Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-01-05
MySteyiauk CASE
TWO coLoRKD MEN POUND DEAD AT The RssI-
DENCk OF TIE FRENCH MINISTER.

49,. =
Mysterious Case.
TWO coLoRKD MEN POUND DEAD AT rHs RssI-
DENcE OF Tax FRENCH NfsIsrER-
This morning information was received At
Police Headquarters that two colored men,
employed at the residence Of M. j. Berthemy,
the French Minister. corner OF 18th and SITS.
bad peen found dead in their bed there, and
Lieut. Noonan, Of the Sanitary Company, aud
officer Reed, Immediately proceeded 70 investi-
gate the affair. On entering the room in the
northeast corner Of the basement the bodies OF
both the men SANDY Diggs, who was employed
as a messenger or porter. and Lewis Tay lor,
employed as waiter about the house,) were
compile 1ioned man, about twenty -four years Of
age, and when found was lying on his back,
and had apparently been dead for &C me time
hs ssSa
complexioned man, about two years younger
than Taylor, and had apparently died as he
was found, with head thrown BACK, and hands
clenched, indicating that his death had not been
so calm. He was found by the officers lying
face downwards, but some Of the ser wants had
turned him over, it appeared, in their attempts
full examination Of the room, and the articles
in It, to get clue, and Detectives Clarvoe and
Bigley deeming the case worth close investi-
CATION, also took the matter In hand. 1t was at
first thought by some that death was caused by
sufocation by gas escaping from the pipe Of
the furnace, Thy which the house is heated
me TOou1 near the celllng:
and by others that it was caused by this
and the dampness Of the room together; out
as there was hole through the partition into
an adjoining room, in which there is plenty of
air,and il appearing that the parties had slept
in the room for the past two years, without
any damage to either of them. there must OF
course be some other cause assigned for these
deaths. There was nothing whatever found IN
the room which would lead to the belief that
their decease was the result OF their own
hands, and, indeed, from the characters given
them by the other employees a. the house, and
many of their friends, such a thought would
be the last TO be entertained. 1t was after nine
o'clock when the discovery of their death was
mace by forcing the door ard shaking them,
several attempts having been previously made
10 awaken them by rapping al the door, which
was locked, and by forcing open small win
dow looking into the yard, and throwing clods
of dirt at them. As soon as 1t was found that
they were dead, information was sent to head.
quarters Immediately.
The fact soon became known outside and
large numbers OF persons gathered about the
house, but few gained admIttanc;, other than
the relatives and Immediate friends of the de.
ceased men, among whom was the father OF
Taylor. who resides near the Church of the
Epiphany, on q street, and the mother and
sisters Of Diggs, who reside on 18th street,
above N. Both parties appeared to be in their
usual good health yesterday, excepting slight
colds. Diggs eat his supper as usual last
evening, and remained up until near twelve
O'Clock, when Taylor, having attended a
meeting at Asbury Church, on the corner
both retired together. The theory among many
of the colored people, is that when Taylor was
out some one gave him some edible or confec-
ton with poison in ii. which he on arriving at
the house he sharedwith Dgges, but the appear
ance of the body Of Taylor, at least does not
support this theory, and lis likeythat the cause
of death will be only known after a very
thorough post mortem examination is had
The coroner, DR.. w. W. Potter was informed
ofthe affair, and is this afternoon holding an
inquest.
The following jury was sworn John P.
Hilton, j. 7. Lehman, A. g. Plant, VIM. Mick
cal, s. T. Tune, VIM. Loring, John Myers, A.
Al. Brook, Patrick O'Hare, Chas. Birch, A. A.
Fowler and Peter d. Welcker: the frst-named
as foreman.
In order to give an opportunity to the physi.
clans to make a thorough post mortem exami-
nation the Jury was adjourned until to- morrow,
when the evidence will be taken. 1t is under.
stood that the post mortem examination will
be made this afternoon by Drs. Bentley and
Verdi.
MEETING OF THE FIRE COMMISSIONERS
The Board of Commissioners OF the Fire De-
Partment held their regular monthly meeting AZ
their room, at the City Hall. last evening
Mayor Bowen presiding, and all the members
present; also, the chief engineer Of the depart
ment.
Mr.. johnson offered a resolution requesting
the Councils TO pass an act requiring the Sec
rotary of the board to give bonds in the sum of
$1,000, to be approved by the Mayor, for the
faithful performance of his duty. Adopted.
Mr.. Gorbutt offered the following and after
debate, In which the chief ems iaeer participated
denying the charges of intexication on the part
OF members Of the department, il was adopted,
and ordered TO be posted in each engine house
ResolUed, That hereafter if any member of the
department be found intoxicated, or shall be
babitually addicted to the use of intoxicating
liquors as a beverage either on or off duty, he
shall be promptly suspended, and such sus-
pension snail be reported to the board at its
next meeting.
MIR. Thompson offered a resolution which
nieer
shall witness any violation OF lies and regu.
lations OF the department., he shall have the
power to suspend, whether IN his district or
not and 1t shall be the duty of the Chief Engi-
Deer TO report such suspension TO the COM
missioner Of the district Of which said person
or persons may be members. for his approval
Chief Engineer Elwood nominated for ap.
pointment by the board Thomas Sorrell as
hosiler Of the Hook and Ladder Company
Mr. Thompson nominated Thomas Frazier.
The vote stood-SOrrell, 3; Frazier, 2.
The Chief Engineer nominated John Brent
as fireman OF No. I. Engine Mr.. Gorbutt nomi-
mated James Edmonson. A vote was taken,
and MT. Brent received votes: Edmonson, I:
Mr.. Thompson declining to vote.
The resignation of John +. Bailey, extraman
No. engine, was received, and being consId-
cred disrespectful in its language, il was laid
on the table, and, on motion Of MIR. Gorbutt,
Bailey was dismissed from the department
In reply to question by Mr.. Thompson, the
chief engineer stated that his brother Thomas
Elwood bad by his appointment acted as FORE
man Of No engine since the death OF Mr..
Tremb,e, and asked that the board take action
in the matter. The subject was laid over until
the next meeting
After the transaction of some other unim.
portant business, the board adjourned.
~
THE NATIONAL SUFFRAGE CONVENTION OF
CoLoRKD MKN.-The colored men of the Sec.
Ond Ward last evening held q meeting in
Brooks church, on Vermont avenue, between
Z and r streets, Joseph Brooks presiding and
John III. Brown secretary. The Chair stated
that the object Of the meeting was to choose two
delegates to represent this ward in the
national con ventIon to be held in this city on
the 18th instant, for the purpose of taking
measures to petition Congress for the privilege
of the ballot for colored men throughout the
United States Sidney Mcfarland, John
Curry, Charles Jones, Frank Fitzhugh, and
Henry Beverly were appointed a committee to
select two names for nomination. They subse-
quently reported the names of Charles Peters
and Henry Piper. The report was received,
and Peters elected; Piper was rejected. Jo-
seph Brooks, Edward Ambush, Frank Posey,
John II. Brooks, Prof. George ID. Fashon and
DIR. Angus were then nominated from the
floor. The vote was taken on the name of
Joseph Brooks, and there being decided ma
lOrity in the Affirmative, he was declared elect
ed. Professor Vashon addressed the meeting
al some length, and ii then adjourned for the
purpose of organizing a Secondhand work.
ingmen's association. Joseph Brooks was
chosen temporary chairman, and John M
Brown, secretary pro tenn and steps taken to
effect a pprmanpnt organization. After which no