Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-29
Story Of Defendant,


At l1:25 o'clock George Midgets, the
prisoner, was placed on the stand.
His testimony was substantially as fol-
lows:
about O'Clock Saturday afternoon
Robinson and / left the Hotel Jackson and
then went to Maggie Johnson's house. and
afterward he went to the show grounds and
after being there five or ten minutes my
wife and RobinsOn's wife appeared and We
gave them money. We then went to Bur
netts saloon and afterward returned to
the show grounds.
Robinson purchased two tickets and we
found our wives there. Robinson then
kissed his wife and some man laughed and
he started to pull out "A caliber pistol.
Immediately afterward officers captured
us, but l didn't recognize them as officers.
We escaped and a shot was fired, which
struck me In the leg. as I was running
through an alley. I fired two shots into
the ground and Robinson then got his gun
from me- l then gave him my light coat.
We jumped a fence and l laid down. he
wanted me to go with him, but l refused,
telling him l was shot.
Later / went to the Johnson womans
house and told her about the trouble on
the fair grounds. Later l went to Ben
Lucas saloon. l afterward returned to the
house and the Johnson woman said some
one was shot told her that didn't think
SO; tina l had. however, hit man with the
butt of gun.
II told Policeman Roberts that II a man
was killed In the first fracas he must have
been killed by me. during the fracas !
fired two shots in the ground.
The witness then described in detail the
course that he traversed I'm going to Robin
sons sisters house
DISCRIMINATION.
On cross-examination he said he came
here September "a or %. 1906. TIE came
here on Robinson's invitation. Witness
said he remained in Alexandria about two
days week. Johnson was not certain
about the time he remained at the house
of 1.-THE Johnson woman"
MidseIs denied having borrowed money
from Burnett. He also denied having
heen az bailey's that night. He admitted
hittine Policeman Nicholson. while Nichol-
son had I;obinson in custody. He Identified
one coat being his. and one as Robin
soE's Witness Identified long black coat
as the property of Robinson.
Witness denied having Killed smith. and
said Policeman Garveys statement that he
shot him was not true. The witness said
he came here from Newtown. Pa. and
during his stay here had no occupation.
Defendant Positively Identified.
When court adjourned at 4J0 O'Clock
Yesterday afternoon eighteen witnesses had
been examined among them Policeman
Frederick Garvey. who was with Smith
when the fatal shot was fired. He posi-
lively identified the prisoner as being the
man who did the shooting. He was on the
stand for nearly an hour and was subjected
to a most thorough cross-examlnatlon, Dui
in the main he stuck to his story, and
counsel for the defense was unable to
change his testimony.
At the conclusion of the cross-examina-
ton of the witness Commonwealth At
torney Brent asked Mr.. Garvey II he was
positive that the prisoner was the man VINO
killed Smith The witness replied In the
a. irmatiye and was excused.
Wash jackson. coiored. ana Poncefnah
Reach were recalled to the stand 10 tes-
tify -. A., e,o,.o
Henry Bladder, member or the nnancc
committee of the city council. testined tnat
Policeman Frederick Carney appeared ne
fore that committee and told them that
when he took Midgets in charge the prfs-
or,er was on his left side. and as he was
about TO get on the other side OF the pris-
oner Smith ran in. The witness also stated
that Mr. Garvey had told the members of
the committee that he could have handled
his prisoner better II Smith had not run In
Other witnesses placed upon the stand
yesterday afternoon were Walter SlopeS.
John Fletcher, Grace Beaner: Sarah A.
Midgets, wife of the prisoner: W. II.
Sweeney, member of the city council, and
Maggie Johnson. eolored.
After the witnesses had concluded an adj
journment was taken and Judge Barley In
structed the sergeant to clip all accounts OF
the trial from the newspapers which might
find their WAY to the Jury