Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-08-14
SOON IN HANDS OF JURY

Shooting and Killing Prohibition
Inspector ShelIorse Completed.
Davis May Soon Know His Fate.
The case of James Davis, colorcd,
indicted for the murder Of ]. C. Shell
horse, a state prohibition inspector,
will go to the jury late this after.
noon.
The taking of testimony for the de-
fense was completed about noon today
with the placing of the accused man
On the stand. However, this after
noon the jury heard the testimony of
Dr.. John E. Lind, from St. Elizabeth's
Asylum, Anacostia, D. c.
Davis took the stand shortly before
II o'clock this morning and he was
on the stand more than an hour. The
accused spoke in low voice and at
times he could be heard with diff
Guilty.
Davis story was to the effect that
on the evening of June rs he boarded
: southbound Southern Railway train
IN Washington for Monroe, Va, and
took a seat in the smoking compart-
ment for colored persons. After the
train crossed over on the Virginia
side two men came up and one
grabbed him. Some one, he declared,
tnen shot a pistol ana one pistol was
snapped at him. Afterward both men
ran into the baggage car of the train.
Davis said Shelhorse then put in his
appearance and he did not shoot him
until Shelhorse attempted to draw his
pistol.
Davis denied ownership of the hand
satchel and suitcase containing total
II forty-fve pints of liquor, which it
vas alleged was his property. The
prisoner told the court he had more
.han $1,000 in his possession at the
time. He said his cuitcase, which has
rever been found, contained shoes and
clothing, but no liquor.
The accused testified that he did
not know the men were officers as
they did not show any badge or any
thing else to indicate who they were,
According to Davis he served three
ycars in the st. Elizabeth's Asylum
md afterward was sent to the peni-
tentiary at Leavensmorth, kan.,; at
which Institution he served feur@years.
lie left the asylum IN 1912, he said. :.
According to the prisoner he had
hcen spending a week in Washington
and part of that time had" been
treated by dentist, and exhibited TO
The Jury some gold filing done to his
.ceth by dentist in that city. Davis
iso told the court nc did not know
what the inspectors wanted him Tor:
The accused nextatoid of how after
shooting Sheihorse he jumped from
the train upon it's arrival near Union
station and finally Of his capture py
soldier and another man after
short chase. -,
Attorney Robinson Moncure then
exhibited to the jury coat worn by
Davis the night of the shooting con-
tanning bullet hole. :.
This exhibit wss turned, over to
the jury for inspection when they
consider the case. "
Davis was subjected to a gruelaing
cross examination by Assistant At
torney Gcenral Hank. In the main
the prisoner stuck to his story
Among the witnesses who testified
today in behalf of the defense were
O. W. Loving, K. L. beavers, l.; /.
Roval, y. Cannon, Richard Simrns,
Edward Ford, William c. Cloth. John
Hudson, Thomas Sheppard.
Witnesses today for the common
wealth included H. 3. Beach, Bessie
| Morris, William E. Payne, Chief OF
| Police c. r.. Goods.
Those who testified yesterday for
the commonwealth included DR.. NJ.
D. Delaney, w. c. Hall, A. L. Brick
or, Arthur Robert, DR.. T. NJ. Jones,
Nellie Hairston and W. E. Payne.