The Washington herald., 1906-10-13
WASHINGTON HERALD BUREAU,
lR.u f.laI.Ilnun No lla


Northeast Corner Prince and Royal Streets
Alexandria, Va. Oct 12.-Howard Banks
colored. was placed on trial this morning
lin the Corporation Court. Judge Louis c.
Barley, presiding, for shooting and kill
ing Thomas Elzey, also colored. The case
viii probably be concluded tomorrow.
Court convened shortly after 10 o'clock
this morning. when thirty-1ive men Of the
forty-six talesmen responded TO their
names About 1 o'clock this afternoon a
jury. composed Of the following. had been
selected: F. Didszoneit. ir.. NJ Jaffa. NJ
Rosenfeld. Sidney Wollberg. j. W. D.
Parker. Wythe White c. A. Nagel,
George Bender, w. II. Peck. Carroll May,
w p Kerrtck. and Harvey w. Summers
AT the opening Of the case this morn
ing considerable stir was caused when
L. II. AIachen, OF the firm of Machen *
Nontcure, counsel for the prisoner. moved
for a continuance Of the case on the
ground that he had been away from home
attending TO other legal matters, and that
he had not time to give the case the at
tention it demanded Mr.. Machens mo-
tion was promptly overruled by the court
whcreUpOn Messrs. MaChen < Moucure
thereupon assigned Machen a MOncuTe to
defend the prisoner The prosecution is
being conducted by Commonwealth AttOr-
ney Samuel c. Brent Mr. Brent is being
assisted by Attorney r. d. Brumback.
The shooting Of Elzey by Banks oc-
CURED on the night OF October ( in a
saloon in the northeastern section of the
city The place was crowded at the
time. and 10 the words and music OF
the song L don't know where I am go
ing but 7 am on my way Banks fired
four bullets into the body OF ElZey. who
fell TO the floor and died ten minutes
thereafter The crowd Al once dOcImped
and Banks fed from the place The fol-
lowing morning he appeared 40 head
quarters and surrendered himself to the
police he was given a preliminary hear
ing that morning. and the following
afternoon he WAS indicted by the grand
fury.
This VIII. perhaps. be one Of The speedi-
est murder trials that has occurred in
Alexandria for many years.
Suspects Are Arrested.
The police became wonderfully active
tonight and made q drag for a num-
ber of colored people alleged 10 be un-
lawfully engaged in selling cocaine, and
the following prisoners are locked up
with that charge entered on the blot
ter opposite their names Sarah Catlett.
William Miller, Noah Green. John Quill.
Samuel Dudley. Jerry Simms. and Robert
Bryant. all colUred- The arrests were
made by Chief Goods. Policemen Nichol-
son. Knight and Roberts. The prisoners
were searched at police headquarters. but
no evidence of the drug was found upon
them They viii Dc given "a hearing i'm
the Police Court tomorrow morning
That the sale of the mentioned
drug is increasing 10 alarming extent is
the opinion of the police The effects
OF the drug have within the past year
caused q numb of murders and SUI
cides. and its deadly effect can be no.
ticed among many Of the prisoners who
daily appear in the Police Court The pen
atty for selling cocaine is very heavy.
Notwithstanding the heavy fine imposed
for un'3wfully selling the drug. il is al
legged that il can be purchased al any
time and, indeed, cocaine is said
have taken the place Of whisky with a
large number of negroes in this city.
II is said that IL may develop that
Howard Banks. VINO killed Thomas EIzey.
whose trial is now in progress. was un-
der the influence of cocaine when he
committed the deed. AT q late hour to-
night Or. ". ". Smith explained to the
court the effects of cocaine rDon tho
nervous system