Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-05-09
LOCAL NE w s.


night about eX O'Clock, which resulted in the
killing of John II Howard, one OF the members
q the metropolitan Rides" Of this city, IL is
ALLEGED bv one OF the police. The facts, AS far az
can be aScertained thus far, are IS follows:
II seems that Howard, in company with =
number OF soldiers, were arrested on charge of
disOrdefiy conduct at some place on the Island
and were being taken to tue central Ruardhouse
by otacers F. A. Neitze, Thomas Holden, Samr
Dyer and Richard Howe, and when opposite
Browns Hote. Howard expressed desire 10
walk with one Of his com panions. AS soon rs he
was let go he ran across the street IN the direc-
ton of SIKH street, all the officers following,
AID Howard to avoid them got behind a hack
As he was going between two hacks pistol was
fred by o<e Of the officers, which took effect In
HOward's herd, and from which he expired a
few minutes after being taken to the lnhrmary
Dyer, Howe and Neitzs proceeded at once to the
gnardhouse and gave themselves up. Holden
was subsequently arrested by policeman F. f.
kirg, and taken TO the guardhouse. An i'm
mense crowd, principally Of soldiers, Instantly
gathered around the srot after the shooting, ans
followed 10 the guardhouse, and the greatest ex-
citsnsnt was manifested, and hundreds were for
Instantly lynch!ng the four policemen.
We have never seen more intensely excited
crowd. Policemen were stationed at the doors
OF the guardhouse TO keep out the main crowd
out u was impossible TO do so; for they pushed
IN through the windows until the trial room was
1an<med An immense crowd occupied the street
"a front, some clamoring for sdmittance, many
Threatening instant demolition of the guardhouse
Zone who knew the deceased described him AZ
very harmless amiable youth Of 10 or 20
years, and the principal support Of his orphan
sisters; and these particulars seemed to in
fame the crowd intensely against the police.
The charge Of general hostility on their part
To the military frequently made. Some
pointed out the men who were known to be Sc
ceesiOnis:s. and suspected Of being news carriers
TO their ffends at Alexandria. Capt Nalley, Of
the Metropolitan Rides, arrived and insisted
upon strict tgaton OF the affair." but in the
confusion II was mpossi BILE to do more than ma ke
a list of witnesses, examine the weapons, and
commit the par ties for further hearing. Threats
were made meantime TO batter down the doors
from the outside, and some Of the timid ores
within, hearing this, began TO vamose through
the windows. Soon the Chief Of Police arrived,
and soon after the Provost Marshal with the mil
itary patrol, who ordered the soldiers to their
quarters.
One Of the witnesses identified Holden az the
man who was chasing deceased when the SHOT
was fred, and be saw ''the boy fall" Another
thought that Nietze was the man who fred the
pistol. Another testified that the man who fred
had a brogue on bis tongue.
Col. Mansfield, the commander Of this military
department, being present, asked for the arms Of
the police The chief CT police replied, that they
were only armed by the city with those sticks
(sFontoons), and II they had other arms they car
lied them on their own account. Capt. Goddard
then asked II they had other weapons; and they
answered by putting their weapons on the chiefs
desk. The pistol Of Nietze-a revolver-was
charged in every chamber but one, and he said
that had not been loaded for two weeks. The
others Were fully charged. A suspicion Of a
change Of weapons being limited, Officer King
testified that Holden could not have changed
with any one from the time he was arrested till
he was In the guard house. To an inquiry, If ii
might not have been done after the shooting, and
before the Arrest he replied, he would not say
about that; he only answered for him while In his
custody The whole party were committed TO
Jail for trial.
The shot entered the head of the deceased at the
back on one side, and passed out in front, near
the eye, on the other. One Of the sisters of the
deceased arrived at the Infrmary only in time to
witness his last dying struggle.
detachment Of the New York Zouaves halted
In front Of the guard house the crowd was about
leaving; they having been told that one Of their
men was killed, and they had been sent to get the
We hear that the police are under strict In
struct'ons by the Mayor and Captain of Police
never to use pistol except to save their own
The jury at the inquest held to-day, was as fol-
lows: Mesrs. Lord, Crown, w God, w ard, Den
nison. Peter, Crandell, Poikinhorn, Rosenbury,
Afchison. Borland, Lowry, r. Polkinhorn.
and nine O'Clock, YVES standing corner Of Sixth
and Pennsylvania avenue, in Conversation with
DIR p. Pepper. Heard pistol shot. Turned
aud saw people run nearly opposite Browns
Hotel Started and ran, and met the people
coming with the body Of Howard. They said be
wss dead, and witness proposed to take him 70 the
lnhfmary. Assisted to get the body in hack
ana turned 70 md witnesses. Nearly opposite
Browns Hotel came across q night watch
man. Some one said he was the man that
shot the man, and witness arrested him and
pistol then. and all the fve barrels Were loaded
IL was five shooter. 1t was ten minutes from
the u me the pistol was fired till witness arrested
him His name is Holden. Knows deceased,
and his name 10 John H. Howard. Holden
was not out Of sight Of witness from the time
be was arrested til witness got him 10 the watch
house. There was time 10 change bis pistol be-
tween the shooting and the arrest, but II could
not have been done while be was In the custody
Of witness. One OF the arrested men had no pistol
Howe produced bis pistol and all the barrels were
loaded Neiize produced his pistol and one of the
barrels was discharged. Holden, when arrested .
neither denied nor admitted the charge; but said
he was willing TO go with witness. He was ar
Tested near the place where the shooting took
place. All the members of the night police Wear
numbers on their caps. Don't remember the
numbers on the caps of the arrested parties.
Know Howard, he is 10 or 90 wears old With q
Is not connected with the night police and does
net know their numbers, but thinks Holdens
James Wroe lZouave) Last night was on a
street this side Of Pa. avenue, talking There
was i've officers and five men, and there was a
him to 90 with the officer He said he wouldn =
walk with Niger, but with q white man; the
oftcer LET him 90, and be walked with one OF his
companions Hethen ran or across the street, and
Sch~ccu t"O CdfrldScbi tuc OmCefe followed
and one Of them shot. He fell by carriage, with
two grey horses. W itness stepped up TO him. and
taking hold Of him said - he Is deadn Immedi-
aiely an oficer numbered IS came MP, and wit.
ness caught hold Of him, charging him with
having shot the man. Another ofacer came up
numbered 81 No. Is denied that he had shot the
msn, but said that he knew the man who had
dsne H. No 80, on having his number taken,
turned behind tree box.
Copt- Goddard, sworn.-This morning, about
an hour and a half ago, witness received infor-
nation that Ii was another man and not either of
these fur who shot the man. His number In 32
He afterwards told witHess's informant that he
had nred the shot, and gave his pistol 10 witnesses
Informant, VITO told him to give Il to him and
,iear out Tor fear Of eeiBg moboed His name is
Richard Evans The Informant is Chas McCarty
a frazier sworn.-Read a minute of the
ana taken at the time of the shooting
Capt. Goddard recalled.-Stated that Holden
was not examined as a witness last night but held
as prisoner. Oa examining the pistol fred by
Evans, witness found that one barrel had been
recently discharged Evans was arrested this
morning, and witness committed him to iaiI
w hen brought Into the ONCE Of the Chief of Po-
lice this morning, he locked very much confused.
and turned pale. He made no denial or sd mia
sion. He told McCarty when he gave him bis
pistol that bis life was In his (Mccartys) hands.
Jeuss Wros, recalled.-Saw the dead man
make no resistance, nor attempt to strike blow