's rec
ords' Inc cross-examination of Mrs Beall
was me most severe of any witness who
mas so far been on the stand
The witness was made the target for q
heavy fire of questions from Mr. A. A.
Lipscomb of counsel for defense. Mr. Lips
comb caused a little furry by asking the
witness If she had not told a Mrs BRADY
woman acquaintance of the witness that
negro had been called into the Oelrichs
house to help them hang curtains and that
ne mao seen the people In the house trying
to bury the body.
Mr.. Beach Objects.
District Attorney Beach objected strenu-
ously to the admission of the answer to the
testimony. Attorney Lpscomb made a
plea for the admission of the question and
answer. He discussed the law of evidence
as related to the impeachment or the break
ing down of the testimony of witness
MT Llpscomb announced during the course
or his argument that when it came to the
defense to show It's case with It's own wit
nesses 1t would be his endeavor to outline
circumstances pointing strongly to other
people in the case.
This announcement Is the first intima-
ton that has been given by the defendants
counsel OF the sort Of defense that will be
made.
The objection to the question on which
the argument was caused was sustained
by the court and a similar ruling was
passed by the court on another question of
similar kind. The witness was asked If
she had not told another woman. Mrs. Mar
garet Jones, that she wished she had not
made the statements she did to the coro-
ners jury, but that If she had not said
what she did, her husband would have
killed her. The witness said she had said
nothing of the kind.
Testimony Of George E. Murray.
George E. Murray. a grocer, having
place of business at the corner of Sd and c
Str Gets southeast, was next called to the
stand. The witness said he was acquainted
with the defendant, his wife and Mr.. War
rem Bealrs family. The witness said that
few days before the murder he had ad
vised Weldon not to make any trouble with
the officers who might come to evict him
fl ON his house. Weldon had told the wit
ness he had settled that difficulty.
The witness saw the defendant next on
L. ne
Beall's house.
Police Sergt. Yulee Hodges was then
called. He told Of his visit to the Oelrich
house the day of the murder and the day
following, when he made a search Of the
premises. He told Of the finding of a re-
volver in one Of the rooms of the house.
The weapon was old and rusted and could
not be cooked. 1t was Of 40 or "A caliber.
the witness said. He identified the pistol
previously shown in the court room as the
one he had found.
Counsel for the defense endeavored to
break down the witness identification OF
the revolver, but the attorney was appar-
emily unsuccessful.
The next witness was Scott Homel. en-
ployed as a driver at a bakery which was
in the same square with the Weldon and
cember IL. the witness said. he saw the de-
PENDANT and the latter told him goodbye,
and shook hands with him. The defendant
seemed to be in a hurry.
some little amusement In court and the
crier was compelled to rap loudly for order.
Mr. John Scherger, the proprietor of the
bakery in which the preceding witness
was employed, was next called to the stand
to answer a minor question as to time.
Policeman Recalled.
Policeman Browne was recalled to iden-
tify the empty cartridge shells which were
picked up by the Toomey boy on the day
OF the murder. and which were recovered by
the witness from Policemen Allen and Will
son. to whom they had been given by Mr..
Toomey. Policeman Wilson was called to
identify two shells given him by Mr..
Toomey.
Crossing Policeman Eugene c. Smith was
called to testify to receiving a thirty-eight-
csliber cartridge from Mr.. Toomey. The
witness said he turned the cartridge over
to Policeman Allen.
Policeman Alfred o. Allen was then
called He corroborated the testimony or
Crossing Policeman Smith. Allen said he
gave the shell to Sergeant Falvey of the
ninth precinct Police Sergeant Falvey
was then called and corroborated the pre-
ceding witness
George P Braugh. living at 238 9th street
southeast, was next placed on the stand.
The witness said that while he was in the
rear of his house at work on the Wednes-
day before the murder he heard two shots
tn tho unndebed Of the house next door Oc.