Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-03-30
The Trial of George Midgets.
The Corporation Court was in sessio

! The Corporation Court was in session
until 5:15 O'clock yesterday evening ez-
aiming witnesses in the case Of George
Midgsts, who has heretofore been known
a. William johnson, indicted for the
murder of Charles T. Smith on the nigh.
Of October 20, 1906. The prisoner when
placed on the stand yesterday said
George Midgets was his real name. His
statement before the jury was published
in the Gazette.
Midgets, In his own behalf, denied
having fred the shot that killed Smith,
but admitted having discharged his pis
toll toward the grounds 10 fracas on the
old fair ground short time before the
murder. According to his story, he and
Robinson got away from officers who
had arrested them for participation In
row and in running through an alley
the defendant was struck by ball In
the left leg. He ssid nc carried .38
csliber pistol, and Robinson had
weapon OF "A calIber. While running,
be stated, be fred his weapon toward
the ground in the hope OF frightening
bis pursuers. 1t was printed out by the
defense that the bal. taken from Smiths
body was OF the larger size mentioned.
When Midgets was taken to the old
fair grounds and had reached the point
where he claimed to have scaled high
board fence, it was found that the
feuce was of barbed wire, and not OF
board as be had stated on the stand.
Later he corrected his testimony, and
said that he had recalled that the bsrbs
tore his clothing when he was climbing
over.
William Bailey, colored, testified that
1t was Robinson, and not johnson, who
came to his place Saturday afternoon
and asked to borrow quarter Ben
iamln Waters was recalled aud testified
that johnson and Robinson came In
Burnett's saloon In the afternoon and
Robinson tried TO borrow dollar
Policeman Gill testified TO chasing the
two men down the alley after the assault
on Nicholson and said 40 shots we're
fired at that time.
Walter Cation identified johnson as
the man Who fred two shots downward
as he ran from the fair grounds after
breaking away from the officers just be-
| fore the murder.
Officer Ferguson told of hearing two
or three shots and of seeing johnson 10
fight. He said he was running very
fast and did not limp. No one, the
witness asserted, fred at the two fngi
tiyos, Johnson aud Robinson.
As stated yesterday counsel for the
| accused served upon Commonwealth
Attorney Brent a writ to compel him to
produce in evidence photograph, which,
1t was said, he had shown Policeman
Garvey. Mr.. Brent then produced sew
eral photographs OF the prisoner, but
took the witness stand and explained
that be had never shown them to the
policeman. 1t was then shown that
Mayor Paff had shown Policeman Gar
vey pictures similar to those produced
by Mr.. Brent, and that Policeman Gar
vey had pointed 10 picture of the pris-
oner, and declared that he gas the man
wanted Tor the murder.
A belsted witness, Frederick Brooks,
OF the United States Marine Corps, who
was called to the stand by the common
wealth just before adjournment at the
trial yesterday 10 the Corporation Court
of William Johnson, colored. charged
with the murder of Charles T. Smith.
proved the second person TO swear that
he saw the prisoner fire the shot which
killed Smith. Up to that time Officer
Gsrvey had given the only positive evil
deuce connecting the defendant directly
With the crime.
Brooks, who took conspicuous part
in trying to capture the man who shot
Smith at the time OF the killing, was
positive In his Identification, but when
asked If the murderer wore beard or
was smooth shaver, be replied that he
wore a slight mustache and small side
whiskers, whereupon the defense placed
on the stand witnesses who swore that
Midgets was clean-shaven while be lived
10 Alexsndris, and that II was bis COM
panion, Morgan Minor, alias Frank
Robinson, who wore the mustacbe and
sidewhiskers. This, it is pointed out,
fts In with the contention Of the defense
that Robinson, and not johnson, COM
mltted the murder.
Witnesses for the prosecution however,
testified that Minor Is fully six inches
shorter than Midgets, and agreed that
| it wss the taller Of the two men who did
the shooting.
Attorney Smith attempted to intro
duce evidence rejecting upon the record
| of Frank Robinson for the purpose of
strengthening the claim which the de-
Tense will argue 10 the jury, that Robin
son and not johnson Is the msn who
shot Smith. Judge Barley, however,
refused to admit it.
Shortly after S O'Clock court adjourn
ed. The Frederlcksburg military com.
pany which has been on guard at the
courtroom throughout the session march
ed the prisoner 10 the corner Of King
and Fairfax streets where all took the
eaB for the Alexsndris county jail.
Alldgets wss brought to the city again
this morning about nine o'clsck 10
charge Of the military company and
placed In cell in the station house.
About an hour later he was escorted to
the dock in the Corporation Court room.
There was q perceptible decrease In the
number Of spectators at King and Fair
fax streets this morning when the cleo