Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-09-09
TERRIBLE HOMICIDE LAST NIGHT,
Lieut.. Brannan, Of Capt. Johnson's De.
tectives, Shot By q Policeman.
Mysterious Disappearance of Money.

Mysterious Disappearance of Money.
Last night, disturbance occurred on Penn.
sylvania avenue, near the Central Hotel, and
during its progress Lieut. J. N. Brannan, OF
Captain Johnson's detective force, was shot
through the head by pistol, the ball entering
Immediately above the eye; piercing the brain
and causing death in about an hour and a half
Coroner Woodward was at once notified, and
this morning the following jury was summoned
and an inquest was held - ssy- 80. ~. 8
John R. Murray, George H. Van Wagenen,
John NJ. Holbrook, Jacob L. Martin, VIM. W.
Tucker, Richard E. Simms, Henry g. LOOMS,
Sam1 S. Woods, Thos. Pierce, Mr.. ChandIee,
James McGrann, John Nearn.
The clothing and body Of deceased (Which
was in bed room Of the third-story of the
Central Honse,) was searched in the presence
of the jury, and nothing was found except a
gold watch, bunch OF keys, two memorand um
books, some papers and letters, q comb, and
small change in postage currency. A large
amount of money, which the deceased was
known to have with him during the evening,
had mysteriously disappeared, and an inyesti-
cation was at one instituted to find out if DOS.
.sible, what had become OF the money.
Mr. Jas AcGrann, one OF the jurors, who
keeps restaurant on Pennsylvania avenue,
above Seventeenth street, testified that de-
ceased, IN company with Capt. Johnston, was
in his house at O'Clock in the evening, and
that while there MIR. Handy came in, and in
the course of conversation about the races, the
deceased took out of his pocket book roll OF
money, amounting to (witness thought $500.
Mr.. Gelsto'', proprietor OF the Central Hotel,
testified that he heard the shooting, and went
down and helped to carry deceased out of the
gutter and into the front entry of his house He
then endeavored to get doctor but could get
TO attend except his family physician
He put deceased in charge OF officer J. F.
Lynch and Mr.. ]. S. Clark. Capt Told came
down while the body was in the entry, aad
SAD %a ha be hn to Gap
mans watch, ard Gelston demanded it, and it
was handed over TO him. Some parties came
with a streteher and desired to remove Bras-
nan; but Mr.. Gelston refused to allow that to
be done.
Mr.. J. s. CLARK was with the deceased, and
saw no one search him. He was, at Mr. Gel
ston's request, watching by the corpse after it
was brought up stairs.
Hr. Jos. Nichols was, with Mr.. Clark, watch
ing by the corpse, and if the money was taken
from him it must have been done before the
witness took charge of the corpse.
CGqt. johnson said he left McGrann's with
deceased, and they went from there to the
Varieties. Deceased had money wnen he left
McGrann,s, and Capt johnson was with him
all the evening. ~
Robert Cooper testified that he went nm TO the
room this morning, and Nichols left sim there
in charge of the body. He (witness) went up
with officer Lynch. and found the gas turned
oil and Nichols was lying on the bed Wit
ness and Lynch lighted the gas.
Officer Lynch testified that he got to the house
twenty minutes after the occurrence, and found
deceased lying on the floor. Witness bathed
his head and ordered all persons ont of the
room except those those who were absolutely
necessary TO administer to the wounded mans
wants. When Brannan died. Capt. Todd or.
dered his b. 50 coat and vest to be taken off,
Witness took the clothing of, and threw it on the
body of deceased and then helped to carry the
body up stairs.
Coroner Woodward, at this stage of the pro-
ceedings, took occasion to remark that he con-
sidered all officers culpable who did not remain
like the present, but who left it in charge Of
outsiders. He thought it was an officers duty
TO give each such case his personal attention
Mr. y. Barney being sworn, testified that he
was within four feet of deceased when he was
shot, but he sa one search him after he fell
He (witness) was returning from a picnic at
one o'clock, and he saw that there was muss
across the street from Browns Hotel. Witness
went across the street He did not Bran.
nan draw pistol, and when the latter was
shot he (Brannan) and the policeman were ten
feet apart.
Ar. John E. Hays, correspondent of the Bos-
ton Traveller, testified that he was sitting in
front of the Clarendon Hotel about \ o'clock,
and saw party come out of the Central who
Were engaged in loud talk. One of the party
said to another, Sc You are a damned butt or
something to that effect. Lieut.. Brannan then
struck one of the party, and the latter fell, and
scuff1e ensued, and while that was going on,
police officers came over from the National
Hotel and made fer Brannan, and the latter
told him TO let him go, when one of the officers
got behind him and pinioned his arms, and
asked Brannan who he was. Witness was
standing by when all this occurred. Branuan
replied that he belonged TO the detective force,
and he threatened TO shoot if they did not 1T
him go. The officers then let go OF Brannan
and stood one on either side OF him; and Bran
nan commenced rambling in his pockets (as
witness supposedly to get his documents to
preye who he was. Instead, however OF get
ting his papers, he drew pistol and held it to
the officer, at the same time jumping behind a
tree, and continued to hold the pistol toward
the poiicemans head. Another officer then
stepped up and remarked he was friend of
Brannan's, and when witness saw the pistols
drawn he stepped around the corner of Sixth
street, out or the way, and a moment after
wards the shot was fired by one OF the poll .e
men, who witness since understood was OH
Ger Thompson.
Lieaet Vim. r. LI3u testified that last night,
while in bed he heard band play, and at the
suggestion of his room mate, they got up and
crossed over from the Claren don 10 the Nation
al Hotel. While coming back, over the cross
ing on the west slde OF Sixt street, they saw q
tracas door or two above the Central on the
Avenue: and blow was struck by some one
when witness arrived at the scence of dis ur
bance, there was an alteration going on be-
tween deceased and two police Ulcers: Bran
nan demanding that certain party in tie
crowd should be arrested. Brannan also told
the officer TO let him alone and not arrest hun
Rrannan was then asked who he was and
upon his replying, witness steppedrp and sal
ST YOU are Lieut.. BTanpan, i viii stay with
you llsthis thing is over" Two policem Il
then caught hold of Brarnan, and fourished
their clubs over his head, and one of the o icer!
then got behind him (B. and threw his arm
around him. Officer Thompson then pass e
around WITNESS. ara lEtO the gutter. ana re
marked that ii it was ''shooting they were af.el
he could shoot too,' and the words wer,
scarcely out Of his (Thompson's) mouth whaI
the pistol was fired and Brannan fell. Cap.
Johnson came up at that moment, and fearia.
there would tie another murder, he turned hi 4
away. Witness, then, with the assistance o
Mr.. Gelstsn, lifted de ceased out of the quite
and carried him into the Central House, anC
witness was subsequently taken in charge b.
4 policeman, to testify in the case. In answer
10 a question, Lieut. Hill said that lie heard
Brannan say, leave me alone, or I'll shoot
Mortimer AcColtIm testified that last night a
O'clock he saw the police trying to arrest
man near Central Hotel, when some one cret
out s'that is the wrong man." They then lie
go of the party they were trying TO arrest, ant
H. drew a revolver and threatened to shoot tn
police if they sid not go away. Witness theI
went around the corner, and moment afte
heard the report OF pistol
DGnitI HtG!snD testified that he saw tw,
policemen have prisoner in charge, and SOM
one said that IS not the man" The officer
said they wanted no interference and wouli
do their duty. Lieut.. Brannan (who was tn