Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-27
M|DGEFS CASE CALLED
Placed on Trial for Murder OF
Chas. T. Smith.
GUARDED BY STATE TROOPS
Hearing Opens Before Judge Barley at
Alexandra Today.
THREE WITNESSES EXAMINED
Defendant Identified az Having Been
in the City the Evening the
Murder Occurred.

| Special Dispatch to The Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, March q. 1907.
| The trial Of George Midgets. alias VIII
| liam Johnson, colored, charged with the
murder Of Charles T. Smith. October ~
| 1906. commenced in the corporation court
shortly after 10 o'clock this morning. and
in an hour and a half jury had been
selected and the examination OF witnesses
commenced. At 1 o'clock this afternoon
an adjournment was taken until O'Clock
after the testimony of three witnesses had
been heard.
The trial has caused furry of excite
ment in this city owing to the presence
of the military company which is acting as
guard, and outside of the talesmen sum-
moned for the jury comparatively few
gained admittance to the court room. On
the outside of the building over 500 peo-
pie had assembled. all eager to get
glimpse Of tie prisoner. A few minutes
before 10 clock Mdgets was escorted from
a cell in the station house, where he had
been placed earlier in the morning. ana
attended by ten guards was taken to the
court room. Among those gathered about
were many coiored people. The military
kept all the curious at safe distance from
the court house.
That a representative jury could be Sc
cured in a short space of time was rather
unexpected, as it had all along been an
ticipated that the court would experience
some little difficulty in securing jury.
Members of the Jury.
/ The jury is composed of Adam Martin,
Jonathan Matthews, John Aitcheson, Rich
ard W. Coleman, Samuel Boush. August
II. Pohl, Thomas A Fisher, John G..
Cockey, John B. Carter. James McCuen.
William c. Bremen, Frank M. Michaloacn.
Judge Louis C. Barley Is presiding and
Commonwealth Attorney Samuel G. Brent
is conducting the prosecution. Attorneys
Howard w. Smith and r. D. Brumback,
assigned by the court, defending the
prisoner.
When court adjourned this afternoon for
recess the jury taken in charge by
Sergt Cox In the event the case is not
concluded this evening the jury will be
locked up in the court room over night.
Judge Barley stated this morning that he
did not propose to hold a night session,
and this being the case it is hardly prob
able that the case will be concluded De1ore
tomorrow afternoon.
Defense Asks for Time.
Attorney r. D. Brunmback, counsel for
the accused, when court opened at lO:lo
O'Clock arose and said that the case was
a very serious one, and he asked for ample
time in which to prepare the case. He said
the first time he had been able to see the
prisoner was Monday afternoon. too little
time in which to get ready for hearing.
Commonwealth Attorney Brent he said.
has been working on the case since the al
legged crime was committed.
Mr.. Brumback said there are many wit
nesses he had not Yet been able to inter-
view. He though the court should give him
at least two days to prepare for trial
Judge Barley said, however, the trial
should go on. jury could be selected.
he said. court could adjourn Immediately
thereafter, as to give counsel time to
confer with the prisoner and make all nee
essary preparations.
Attorney Smith, for the accused man.
asked the court to change the venture and
get one from outside the city. He stated
that owing to the intense feeling against
the prisoner it would be impossible for the
Midget to get fair trial here. Mr.. Smith
said the military surrounding the court
was ample evidence of this, to say nothing
of the fact that the majority of those in
the city had. he thought, expressed an