Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-04
ALLEGED MURDER HEARING
SHOOTING OF LOUIS LEDDEN UN-
DER INVESTIGATION.
Witnesses Examined Today by Prose-
cutting Attorney at the Alexan-
dria County Jail.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

ALEXANDRIA. Va, May 4. 1907.
Commonwealth Attorney Crandal Mackey
of Alexandria county was today engaged In
examining witnesses who are detained al
the county Jail in connection with the muir
der of Louis Ledden of Washington by
George Garrett, colored. also of Washing
ton, which occurred Thursday afternoon
last in an alleged dope joint at Rosslyn.
Alexandria county. At late hour this
afternoon four Of the eight witnesses had
been examined and two of them were re-
leased on their own recognizance. Six others
are still held
The examination today tended to show.
1t is said, that 1t will be an exceedingly
prove that the murder was a deliberate
one. Not any of those examined could tell
who conducts the establishment where the
shooting Is said to have occurred, and all
claimed they did not witness the murder
Notwithstanding the reticence of the wit
nesses, the commonwealth attorney ex-
poets to prove that the shooting of Ledden
was deliberate.
about II O'Clock this morning in the Of
flee of the jailer. The first witness ex-
amined was Morris Chambers, colored,
who lives at No. Rummage court south
made to the place the afternoon of the
murder. when he had a letter addressed
to c." which was given to him by a
Washington man named Brown. Cham
him the letter was worth 5000. He said
that after entering the place he saw the
body of Ledden. end he kept the letter
There was. he said. ticket in the letter
requesting that before delivering the
letter to C. he should secure a sigma
ture for it. Chambers was released.
Admits Use of Cocaine.
John Sedgwick. colored. of 273o street
northwest. Washington, driving pie wa gon
told of having made visits to the resort
He said he used cocaine and it made him
feel 'dumfcunded." He also stated that he
visited the place for the purpose of givina
Garrett. who he said was a friend of his
pies. Sedgwick denied knowledge of what
occurred in the place. He described the
code of signals used to enter the establish
ment as they were stated in yesterdays
Star.
A rigid and searching examination OF
Margaret Landon, twentyfour years of
age. of 2S21 Sherman avenue northwest,
threw but little light, on the case. The
witness said her name prior to her marriage
was Margaret Hartman, and that she was
married in Philadelphia December TO- 1906.
She said she was In the kitchen of the
establishment the afternoon of the murder
and departed Immediately afterward upon
the suggestion of C Witness said she
oioh hiio" tHdt IiluTQeT naQ been COM
mitted until she was informed by two girls
who were on the road
Ledden, she said, entered the establish
ment and shook hands with all In the place.
All engaged afterward, she said, in singing
Garrett, she said, told her after the shoot
Ing that he was fooling with q fellow
and believed he had shot him. Margaret
was released after signing her statement.
which had been written by Attorney
Mackey.
Hillman Temple. colored of Washington
was examined late this afternoon. His ex-
animation disclosed but little of Importance.
The six others who are held will, it is
thought. not be released until after the
trial: Garrett will be given q preliminary
hearing early next week.
When seen this morning in his cell, Gar
rett stated that he did not care to discuss
the case.