The Washington times., 1919-02-04

use abusive language, she answered:
Mr.. Greer does not swear"
COIored Man Defends Greers.
: A colored man, Edward N. Colbert,
took the stand in defense of the
Greers.
He was on such friendly terms with
the Greers that he did not knock
when he went to their home.
Il just opened the door and went In
like 1 would at my own home" he
testified.
Was the Iatchstring at the Greers
always on the outside for you?'
asked Attorney David.
Yes sir" was the ready response.
Asked his business, Colbert said he
was general contractor"
Further elucidation developed that
he took repair jobs" such as white
washing" putting in broken window
panes," "mending plaster" and so on.
Worked for Greers.
Ten years ago, when the Greer an
mex was built for housing orphan
children used in the bakery, Colbert
said he plastered the boys room.
-Four years ago, he testified, he
plastered the girls room. Each year.
he said, he has. been called in to look
things over and make such repairs
as were needed.
Colbert remembered bits of con-
versation between the Greers and the
children that took place years ago.
He could giFe the menu Of the three
daily meals of the children in any
year asked for.
Saw Baker Mop Floor.
The witness remembered an incl
dent three years ago, when he was
doing some work at the Greer home
late one evening, and Mr.. Greer
mopped the floor.
ut was the first time / ever saw
a white man take a scrub brush and
bucket, get down on the floor, and
clean it up" witness said.
Mr.. Greer came into the room, and,
seeing the boys standing around, said:
Come on, boys, and let's make a good
quick job of it," he AIDED.
Did the boys help?" counsel asked.
Not much. Mr.. Greer had the floor
almost clean before they got busy"
he said. They just did the finishing
work around the edge of the room"
One of the girls who was removed
was called in. She was identified by
Colbert.
Her Her Reprimanded.
Witness then told how he had on
one occasion heard Mrs. Greer repri-
mand the girl in question:
''She said: AS much as I've done
for you, cannot understand why you
should continue to disobey me. I've
treated you like a mother"
Colbert said the children at the
Greers always appeared to be happy
and that he had often heard them
singing.
On cross-examination, Colbert said
he had done but little work during
the last two years. and that his las;
job for the Greers was in June, 1918.
Colbert denied he got cakes from
the Greer bakery at wholesale prices
paid"
Priest Is Witness.
Father Ignatius Fealy, chaplain at
Fort Ayer, testified for the Greers.
He said he had not seen them since
1914. when he went to the Hawaiian
Islands, but that before that time he
knew them from 1909 to 1914. He
visited the, home on an average of
once every three months, he said.
Father Fealy said he saw the chill
dren at the bakery and thought they
were contented and we'll provided for
He did not know any of them by
name, he explained.
Asked about the clothes of the chill
dren, the witness said:
when 1 went there, the children
were not dressed for a promenade, but
on Sunday afternoons they were at
tired in becoming fashion"
Children Appeared Happy.
Did they appear to you to be hap
py and contented, or were they cowed
DOWN." asked counsel.
They appeared happy and content
ed" was the reply.
His impression Of the meals was
that they were the average he would
find in any home, Father FeaIy said
Attorney David, counsel for the
Greers, being i'll, no session of the
court was held last night. Should
he lawyer be able TO attend a ses-
sion will be held tonight.
Attorney David. in reply to a qucs-
ion by the court, stated that he was
Tot able to say how many more days
would be required TO hear witnesses !
or the defense.