Evening journal., 1906-11-28
BROTHERS FIGHT
FOR THEIR LIVES
James and Theodore Adams
Charged With the Killing
Of James Reddin
EACH ACCUSES THE OTHER

In the case OF the state vs. Theodors
and James Adams now being heard
before the Court Of oyer and Terminer
is revealed one of the most remarkable
proceedings that has ever come before
the courts Of Delaware.
James and Theodore Adams are coll
ored men and brothers. and are chare-
ed with the murder Of James Reddin.
also colored The crime was commits
ted IN the house located on the SOUTH
east corner OF Porter's court and Tat
nall street. Crap. whiskey and wo-
men We're the direct causes OF tho
homicide, which WAS the result OF an
all-night debauch. Roddin. during a
fight was stabbed IN the abdomen with
knife welded. It Is alleged. by one
one of the Adams brothers. The third
count of the indictment alleges that
both men inflicted the wound which
proved fatal
Accused Each Other.
James Adams was arrested shortly
after the fray and alleged that his
brother Theodore. indicted the death
i blow Several witnesses at the coro-
I ncrs inquest corroborated this state
ment while others declared that
James was the one at whose door Red
idin's death lay. Theodore was later
arrested In Philadelphia and upon be-
ing brought to this city placed the
responsibility OF the crime upon his
brother.
Indictment ousshed.
AT the September term OF Court Of
oyer and Terminer James Adams was
lcharged with the murder or Reddin.
while Theodore was charged with as
lsault with intent to kin Reddin. The
case went over until the present term.
when Attorney General Richards had
the original indictment quashed and
a new one drawn. charging both men
Jointly with being directly implicated
In the killing Of Reddin. In fact count
/ three Of the indictment alleges that
lboth James and Theodore Adams in
/ ticted a wound with a knife. valued al
70 cents upon the body OF James
; heddin' the result OF which was death.
The autopsy revealed. however. but ona
wound upon the body OF Reddin which
lcould possibly have caused a fatal re-
suit. This wound is described 10 have
been upon the abdomen and TO have
been 90 inches long
Physical imposbility.
The defendants have as their conn
sci Leonard -. Wales and James
iSaulsbury each OF whom, though
working in conjunction, has the appar-
ent object In view OF proving that II
, was not his client but the client OF his
associate who murdered James Reddin.
At the opening OF the trial yesterday
Mr.. Wales called the attention Of the
court to count No. OF the Indictment
in which it is alleged that James Red
= din came to his death from a wound
+ inflicted by James Adams and also that
( James Reddin's death was due to a
r wound inflicted by Theodore Adams
The wounds as described In the in
. dictment, and which were alleged 10
/ have been inflicted by "A knife I'm the
! hands Of James Adams and similar in
strument IN the hands Of Theodore
! Adams. were Identical. Mr.. Wales
commended that as there was but one
e wound it was a physical impossibillty
, for both men 70 have inflicted it. The
court however, refused Mr.. Wales
I plea to quash this count and directed
, that the trial should proceed.
5 Wanted to Be Certain.
Attorney General Richards. in omen
, ing and defining the case, stated the
reason for drawing the Indictment as il
lstood was due to the fact that in the
event Of testimony conflicting as tc
: who struck the fatal blow. that It was
u clearly proven that James Adams was
!, the guilty party in this respect and
u that Theodore Adams was a willing
accessory or vice versa both could be
y held equally guilty.
Asked Postponement.
= Prior to the drawing OF the Jury Mr..
IS Wales asked that the case be post
I. lponed for a few days owing to the fact
n that he could not get an important
m witness. who lived In Chestertown.
le Nd and who mhe had requested to
10 be present. The court held that the
Ia application was not made In the regu-
M lar manner and refused the request.
In order that there might be sufh-
,r Client iiurymen to try the case. the
n Johns Jury being still out. Sheriff
- ellis. acting under instructions from
q the court. had summoned twenty tales
i men from among prominent business
a men Of the city. But six Of these