The Washington herald., 1911-07-30

NSSeNN sA4S may dl TIE TCccINOHs
Willie Ross. negro boy, was put IN
the witness box. After Justice Reading
had administered the oath, Counsel Gar
rett objected to the witness on the ground
that he was not old enough to understand
the nature Of an oath. Willie is seven
years old
{, When the judge asked him IL he knew
what an oath was, he told him that to
make oath bound a witness to tell the
'truf, de whole truf and nothin' but de
truf,'' and said that to do otherwise was
''pententiary act The witness was
allowed to testify.
He stated that Witkowski hired him
to go the rounds of the village and notify
the citizens that the water would be turn
ed of at o'clock Sunday evening. When
he got to John Garrett's house, the boy
said that that citizen told him to go back
and contradict the mayors order and
threateped to arrest him If he did other
wise. The boy admitted that his posi-
ton, under the circumstances, was en-
barrassing &.
Took Gun Away.
Counsel for the defense called Edward
Riley, who testified in true Shorty Nc
Cabe fashion as to the battle OF Glen
Echo last Sunday. Riley stated that
he was the man who took WitkowskPs
gun away from him while Moody"
Weaver and John Garrett held him. At
this juncture the contending, attorneys
edged up to the foot of the desk in front
of the judge and fairly shook their fists
in each others faces, while they played
a symphonic duet entitled ''Greenleaf on
Evidence"
When things quieted down, Riley testi-
fed that during the entire scrap nobody
had struck the mayor, which was in the
nature of a revelation to the court, and
some said to the mayor and the accused
men themselves. He also said that OF
the ten or fifteen persons who partici-
pated in the fight, Weaver was the only
park employe and he did not work Qor
the park on Sundays. Riley said that
during the whole affair he did not hear
any remarks made by any one.
john Collins, a brother of the coun-
Gilman, told his story, which ran along
the same channels as the preceding testi-
mony relative to the fight. Throughout
the trial the witnesses, with one or two
exceptions, testified that Witkowsh had
brandished his gun in the park.
Then John McMahon, press agent for
the park, testified and refused to tell
States Attorney Waters how much
salary he got from Manager Schloss, and
Mr., Waters demanded that the court
force him to do so. The court ruled that
the question had no direct bearing on
the case. Mcmahon said he did not see
much of the fight, as he was busy with
other matters. He stated, however. that
Witkowski had a bad reputation in the
community, which caused the fur to fly
again.
Il would not believe witkowski on
OATH" said Mcmahon.
who were the persons who gave you
information regarding Witkowsh's repu>
tation?' asked Mr.. Waters.
Il refuse to answer that question"
said Mcmahon.
Flags Fighting Mayor.
Judge Reading directed him to give
the names of the persons, and he named
John Garrett, employees of the park.
and other persons He said he could
not remember any more names. and
ended by calling witkowsk 'irrespon-
sible, unreliable, untrustworthy, and a
maniac" a parting shot.
Counsel for the defense called George
Derene, roadmaster of the Washington
Railway and Electric Company. "A con-
ductor notified me that there was a dan
gerous maniac under the bridge, and I
went up there" said Derene. Then he
bethought himself Of Tom Moore. Brian
Boru, Robert Emmett, the harp of
Tara, and other gods and symbols of
his race, and by these tokens launched
into a strong character sketch, designed
to convey graphic picture Of just how
1t happened.
According to Derene's testimony, 1t
was he who saved the mayor from fur
ther Dombardment by dragging him,
with William Detwiler's aid. into the
dining-room. and locking the door. Then,
he said, they took the mayor upstairs
and washed him off.
When John T. Kelly, of Washington,
was placed on the stand by the defense,
the attorneys clashed and clinched again,
for States Attorney Waters objected to
Kelly on the ground that he could not
testify as to Witkowski's reputation, not
being a resident of his neighborhood.
"Greenleaf on Evidence was again
dragged into the fight.
Proved His Point.
John Garrett read to a certain point
and stopped, and said that what he had
read proved his point Then Attorney
Kilgour took up the quotation where
John Garrett had left off, and reading a
little further, proved that another con-
struction on the words was intended.
Garrett again took the book, and read
q little further and proved another point
but such was enthusiasm that he finish
ed old Greenleafs sentence which con-
tanned near its end a clause which had a
Quieting If not soothing influence on Mr.
Garrett and he sat down. He had him
self quoted authority which knocked from
under him the foundation on which he
was basing his argument Kelly was not
allowed to testify
Counsel for the defense called on
Moody" Weaver to take the stand. He
also told the story of the fight, and
then the attorneys began asking ques-
tions. Between the queries fired at
him he swung about the witness box
like a Gagged lion, darting fiery glances |
all about him, particularly at the little |
figure of the mayor, who sat at Mr.. |
Waters side. [
Once when Witkowski spoke up and |
contradicted one of his statements. he |
had tosbe restrained from leaping out |
of the witness box by Mr.. Garrett with
the touch of Garretts hand upon his |
arm. he quieted down and asked for
water.
Mr.. Garrett called Charles Diggs to |
the stand. Charlie is a small negro. |
He testified that Garrett had pleaded
with Witkowski not to shoot him.
Held Mayors Legs.
Laurie Garret testified that he had held
the mayors legs while his gun was
taken from him. Manager L. B. schIoss
then took the stand. -
In my opinion" said he, .'witkowskil
is maniac. When he entered the mari,
! took my wife and child. who were
with me, into my private ONCE, and had
TO stay there to keep them quiet until
the ARRAY was over" - '-s'-
Daniel Collins was called. and provaa