Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-01-24

ored woman, named Mary Harris, ct house on
Virginia avenue, two doors east OF Sd street.
She used an ordinary shoemaker's knife as a
weapon with which his heart was pierced, and
death resulted Immediately. Officers Smoot
and Collins we're apprized Of the occurrence
and on going to the house found that DIR. Poul-
ton had been summoned. The deceased was
lying dead upon the floor. The officers took the
upon her person, and when asked how it came
there assumed an air Of indifference, aud said
:" did not kill him." Coroner Potter was no.
tiled last night Of the occurrence. From the
statements made last evening it was clear that
the woman had dealt the fatal blow, but there
was come discrepancy between the statements
Of the witnesses as to what took place pre-.
viously.
The deceased was about thirty years Of age,
Of dull brown complexion, with scanty mustache,
and chin whiskers. He had been married for
several years, and his wife has for some time
resided in Clark's alley, on G street. between
Third and Four-and-a-half streets, where he
has also spent the greater portion Of his time,
except when in the company of his mistress,
Heimer's brick-yard. His reputation was that
of a very quiet and orderly man, criminal only
in his attachment for Mary Harris, and the con-
sequent neglect of his lawful wife. 1t is stated
that he had been living with Mary for nearly
two years on terms of the closest intimacy, and
that until last night she was unaware of the fact
that he was married and the father of a family.
tie came here from Virginia about the begin
ming of the war, and had a wife and child living
Eere, the child being about twelve years old.
| Mary Harris is about twenty-nine years of age,
ana has been living for the past seven years in
near Virginia avenue. She is very dark i'm color
has rough looking features, and high cheek
bones. and has the appearance Of a dangerous
woman. She gave logged and contradictory
answers as to the manner in which blood came
to be on her person, volunteering the statement
however, that she became smearcd with blood
in raising the shirt Of the murdered man to dis
| WOun6
nesses. named John Queen, Philip Graham, and
Eliza Bird, assert that they were eye-witnesses
OF the deed, and that she was the perpetratOr Of
the murder. Mrs. Westerfeld, who has en-
ployeC her for the last seven years as a general
h0useservant, asserts that up to the time of the
dreadful occurrence she has always been re-
and has given satisfaction to the family in the
capacity in which she has been employed, and
enjoyed tie confidence of the entire household.
When confined in her cell she became more COM
muIicatiye, and asserted that the murdered
man had killed himself. Latterly, however
she declined to answer any interrogatories, and
became stolid in her demeanOr.
THE SCENE or THE MrRDER.
The room in which the murder was committed
is In frame building, and is about ten or twelve
feet square. 1t contains bed, bureau, and a
burning this morning. Immediately after the
fact Of the murder became known large crowd
gathered around the building, and remained in
front OF it during the night and morning.
THE WEAPON AND THE WOUND.
The Knife with which the fatal wound was in
hicted was taken to the station, and is an ordi-
nary shoemaker's knife, with a blade about five
inches long, and 1t Is ground down to a point.
The wound n the breast of the deceased (who
was laid on the bed after the homicide) is a very
small one, not over half an inch wide. 1t just
below the left nipple, and the blade Of the knife
Is supposed, from the man having died imn1e-
dlately, to have taken downward course and
entered the heart.
Officers SmoOt and Parlin were on the ground
few minutes after the event occurred, and
farlln found the Knife sticking in the wound and
drew. it out. DIR. W. E. Poult0n was called upon
died. The knife was FOUND by him lying on the
pillow, and showed marks OF blood about two
inches from the point.
THE INQUEST.
Officer Skinner was in charge of the premises
TINS morning, the keys of which he kept, and
inc door was not opened until the arrival of DR.
w. W. Potter: the Coroner, who, with Drs. S. j.
Todd and y. f. Hartigan, arrived at 1OS a. M,
and proceeded to hold post norton examina-
ton. 1t was found that the vest, outer shirt.
ard under shirt Of deceased had been pierced
with the knife. After removing the clothing
and opening the chest of deceased, it was found
the Knife had penetrated through the body and
neutricle, from which large Quantities of blood
instant death.
The examination revealed the further fact
that all parts of the body were in a perfectly
healthy state. At the conclusion of the post
mortem examination jury was empanneled by
the Coroner, as follows VIM. p. Hicks, Terrence
McCafiery, Thomas j. Finlay, James Williams,
VIM. A. Barneclo, DR.. James Record j. H.
Clark, L. ID. Nolan, Thomas Mackey James
Frazier, i. T. Kane, Thomas McCaffery-with
Dr. James Record as foreman.
After the jury had been sworn, the Coroner
stated that, the place being uncomfortable, he
would take the evidence at the station house.
The remains were then turned over TO the
friends of the deceased, and the coroner. iury-
men, and witnesses repaired to the first precinct
station to hear the evidence.
UNIVERSAL FRANCHISE ASSOCIATIONS
Lirely Discussion If all Sorts Of Topfes-The
meeting OF this Association on Saturday evening
last was very slinlly attended, Mrs. Josephine
Grlhng presiding. Mrs Rachel Moore Town
send, the Quakeress, was the first speaker. and
confined her remarks to the propriety of in due
ing the large number of colored people now in
S S Dlstflet 70 emigrate to Southern or Western
states. she thought II they remained here vice
ano crime would increase, and her plan was for
congress 10 appropriate public lands for their
1eneht. Mrs Grifing thought the ballot in the
nahds OF women would accomplish all that as
desired. Till that was obtained it was useless
10 appeal to christian community for assist
anee, and Congress was so busy that they could
women vote and then Senators and Members
would feel their importance. Mr.. William u.
Wilson defended the colored people of the
District from the aspersions of Mrs Tou>nsend
citing as proof that during the past four weeks
there rad been deposited BY the colored people
WIN Inc Freedmen's Saving and Trust Com
eoe stth VI SIc1,UD, anu he thought that the
coicred people, If they had fair chance would
become useful members OF society. Mr.. c. W,
Needham thought that this talk was foreign 20
inc suffrage question. Mrs. Dundmore then ad-
voc woman suffrage on the ground that a
SISTER accompanying the brother, or a mother
the SON 10 the ballot box would keep him from
whiskey shops and from the influence of pOliti-
cal WIre-workers. A general debate here en-
sued between Prof. Wilcox, Mr.. Wilson, Mrs.
Townsend, AMI John O'DonO van the latter get
ting indignant at not being allowed the tioor
and threatening to withdraw his support from
the movement, 10 which the Chair renIied that
t,hey were sorry he was dissatisfied. but She be-
Hevet TIE cause and the Association wouId snr-
vive IT. Adjourned. ''
BURGLARY AND RECOVERY OF THE Goons
On the morning of the 2Oth instant the Residence
Oh Mrs Mary L. Smith, No. (old) Az street
was entered by a thief who succeeded in col,
leenng and carrying of silver ware and other
articles valued at about 800. The case
was reported at police headquarters and
detective McDevitt, with his usual energy
SCI about working up the case" and so
iar succeeded in it as to this morn
~ recover the stolen articles, which had
Deeh placed In box and stored on Twelfth
strset, and Mrs. Smith, on being Summoned To
fonce Headquarters to-day was very agreeabiv
surprised to find that all the articles had haa1y
recovered. From information Mr.. McDeyitt
has received he is quite sure that in a feuy d.
he will have the burglar. "~'s
D
SERIOUS AND PROBABLY FATAL Acc,npxr
On Saturday evening, as Mr.. George McIei,an
engineer at the Congregational Globe 0ffice ~n s,
the of sending 4 Ia