The Washington herald., 1906-10-14
BANKS FOUND GUILTY
Alexandria Negro Tells Court
He Shot ElZey.
SAYS He IS COCAINE VICTIM
On Night OF Murder Ne Helped Drink
Two Pints of Gin and "a Dozen Bot
ties of Beer and Used Drus-First
Murder Verdict in Fifteen Years.
Alexandria News Notes.
WASHINGTON HERALD BUREAU.


Corner Prince and George Streets
Alexandra. Va. oct. 13.-At 2:25 to-
night, after having been out an hour and
twenty-five minutes. the jury IN the case
OF the state against Howard Banks, col
ored. charged with the murder Of Thomas
Elzey on the night Of October last, re-
turned a verdict Of guilty This IS the
first time in the past fifteen years that
similar verdict has been rendered by d
jury here.
Attorneys for tho defense made mo-
ton for new trial and argument on the
motion viii be heard on October g.
The taking Of testimony in the case
was resumed in the Corporation court
this morning. Judge Louis c. Barley
presiding. At O'Clock this afternoon
Banks was placed on the stand to testify
Banks was apparently Indifferent 10 his
surroundings and az times he could hard
ly be heard. as he spoke IN a low and in
audible tone. The prisoner said that he
was twenty-one years Of age and had
known Elzey for a period Of nine years.
Attorney cdoncure, representing the pris-
oner. produced the pistol with which
Banks did the shooting and asked his
client where he got same Banks said
that he had purchased the weapon from
a cOl0red man named Joe Harris. He
stated that he purchased It for no partic-
uIar purpose. The prisoner then gave an
account OF his dOings on the night or &c
tober I up to the time Of the tragedy
He stated that he purchased on that
night one pint Of gin, and afterward
three coiored men. including himself.
went upstairs IN the saloon where the
shooting occurred and consumed two pints
of Sin and twelve bottles Of beer. The
prisoner also testified that he used CO.
caine on an average of two or three
times q week, and on the night tn ques-
ton he had earlier IN the evening par
taken Of the drug. In response to a
question by his attorney as 10 the ef-
fleets Of the drug, he said Il makes the
victim feel big and curious, and also
makes him feel as If he were very
wealthy. The prisoner also said that beer,
gin. and cocaine made him crazy. The
prisoner cuaClUdcd his statement by say
ing that he shot ElZey. but cid not know
why.
When court reconvened tonight all
available space was filled with inter-
( ested spectators.
+ The prosecution was conducted by Gem
monwealth Attorney Samuel g Brent,
assisted by Attorney r. u. Brumback.
/ The shooting OF Elzey By Banks occurred
on the night Of October In q saloon in
/ the northeastern section Of the city
( Banks made good his escape. and he gave
himself I'D 10 the police the follow
( ing morning. on that morning he was
given q preliminary hearing in the Po-
I lice Court and the same day he was in
dicted by the grand jury.
Cocaine PeddIer Fined.
/ In the Police Court this morning Sarah
CatIett. William alias Bear" Miller,
Noah Green. John Quill. Samuel Dudley,
+ Jerry Simms, Robert Bryant. John
( Bryant. and Clarence Grady, all colored,
F were arrdigued before Justice Cation 10
answer the charge Of selling cocaine
! without q license. over twenty-five wit
/ nesses. men and women. were examined,
but little definite information was OBJ
tanned from them. The prepCnderance Of
/ evidence, however. was against William
alias Bear MiHcr. and the court i'm
/ posed fine Of 500 upon him. In default
/ of payment Miller was remanded 70 jail.
/ The others were dismissed.
il developed during the hearing thar
+ a large number OF the cOlOred people
+ who live in the northeastern section OF
/ the city who daily live in idIeness, are
victims of the dope" Justice Cation
warned those present that IL they do not
90 out and get work Of some character
+ he will have them brought into court as
Migrants. and that they VIII be sent 70
jail for "a period of at least sixty days,
and every time thereafter their sentence
( viii be doubled. The police were also
/ instructed 10 arrest all negroes who have
/ no visible means Of support and who
/ daily loiter around saloons
Policy Writer in Tolls.
Fred Jones. colored. was ushered into
/ the dock at police headquarters this
morning to answer the charge Of writ
! ing and promoting policy. The evidence
! against the prisoner was very conciu-
sive, as all Of the parapherualia used
/ IN the business had been captured by tbs
police at Jones place Of business. The
court imposed a nne Of $50.
/ An old COlOTed woman answering &c
I the name OF GeOTgiana Nelson was
! charged with allowing policy to be writ
/ ten IN her house. She vehemently denied
/ the allegation. and she was promptly
dismissed. but was warned that Il she
allowed men to do writing OF any char
acter in her house she would be fined.
/ John Smith. ColoTed, IS locked up at tht
police station charged with the larceny
OF bicycle from in front Of the saloor
[ Of ]. Lee Lash on North Fairfax street
Smith will also have TO answer the charg'
of the theft OF two comforts from th'
/ Lozano dry goods store. on King street
Both articles We're recovered by the police
/ The bicycle was The property Of Mr.. Mad
dOX, OF Washington.