Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-07-28
Fratricide ArTaigned in the
Corporation Court
Today
BUT FEW ONLOOKERS
Jury Soon Secured-Case. it is Be-
lieved, VIII Require But One Day
Verdict Expected Early Tonight

lhe trial OF Samue! S0rrell, cHarSeC
with shooting and killing his brother
! Charles on the morning of July 4th
in an ark on the river shore in the
extreme northeastern section CT the
city, began in the Corporation Court
| this morning. The trial attracted bu.
| few spectators. Howard w. Smith.
Commonwealth 5 Attorney, assisted by
| Albert Bryan. ir., conducted the prose-
cution, and the accused was represent
ed by Messrs. C. H. Smith and Frank
| Stuart.
The jury was soon secured by the
selection of the following: Park A.
! Kersey, Charles CGrbett, B. B. Brown,
Edward R. Mills, Llewel!yn Dyson. l..
P. Woodward, George I. Burroughs.
Harry H. Newton +. S. Goodloe. j.
Brooke Carter, Elmer Alexander and
5. NJ. Pullman.
The Commonwealth.s Attorney sub
scquently. addressed the jury, asking
that verdict of murder in the second
degree be returned. The counsel for
the defense waived that privilege, and
The taking of testimony began.
Chief Goods, Of the police fierce, was
The first witness. He stated that Char
les Sorrell, when he visited in the hos
pital before ne died, had stated that
his brother Samuel shot him. The
chief said Samuel Sorrell came 10 the
station house and delivered himself TO
the police.
Daniel Alexander followed. Witness
was standing near the ark in which
the shooting took place. He told Of
trouble between the iwo brothers over
4 game of cards in ar ark owned by
James Deane, also OF fights between
the brothers, and subsequent attack
made by Charles upon Samuel. in
which the former used rocks, ore
striking the witness and rendering him
unconscious for short time. He ;old
Of Charles subsequently, leaving thu
scere and returning. He called Samuel
ugly names. Charles also threatened
10 kill Samuel. Chai.es had no gun
that he could see.
Doctor S. B. Moore, who attended
Charles Sorrell in the Alexandria Hos
pital. described the nature cf the
wound of which Charles So.rell died.
He said the dying man charged hjs
brother with shooting him.
James Deane, later to5k the stand.
He said the troub,c between the two
men originated over a gam" Of pckar
which had been in progrrs, during
NEST OF the night. The brothers with
others were participating IN the game.
This happened carly in the mornng.
Witness told Of the rock battle. and
alleged that Charles had threatened to
kill Samuel. Charles rad gun, which
he pointed at Samuel and deficl the
latter to shoot. Samuel had taken ten
cents from the "pot" and rake off
which act precipitatei the trouble be-
tween the brothers. Witness did net
see the shooting, but heard the re-
port Of the gun while standing short
distance away from the scene. The
brothers. he said had had several
fights before the shooting occurred.
James Mason, cclorci. in whose ark
the tragedy took place. testified tha.
the brothers had bceh quarraling over
"a game Of cards during Tie moln:rg.
After Samuel had taken ten cents as
rake off, Charles left. hui socn ap-
appeared. Witness had followed the de
ceased up hin and endcavored to
1issuaGe him from committing any
cvert act, as Charles had threatened to
xii! Samuel. The former went away
second time, and rctrrred with gun.
Charles was standing inside the arl;
when his brother discharged the gua
at him.
j. Bolton was the next witness. He
testified to following Charles Sorrell
when he returned after the encounters
with his brother. He had gun IN his
possession.
A enc o'clock the court took recess
until two.
Judge Moncure stated today that if
necessary night session will be held
in order TO finish the case today.