The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-10-04
Former Policeman Charged
With Crime BY Coro-
ner's Jury.
REFUSES TO MAKE
STATEMENT OF CASE
Gibson HollingSworth the Only
Eyewitness to the
Shooting.

Charged by the Coroner's jury with
having caused the death Of his wife
py shooting her in the head with a re-
Nolver on the evening of October l in
front Of 1887 Thirtieth street. Charles
u Baston, until recently a member Of
The local police force. is today in Jail
awaiting the action of the grand Jury
In his case.
As has been his attitude ever since
the crime was committed, Baston re-
fuses TO speak Of the matter and
conducts himself with his usual calm,
almost Indifferent. manner. Seemingly
Ike one TO whom the decisions of the
guries ard judges in his case do not
interest in the least
Indeed, il was only for a moment
during the CorOners inquest yester-
day that Baston showed the slightest
emotion or concern. and then il was
only 10 remove his handkerchief from
his pocket. furtively wipe the perspir-
alton from his brow. for il seemed that
this was his only method Of showing
emotion as the witnesses were giving
the testimony which may serve to
hang him when he comes before the
final jury TO be tried for the murder
Of his wife.
The Coroner's jury, composed Of
Chester H Beatty, w. F. Turner w.
T. buckingham, Samuel L. Daw. R c.
Brown, and 3. F Harper. convened at
3;45 yesterday afternoon in the Dis
trict morgue and proceeded at once to
the business at hand.
Dead Woman's Sister Called.
Mary c. Striegnitz. the sister Of the
nj sic In To-, 9
Baston. was the first witness to take
the stand She was in deep mourning
and seemed much excited
After having testified to the fact that
she was the sister of Mrs. Baston ana
that she had been in the Baston house
on the night Of the tragedy, she was
asked who was in that house when she
went in.
No one but Mr.. and Mrs. Baston.''
she replied.
Were they quarreling when you saw
them, and il SO, what was il about"
inquired Coroner hewitt, who was con-
Quoting the inquiry.
Yes. they were qUarreling, but I do
not know what il was about, except
that they mentioned money. ] did not
pay much attention to it because ] did
not think that e was OF much import
ance. I was in the house fifteen min
utes and ! did not think that anything
would come of the quarrel"
Where were you when Mrs. Baston
left the hOuse2" was the next question
asked.
Sitting on my own porch" was the
answer. Il had left the house soon
after Mr. BastOn did and Mrs. BastOn
followed me out ! had the baby IN my
arms and was sitting on my own porch
whe7 I heard the shots fred. I did not
see A.ho fired them, but there were only
Mr.. and Mrs. Baston on the street at
the time
What were the relative positions Of
Mr.. and Mrs. Baston when you last saw
themT'
Heard the Shots Fired.
They were walking down the street
together, talking in low tones. Then
my sister raised her voice suddenly, and
! heard her say, Give me that money
And Mr. Baston answered in about the
same tone. No, I won't Then, after
moment, when they were about fifteen
yards away, I heard the shots"
Did you hear Mrs BastCn say OF
call anything as the shots were fred?''
Eyes. I heard her scream, but do not
think that it was any particular word
How many shots did you hear2'
''I think there were three, but didn't
count item
DIR. James NJ. Moser. of the George
town University Hospital was the next
witness to take the stand. He testified
that he had examined the body OF Mrs.
Rsston when il came TO the hospital,
and that she was dead at the time, with
one wound in the head. which. as far as
he could see. had caused her death
Only One Eyewitness.
The next witness proved to be the
only person who can be found that
actually saw the shots fired, a boy
named Gibson r. Hollingsworth, of 1850
Thirtieth street. He testified that, just
previous to the tragedy. he was stand
Ing in front Of his fathers place OF bust
ness. on the same block with the Bas-
ton home and that he saw Mr.. and
Mrs. Baston. walking down the street to-
he said that he was positive of his
Identification and that he knew both OF
them very wei.
and she followed him and brought him
back" was his testimony. They were
arguing when they passed me the sec
ond time. and I heard her call him
dirty pup and several other bad
was Mr.. Baston drunk at the time.
as far as You could see2'
NO Z think that he was perfectly
sober" the boy replied
Did he say anything 10 her in reply
TO the names that she called him2'
He told her TO shut up and not TO
talk So loud on the street"
did You see Mrs. Baston strike him
in any manner.
NO. did not All I saw was what
] told YOU, and then they walked I'D a
little ways and stopped in front Of their
house. where Mr.. Baston stood a little
way behind her and drew his pistol and
shot her. 7 saw two of the shots fired
and saw her fail TO the ground and