Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-12-08
HOMICIDE IN A BAR ROOM.
d" Lie CANT Shot Dead In q Quarrel
About a GiSar-JOhn Leamy. q 50.
loon Keeper, Fires the Fatal Shot.

"Liie" CANT Shot Dead In q Quarrel
About a Gigar-JOhn Leamy. = 10.
loon Keeper, Fires the Fatal shot.
Yesterday afternoon, about four O'Clock, a
eoIored man named Elijah Cant was shot and
instantly killed by John Leamy, in the bar-room
OF the latter, on Samson street, between r and
q and 14th and 18th streets. IL appears that
Lsamy keeps a drinking place frequented BY
white and cOlored people, and yesterday, while
behind his bar, Cant carae in and asked for
cigar. Leamy handed IL 10 him. and Cant, il is
alleged, lighted il and refused To pay for it, A
quarrel ensued and a scuffie, and Cant was
finally elected from the premises, Leamy, IL is
alleged, taking the precaution To lock the door
after him. Cant attempted to force the door
when lac was expostulated with by one Forces
ter. paid no attention TO him, and burst in
and then drawing a pistol. "a smith
and WessOn,l fred, and Cant fell
dead, the han apparently entering his heart
oftcer Hugs mon was early on the ground and
cent for Dr. Bushnell. Leamy quietly walked
away, saying that he would give himself up. but
cid not 90 far before a crowd of eolored men
gathered about him, and for safety he got into
wagon and was driven to the second precinct
station, where he surrendered himself.
Leamy was fOrmarly resident Of the First
Ward, having kept restaurant near the corner
Of Goth and I streets, and has heretofore borne a
fair character. Cant is well known to the police
- Lie" Cant; His family are known as very
orderly and wCll-be haved people. Ii is alleged
that he lie the man who lately shot at DIR. Sloan
thsar the scene of this homicide) without any
pFOvocatiOn.
There was considerable excitement in the
neiahbOrhOod this morning, the narrow street
being crowded with colored people. Dir. Lea
mey has occupied the house at which the homi
eide occurred about six months, having moved
there from i street, above Goth, where he resided
Ter the last six or seven years. The house where
the shooting occurred stands about midway of
the street. ON the north side, between 18th and
18th streets, and most OF the houses in the vi
entity are occupied by eolored people.
THE INQUEST.
0nso rn,l< n; n n
assisted by deputy j. +. Hartigan, arrived, anG
Lieutenant johnson summoned the following
Jnry, who were sworn and dismissed until after
III. warriek, r. s. Main, John Crown S. + Ro-
binson, Il. FitZhugh, Edward COttrell, W. G..
Hurley, George Lee, j. Rowles, John Mickum.
and VIM. Beaman.
Dr. j. L. Harugan assisted in the autopsy
which occupied about an hour and half.
AT 1870 p m. the jury reassemb.ed. The first
witness called was Thomas Foster, colored who
testified that he was standing on the opposite
side OF the street, heard scuffiing in Lcamv'S
house. came across the street, and the barkeeper
hadju put the cOlored man ont and shut the
door and locked it. The man Cant asked wit
ness II he would back him, As he was going to
zee himself righted. Witness told Cant that he
would have nothing TO do with it. Cant then
10 marked that he would see himself righted he
tried the door, and finding it fast rushed against
1t. pushing il open. and tell inside with the door
holding on 10 the knob. lie then made for the
counter, aud the barkeeper told him to 20 away
three times; did not hear what reply he made.
Ieamey then fired while standing in an inside
door; saw the fiasl and heard the report The
man CANT after he was shot went to a door
ommunicatiDg with adjoining room anil
pulled the door TO, a Ii afraid Leamey was go
ing TO shoot again, and exclaimed You have
shot me-" and fell on the floor.
roSs-examined:-When Cant made at Lea
hey he was in the attitude OF striking at him.
Cant stood few seconds before he fell; did not
Rear him make any threats, only that he was
going to see himself righted. He took of his
coat and hat before he rushed against the door,
as II he meant fight; appeared to be under the
influence OF liquor. Witness called to a woman
aeross the street that man was shot, and then
the crowd began to assemble. When deceased
asked witness TO back him, he said that Leamev
WOULD not give him cigar, and he was going to
take satisfactioB; saw no stone in his hand.
Dr. u. r. Hartgan testified that he made n
Iost morte N examination of deceased. Described
lhe wound, and said it caused death. Dr. j. H.
Bushnell eorrobOrated DIR. Hartigan's testimony.
Priscilla Wallis and Mary johnson corrobo-
rated FOSTERS testimony, as did three or four
other witnesses.
verdict was returned That Elijah Cant
came to his death from a wound produced by a
pistol bail fired from a pistol in the hands of
John Leamey, and further that the same John
Ieamy was in danger of great bodily harm at
the LANDS Of Elijah Cant when he fired the
said PISTOL. Coroner Potter thereupon issued a
commitment for Leamy fer action of the grand
jury."
While the Coroner was at the house with the
jury, an excited crowd gathered about the doors
and attempted 10 prevent witnesses from going
before the jury, and for time Lieutenant John
s'n and his officers were kept busily employed
in keeping down the turbulent spirits and pro-
tsCting the Witnessed