Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-16
EXPECT SENSATIONS
IN ROWzEE'S TRIAL
Hailed Into Court to Answer
the Charge of Numbering
Joseph D. Rogerson.
TWO CLAIMING HIM AS
HUSBAND WILL TESTIFY
Special Venire of Seventy Five
Talesmen Summoned by Justice
Gould to Complete Jury.

Sensational developments are antici-
pated at the trial of Clarence Rowzee.
twenty three years old. who was called
this morning to the bar of Criminal
Court No. to answer an indictment
for first degree murder in connection
with the killing of Joseph d. Roger
son. The tragedy occurred November
9 last, in a lunchroom conducted by
Rogerson at 1405 New York avenue
northwest.
The regular panel of jurors was ex-
hausted Within an hour after court con-
vened and an adjournment was taken
until tomorrow Justice Gould ordered
special venire of seventy-five talesmen
to be summoned in the hope of complet-
ing the jury early.
While neither the theory Of the gov
ernment nor the defense was outlined in
court today. the calling of the names of
the witnesses furnished the clue on which
is based the expectation that the trial
will be sensational.
Two Wives to Testify.
The government has on it's list two
women claiming the name of Rowzee,
and both expected to say on the witness
stand that they were married to the
prisoner Mrs. Ezma Rowzee. young and
unusually pretty, who by the govern
ment's claim was the cause of the homi-
eide, was in court in company with her
two sisters. Mrs. Grace Anthony Rowzee
did not go into court. but remained In
the Office of the United States attorney.
She, it is stated, will claim the prisoner
as her husband. and will declare he de-
serted her. The greatest interest IN the
trial is expected to center about the
testimony of these two witnesses.
Shortly after court convened Rowzee
was brought from the cellroom by
Deputy Marshal Creamer and took a
seat Immediately behind his counsel.
after greeting them. The prisoner is
short, but stockily built. with black
hair and eyes. He presented little evil
dence of prison pallor. despite the con-
finement Of four months in Jail.
On his left cheek appears a scar
showing where the bullet with which he
sought to end his life. following the
shooting of Rogerson, entered his head.
The sight Of his left eye has been lost.
ing of the Juliet into his head. The
bullet has not been removed. It is said
Nine Challenges Exercised.
United States Attorney Wilson and As
sistaht United States Attorney Hawken
announced to Justice Could that the gov
ernment was ready to. try Rowzee. At
torneys Michael w. Sullivan, John G..
Capers and L. B. Perkins consented to
proceed with the examination OF jurors.
Five of the regular panel had conscfen-
tious scruples against capital punishment
and were excused. By consent one OF
the Jurors was excused for business rea-
sons. The government exercised four OF
the twenty peremptory challenges allow
ed by law and the defense used five chal-
lenges. Eleven men were in the box still
subject to challenges when court ad-
journed. They were cautioned by Justice
Gould not to read about the case nor to
discuss It nor allow others to speak Of 1t
in their presence.
Among the eleven in the box when
court adjourned was John r. Galloway,
who in his examination said he was not
acquainted with Rowzee. but had known
well the father Of the prisoner. In
answer to an inquiry by Mr.. Hawken, the
juror thought his acquaintance with the
parent would not embarrass him in try
ing the son for his life.
AS the shooting is admitted by the de-
fense it is expected the efforts Of counsel
for Rowzee will be directed toward re-
ducing the verdict to manslaughter or
to second-degree murder.
Committed Crime November 8.
Clarence ]. Rowzee shot and killed Jo-
seph Rogerson Sunday, November 9.
about o'clock in the morning. Roger
son was behind the counter in his lunch
west. reading paper, when. it is charged,
Rowzee entered, spoke to him and opened
fire. After the wounded man fell to the
floor, it is charged. Rowzee looked over
the counter and fired an additional shot.
Feeling satisfied that he had killed Rog-
erson, Rowzee turned the weapon against
his own head and fired. His condition
was critical when he reached Emergency
HOSPITAL He expressed himself as being
dissatisfied with the result of the shot d.
rected at his own head. but later he said
he was glad he was going to get well.
1t is charged that Rowzee had threaten
ed his wife's life and that he went to her
boarding house shortly before he visited
the lunchroom and killed Rogerson. Row
zee was in Philadelphia until a short time
before he came here and did the shoot
ing
The slayer remained in the hospital
three weeks before he was taken to Jail.
An inquest was held the day after the
shooting and the jury held him response
BILE for Rogerson's death.