Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-03-07
INVESTIGATING THE MURDER.

A large crowd packed the Cooperation
Court room this morning - witness the
examination Of George Patterson and
Stephen Davis, who we're arrested about
two weeks ago On suspicion of beihg
parties to the murder of George X.
Curtin early on the morning of Decent
Der "a last.
Justice II. b. Cation presided, and
Mr.. S. G.. Brent, Commonwealth At
torney, conducted the prosecution and
Mr.. c. c. CarIiD represented the accused.
About 1915 o'clock the court was
called to order when Chief Webster call
ed the names of the 40 witnesses who
bad been summoned. They were order
ed 10 advance and after they had been
sworn were conducted to a room from
which each was called as wanted
II was announced that the session Of
the court would continue until one p.
m. when recess would be taken until
two O'Clock, the session to continue from
that hour until FIVE.
The first witness called to the stand
was Samuel Mills, cOlored. He said ne
knew Curtin and saw him at Priests
store Saturday, December %, between 6
and p. IN. Has never seen him since.
Mr.. Carlin asked Mr. Brent if Vedder
the detective, was in court. Mr. Brent
said he was not but in reply to another
question said he could produce him if
necessary.
Edward Clark said Curtin came to bis
house Saturday, December % and insist
ed upon his going out with him. They
went to a restaurant aud got an oyster
stew and then Curtin got in a cab shortly
before midnight and be left him.
Harry Meeks, whose last appearance
in court was as a suspect, then took the
stand He said he saw Curtn at the
Tontine Hotel the Saturday night i'll
question about II O'Clock, or shortly
afterward. Meeks named number OF
people who were in the bar at the time
and said that he drank with Curtin,
who finally became bOisterOus and was
told by Patterson to leave He said
they left about 1910 in crowd MIR.
Brent asked if man in a light overc0at
was along and he replied in the negative.
He said that Foster, Curtin and HIM
self went to Lee street together and en-
tered Eva Bakers house. There were
five men in the room whom he didn't
know. He said he went out to sneak
SWAY from Curtin and Foster aud three
of the strangers came out together. The
man in the light OvercOat joined them
as they were trying to get in Fannie
Kimbalps house. They were finally
admitted and entered the front room,
where Curtin treated to beer. He said
he did not know the light Overcoat man
and was sure it was neither Patterson
nor Lucky" McCatirey.
Mr.. Brent asked Meeks if he hal
talked with Leroy Beach since the last
trial He SAID yes, in the Hotel Ton
tine one Sunday recently. tie said he
went to the hotel to ct glass OF beer
and met Beach and several others, aaa
Beach said that he would lend Meeks
his ark in order to give him an oppor-
tunity to get back the money.
MIR. Brent asked Meeks if any mem
Der of the police force had advised him
to keep his mouth shut when he was
under arrest. He said he could not re-
call any such occurrence, but admitted
that several of the officers had said it
was "loolsh" TO keep Foster and him
self locked up.
Mr. C4rin then questioned Meeks Az To
a row between James Fegan aud Curtin
in one Of the Lee street houses. he
said Curtin was angry because Fegan
had refused to allow him to enter room
in which he was talking to some women.
He did not see Fegan after that, because
he left the house and went home not
wishing to be around If there was going
to be fight.
George Sims, a colored cab driver was
then called. He said he drove Curtin
to the Tontine between 2 and | O'Clock
Monday morning. Curtin, he said, was
admitted to the ladies' entrance by a
man in light oyercoal. He said he
did no; think the man was Patterson.
Elmer Nightingale was the next wit
ness. He said he was drinking on the
night of December % and could recolecl
tut little that occurred. He remember
cd going into the Tcntinc about 1850
and left few minutes after II. Curin
was in the bar, be said, but did not
come out with bin.
William Dudley, a brother-in-law Of
the murdered man, was called. He was
in the iontine shortly after midni- hit
Saturday night Curtin came in the
side door aud later they all left the !
hotel. Curtin, Foster and Meeks turned |
east toward Lee street and witntss went
up town with his CON anions. he said |
he did not see "Lucky" McCaffrey that |
night
Theodore Gensmer said he saw Cur
tin, Mfek-, Foster I'D a man with
light 0vercOat at Mamie Woods house
early Sunday morning. Curtin, be said,
stepped on his foot and they had 4 few
words. but did not come to blows.
William Maupn stated that he left
Washington at 1890 Sunday morning,
arriving here at O'Clock. He wen; to
the Tontne and drank some bee. in the
dining room. Patterson. he said, came
in and asked who the drinks were on.
He left the hotel ard went to Lee street,
where be saw Curtin sitting on Fannie
KimbalPs steps. Two men were stand
ing nearby, bat he could not recognize
them. One of them wore light over
coat He said bis companions entered
'fbe little brick" He had no recOl-
lection of a row or police whistle be-