Evening journal., 1908-09-22
CASE
IS ON TRIAL
Winfield MurdOCk Tells Jury
of an Assault Made
Upon Him

General Sessions Court this morning
took up trial OF the case Of the State
against Charles Jackson, colored. indicted
on charge Of highway robbery. Jackson
was represented by William C. Jones' Jr..
while Deputy Attorney-G General Hastings
Conducted the prosecution. To the jury Mr..
Hastings said the State would endeavor
to show that jackson was one OF two
colored men who robbed Winfield Muir
dooS, an aged white man, Of 500 and
gold-hlled watch while Murdook was pass
ing through Pinketts Court on the morn
ing OF May ., and that when the police
came upon Jackson in a house in White
Chapel on the following day ne jumped
from a second story window and was
chased to Elsmere before being caught.
In further outlining the States case Mr.
Hastings said he could not prove by Muir
dock that Jackson was one Of the men
who committed the robbery the men hav-
ing attacked Murdock from the back and
beat him into unconsciousness before he
could recognize them. but would rely on
the testimony OF Harvey Clark, colored
man, TO prove his case.
Then Mr.. Hastings called Murdock to
stand. He said he lived az No ll6 West
Thirteenth street. He told of the robbery
but could not identify the men who had
held him up because they had attacked
him from behind. Murdock said he had
never recovered his money or his watch.
Harvey Clark, the States star witness,
was next called. He said he lived in Pink
ett's Court and on the night Of the Muir
dock robbery saw jackson and another
coored man in front Of his Cthe wit
ness) house. Later Clark said ne heard
a man cry and saw Jackson and the other
man run from the Court
Clark swore that he had met Jackson
Fin the house No. s24 French street on
the Monday following the robbery and
fac taken him 10 task for causing the
police to search his house for the ron
bers. Clark said he also told Jackson
that Il was \ nean trick TO rob u mar
in front Of his kouse. Clerk thea swore
that Jackson had admitted the theft Of
Murdocks watch which he said he had
pawned In Philadelphia Jackson denied
getting the mans money. Clark said
Jackson showed him the pawn ticket
calling for the watch.
Mr.. Jones' cross-examination of Clark
failed to change his testimony "Is
Jackson friend Of yours?" asked Mr..
Jones of Clark
mo, sir; not since this trouble. have
had no friends since" Clark replied.
The audience laughed.
Police Officer John Ward, who assist.
ed in ,he arrest of Jackson. swore that
the prisoner had jumped from the sec
ond-story window of the house No. .
White Chapel when the police came
upon him there two days after the rob.
berry. The prisoner was captured in the
vicinity OF Elsmere. officer James El.
lott said he arrested Clark on suspic-
ion Of the robbery charge after Murdoch
had told the officer that he thought his
assailants had entered Clarks house
Clark allowed the officer TO search his
house and later gave the information
that led 10 the arrest Of Jackson
jackson Denies Charge.
In opening the defense Mr.. Jones said
Jackson's defense would be an alibi
jackson, under oath, then denied the
alleged robbery. He admitted that hs
had been in Pinkett's court and had
talked with Harvey Clark on the night
Murdock said he was robbed. but de.
clared he had left the court about 1l.SI
o'clock. Murdoch swore he had beer
robbed between 12 and l o'clock. Jack
son denied ever telling Clark that he hat
gotten Murdocl's watch and had pawn
ed II in Philadelphia. jackson said h'
had jumped from the window OF th'
New street house fearing arrest because
Of some trouble he had figured in at tbs
grounds on May s.
The case will go TO the jury this af
ternoon.
The grand jury returned these tru'
bills: Carrying concealed deadly wea-
pom, James r. Kinsey.
Assault with intent 10 commit murder
Oregon Narado. Mamie Biddle, Isaial
Archer. Samuel Seymour
Assault and battery, Harry Cassidy.