The Washington times., 1906-10-31
NOT GUILTY PLEA
IN WRIGHT CASE.
TRIAL HAS BEGUN
Prosecution Calls First
Witnesses to Prove Him
Guilty of Assault.

Hnndcuffed and trembling with
fear. Joseph Thomas. alias Wright,
a brutal looking, powerfully built
colored man, was led into the Alex
andria county court house and ar
raigned on a charge of feloniously
assauIting Mrs. Forrest Goodine,
formerly Mable c. IiisIey, of 459 Z
street northwest, at Luna Park on
September Q.
Attorneys J. f. Clements and
Basil D. Boteler, assigned by Judge
Nichol 20 defend the prisoner, en-
tered u plea of not guilty" Com
monwealth's Attorney Crandall
MRckey represents the State. Mr.
Clements is prosecuting attorney
Of the county, and a stubborn fight
is expected.
The spacious courtroom was filed with
residents OF the county and from Wash
ingtoD. The crowd was augmented
every moment and at noon there was
not even standiIg room available
Several talesman were excused be
4 cause they openly expressed their preiU-
dice against the colOred man. The in
dietment was then read by the clerk.
who afterWard explained that the jury
could infiict the death penalty II they
I found the prisoner guilty as indicted. or
/ impose d fine OF s. if the colored man
w2s found guilty Of simple assault.
Prosecutions Opening Address
Crandar Mackey then made his open
ing statement. He said. "Genuemen.
you live contiguous to a great city.
This county Is next 10 a city with the
largest negro population In the world.
A city noted for its criminaiity. so
noted for criminality that one Jf the
Commissioners OF the city produced
/ Statistlcs 10 show there was more crime
/ IN that city than IN any other in the
/ United States. For this the Commis-
sioner was removed from office This
prisoner, gentlemen. is one Of those
washington negroes This is the first
/ case OF its kind ever tried here"
Mr.. Mackev told the Jury that Good
/ Inc and Miss Riselcy were walking
/ Tow ara a spring on the night of Sep
/ tembeT :. when they noticed a black
/ object on the ground. They thought IL
! was COW. The object rose and Good
/ inc said, I thought you were a COW. %
The man said. What the HI do you
say | am a COW fOT1 Do / lock like a
/ Gov? I'm going 20 kill you"
| 'GCodine will tell you. said Nsr
/ Mackey, that this negro sitting there
/ pointed a pistol In his face and repeat
{ ed his threat Gcodine will tell yOu
/ that this negro had a club in his right
! hand and a pistol in his left he viii
! tell you that this negro beat him sense
I less with that club.
What Miss Riseley VIII Say.
Miss Riseley Will tell YOU that she
/ screamed murder when she saw the
I brutal assault on the man to whom she
/ had promised her hand IN marriage.
She VIII tell you that this negro pas
/ his hand over her mouth 10 prevent her
| screams: explain to you that he bore
/ her 10 the ground and struck her, point
/ ed the pistol al her and frightened her
I almost TO death She will tell YOU the
narrowing details OF this outrage. she
I VIII tell you. gentlemen. that this Is
/ the man who treated her thus. Miss
I Riseley viii iderftfy this negro before
I you. She VIII identify him by his
/ cross-eyes. BY that fat nose. those
thick brutal lips. that neck and Jaw.
those round shoulders and his fiendish
voice. She struggled with this man
Continued on Second Page)