Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-08-16
LOCAL NEWS.

tween III and 10 o'clock, while officer Pierce. of
the Fifth Ward, was attending to his duties on
the Avenue, between Sd and dth streets east he
heard the report of pistol, and going to the
corner OF 4th and @ streets, found co!ored
man, named Robert Berry, lying upon the
ground, suffering from a wound by pistol
oaii. omcer Fierce raised the man up, and in
rev moments he died. He was conveyed to
the house of Lucy Haines, colored, where he
BOARDED. The coroner was notified, and this
forenoon summoned the following lury viz.
Osc,r X. Harris, Geo. F Appleby, Jos. wal.
lingford, Daniel Shehan, Godw win Pierce. peter
Mack, John Merrman, John Odonald, Chas.
campbell, Morris Wells, John Smoot, and
DR.. George III. Mccoy examined the vvonnd.
and testified that the ball entered the bodv
aboat tnree incnes rom the navel, and lodged
inside, as there was no evidence of its having
gone through. The wound, the doctor testi
fed, was sufficient to cause death.
The jury here viewed the body, and then re-
purpose OF examining the witnesses.
C1fcer Pierce testified that he was on his
beat, on Pennsylvania avenue, last night, and
about IL o'clock he passed three colored men
on the avenue going towards the Navy-Yard
Subsequently he again passed two of the same
party, and he walked on toward the Navy
Yard. When between Sd and ith streets east
he heard pistol fired, and witness looked
over the fence, thinking probably the shot
might have been fired in the yard. Witness
then went around 4th street, and at the corner
upon the ground, and grooming. Witness
raised him up, and found pistol lying upon
the lap OF the sufferer. Witness heard two
shots fired, but could see no one leave the
wounded man. Witness asked the wounded
man who shot him, and he said twice dis
tinctly that a colored man named Chas. Wood
Immediately started after the colored men he
had passed on the avenue, and arrested them
near the Capitol. They proved to be Thomas
Allen and Jos. Amos, both of whom were en-
,,Jo af ha
told witness that they had been with Wood
land, and that the latter said he would be re-
venged on Berry. Witness found double
barreled pistol on the person of Allen.
Thomas Allen, alias Harrod, was brought out
OF his cell and sworn. He testified that last
evening Woodland came down to the National
home with him to the Navy Yard. Woodland
said he was afraid Berry would get up
crowd and attack him, and he wanted some
protection. Witness and Amos agreed to ac-
company him. The whole party left the Ma
tional at O'Clock, and started for the Navy
Yard. They stopped at George Browns bar
Der shop, on Capitol Hill, for an hour or an
hour and half, and then moved on down
Pennsylvania avenue. When at Third street
east, Woodland saw Berry coming across the
field toward Fourth street, and witness
marked to Woodland, "there is Berry now, he
has no crowd with him; you are both men, go
and settle it between yourselves" Witness
and Amos then left Woodland, and turned to
go towards the Capitol, and Woodland went
believed) Of meeting Berry. A few moments
afterwards witness heard two shots of pis-
tol, and he and Amos were subsequently ar
rested and lodged in the STATEN house.
On further examination, this witness testi-
fled that Woodland had with him a revolving
pistol, which, while walking along he changed
from his breast pocket TO his right hand panta-
looms pocket. Woodland had said he would
have it out of Berry the. first time he met him.
Witness supposed though that they intended
to fight it out, and not shoot one another
dNon nth Narfxr
then brought in and sworn. He denied that
Woodland was with them when they left the
National Hotel, and also that they stopped at
George Browns barber shop on Capitol Hill.
He said they went to Woodlands house and
did not find Woodland there, and on their re-
turn met him on New Jersey avenue, and went
back with him. Woodland had invited them
down there to see him get fair play if Berry
attacked him with a crowd.
In order to reconcile these conflicting state
ments Allen was again brought out, and, upon
examination, he denied many statements made
at his first examination, and the Jury were not
favorably impressed with his truthfulness
His statement as to Woodlands having a pis-
tol, and as to his threats against Berry, and as
to his going down Sd street to meet Berry, We're
fully coroborated by Amos, who certainly was
the most truthful OF the two; although both of
them held back apparently much that they
knew Of the circumstances.
After much questioning and pumping, the
jury at last got the following facts 1t appears
that last week there was colored picnic at
Berry's Woods. Woodland, who was in the
employ of Secretary Seward as driver of his
carriage, went to the picnic on one OF the Sec
retary's horses. He there loaned the horse to
his brother. The brother exchanged with Ber-
ry, (who had a buggy,) and Woodland saw
Berry ride the horse at furious rate along the
road, and attempted to stop him. The result
was a quarrel. On last Sunday night Woodland
and Berry met at Bethel Church, Capitol Hill,)
and fight ensued. Woodland made threats
against Berry, and, as Allen and Amos stated,
it was III expectation of fight with Berry's
crowd OF friends that they accompanied Wood
land to the Navy Yard last night Woodland
came from his duties at Secretary Stewards
early last evening, and waited for Allen at the
National. He freely displayed q pistol, and
made threats against Berry.
Retecca Moore, rather intelligent colored
woman, testified that Berry and Woodland
were both her friends, and yesterday morning
she met Woodland and asked him if he and
Berry could not settle this matter. Woodland
at that time made threats against Berry Wit
ness also warned Berry not to cross the bridge
at Virginia avenue, for Woodland was watch
ing for him.
The pistol found upon Berry's person, was
examined and 1t had not been discharged. 1t
was an Allen revolver, and all the barrels were
loaded.
The jury found that deceased came to his
death by a ball fired from pistol in the hands
of Charles woodland Deceased was labor
ing man and had no property.
The pistol above referred to and q watch
bel ging to him were found upon his person.
Woodland to-day, in company with his
brother, went to the Office Of the Superin-
tendent Of Police to give himself up, and he
was turned over to detective Clarvoe, who
took him before Justice Hollingshead, and
waving an examination, he was committed to
jail for court. He alleges that on several occa-
slons Berry has assaulted him and threatened
to kill him, and that Berry attacked him at
picnic last week. Woodland says that he met
Berry last night, and as soon as he approached
he (B.) uttered an exclamation, and made
motion as if to get pistol or something from
his pocket when he (Woodland) said, "No you
DON'T and pulled his pistol and fired. and ran
off. He says that after firing he threw his pis-
toll away as he ran down New Jersey avenue.
FIRE IN GEoRGRTowN.-Yesterd about
Sis p. M, fire broke out in the west wing Of
the old tobacco warehouse, the property OF
Gilbert Vanderwerken. The warehouse is To-
Gated between High and Market streets, south
Of Bridge street The low er part was for
the storage of hay by Mr.. John Waters, of
which there were several hundred bales in the
building. Between the east and west wingsi is
small building, formerly used as feed house,
but occupied by colored family, and it was