Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1905-04-27
ON TRIAL FOR HIS LIFE.
WILLIAMLEAZER NOW FACE
HIS JUDGES.
Alleged Murderer of Policeman Nc
Namara at Fairfield, Elects
To Be Tried BY
The Court.

the murder OF County Policeman John
J.. Mcnamara. on the night of March
| 2l last.
All of the witnesses for the state
gave the most straightforward testi.
mony and it seems thus far that the
only hope TO save Leazer's neck would
be by means of an alibi. which contin-
gency is not anticipated Leazer is
represented by Napoleon jackson,
colored, of Baltimore, and George
Pendleton, also colored, of this city.
surprise was sprung ON the state
when jackson waived the right to a
jury trial for his client and sprayed a
trial before the full bench of the
| court. This was granted and the trial
was soon under way before Judges
Thomas, Jones and ReveIl.
The state was represented by States
Attorney Nicholas II. Green, this
being the first murder case in which
he has acted in that capacity. Captain
OF Detectives Pumphrey, Detective
Coughlin and Chief of Police McDon-
aid, of Fairfield, sat beside the States
Attorney and offered him considerable
aid. Leazer appeared IN court attired
in well-fitting suit of clothes, and
while he took considerable interest in
the evidence, did not seem to be affect
ed by It's damaging nature He seems
to be possessed of more than the aver
age intelligence of his race and fre.
quently supplied his counsel with care.
fully selected questions.
The court room was packed to its
utmost capacity and the ventilation
soon became so bad that it was neces-
sary TO open every window TO its limit
There was no delay in proceeding
with the trial and it appeared from
the conclllatory manner of Leazer's
counsel that there would be little con
troversy between the Sides The first
witness placed on the stand was Ed |
ward Harris. His testimony was not |
particularly lucid or of a very start
ling nature, although he related the |
incidents leading up to the shooting |
of the officer. He stated that he was |
not with Leazer when they were steal |
ing coal, but that he and the party he |
was with came upon him shortly |
after.
His testimony was not very clear as |
to the actual shooting, the supposition /
is that he actually witnessed it. 1t |
nm theedRb khse. statamants made by /
police we're able to apprehend Leazer. I
John Liter was the next witness ex- i
mined. He stated that he and two |
others had been engaged in stealing |
coal from freight cars and that when
they started for home they encounter
ed Leazer. The latter stated that he
wonld not let anybody arrest him and
reached in suggestive manner toward
his pocket, where he generally carried
his revolver. Patrolman McNamara
was encountered and he placed his hand
on Leazer's shoulder, telling him that
he was under arrest. The witness
stated that Leazer pulled his revolver,
there was sharp report and McNa-
mara fell to the ground. He ran and
lost sight of Leazer. In answer to a
question the witness stated that the
next day he told Leazer he had killed
the officer. to which Leazer replied
that it was pity.
William Harris, son of Edward
Harris, who had testified previously, /
stated substantially the same as the
witness. He stated, among
other things. that when he and the
rest of his coal stealing party came
upon LeaZer the latter stated that If
any one tried to arrest him he would
shoot them. A few minutes later Nc
Namara was encountered. He stepped
hD w lAC0ACl anu AAin AC WAo uu-
der arrest. Leazer remarked that he
Had no right to make an arrest, to
which the officer replied he certainly |
did and would Leazer quickly placed
his hand to his pocket. pulled the re-
volver and shot the officer At that
time the witnesses were hiding behind
A telegraph pole but ten feet from
Leazer and the officer. When McNa-
mara fell he exclaimed Lord have
repeating it twice. The wit
ness stated that he and his companions
ran and returned to the scene of the
later, when a considerable
crowd had cohgregated.
The testimony of David Horah, who,
although possessed of q Polish name,
is colored, as all the preceding wit
lesses, testified substantially the same
rs the preceding witness with the ex-
,eption that he said the outcry raised |
Dy the officer was not Ineligible but
rather cry of pain. He was really
the best witness for the state, as his
testimony was of most direct and
decided nature. His statements could |
not be altered in the slightest dergee
When he was asked why he had stated |
TO the police officers in Baltimore that
ne was in the house playing checkers
when the shooting was done, he re-
Piled that he had done so in order to
escape any connection with the affair
As he feared that he would be arrested.
DIR. Horton, who lives near the scene
Of the murder and is the police sur
yeon for the county police of that dis
trict, was examined. His testimony
was good, but lacked directness, as it
appeared that he was making a play
TO the galleries. he stated that he
lad been called to the scene Of the
and found the dead officer
lying on porch across the street from
where he had fallen. He removed the
clothing from the body and searched
,or the wound. 1t was found by aim |
hat the bullet, which was of 38 cali
Dre, had entered the chest just to the |
eft of the right nipple. 1t had ranged
downward AMI sswise, passing
through the heart. Its force not hav-
ng been spent it struck the seventh
lib, was defiected somewhat and came
70 rest against the skin on the left
'ide of the body. 1t was easily re-
moved by making small incision in
he skin.
States Attorney Green asked him as
% whether or not the bullet caused the
laafh nr H0rfon faafi fad that IL nro |