National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1872-12-06
JUSTIFIED.
THE SHOOTING or jim BURNET.
'orOner's Inquest and verdIct-The Omcer
Exoneruted aud Discharged.


Exonerated and Discharged.
Coroner Patterson, assisted by DR.. J. French
Hartean, yesterday afternoon held an inquest,
at the First precinct station, over the body Of
James Burnet, Colored, who was killed wednes-
day afternoon by Oficer Thomas Auldridgc.
The following Jury were empanneled: Gwlnn
Harriss, Jacob Cation, Lewis Wright Francis
Golden, N. De Atley, Charles Cumberland, II. |.
RriscOe, I. IepleaN, Edward MAY, j. C. White
John Neenan, sworn, and testified that about
$3.50 O'Clock In the afternoon he heard pane Of
glass fall from the window, and afterwards heard
a policemans whistle blown, and upon examlna-
ton found Brelsford and Audridge tusslelng
with two men, and was asked TO assist the OflcCr;
BrelsfOrd attempted to arrest Jim Burnett, when
jim Fald he had no warrant for his arrest, and he
would not gO-he would die inst; George Bunet
here took part and said he could not go-he
would die first; Jim At this time struck Brelsford
on the head with bottle and with his lists;
Brelsford was clnched with George, while Aud
ridge had Jim, after which they worked into the
street, when there were Efforts made to carry
them 10 the station-honse; George broke and
run, followed by the ofilCer, shortly after fol-
lowed by Jim, who was pursued by Auldrdge.
HOnOra Neenan and Katie Neenan were sworn,
and cOrrObOrated the testimony Of John Neenan.
william MpOr, cOlOred, sworn. He was across
the street from Neenans; saw the hest part Of
the troubles he heard the shattering Of the glass,
and ran across to the store; saw the man have
Brelsford under his arm beating him, and Brels-
fOrd asked witness to help him; he attempted to
take hold Of Burnet, when he broke away and
ran up an alley, followed by BrelsiOrl, who fired
at Bnrnet and turned to come hack; the other
Otiicer was tussleing with another man, who
started TO run, followed by the Oftlcer, who also
| fired at his man; witness saw Anldrldge shoot;
TO where the shot was fred; had not the oiilcer
| 1red the shot, he would have been attacked
! again by the man.
/ the street when she met BrelsfOrl and Jim Bur
/ metz Brelsford said he must arrest Burnet, when
his brother, George, told him not 10 20 unless he
was killed; Jim then attacked Brclsford, and sal
he was not going one step; Brelsiortl asked wit
ness II she saw Maggie Foster, who had been
cursing In the shop she replied, when she came
| out Of the shop there was no disturbance; she
saw the parties In there, and asked George to
! treat her to i've cents worth OF apples; he re-
piled that he had no money; Brelsiord told Jim
| he Intended TO take him whether he had q war.
! rant or not; he had heard enough Of their ours.
| ing; witness was washing In Mr.. Neenans house
| at the time; when the party came down to the
| store Mag Foster was with them; Jim Burnet
| cut Katie NeenAn over the shoulders with COW.
hide.
Oricer W. II. Brelsfori sworn: Was patrollInp
] the heat, and had gotten to the corner Of Fight
! inR alley and y street when he heard some noise
| In Neenans store; told Mag Foster TO stop; Geo
] Burnet said there was no CurHing, and Jim spoke
up and asked who in the he'll witness was; he
sent for assistance, and the parties continued
cursinR until OftiCer Auldrdge came; witness
went into the store and put Jim under arrest, ant
told Jim he was wanted; Jim inquired e the ON
. u
/ was no necessity for one as he heard the cursing
Jim said he would not he taken with or withOu
warrant; George said don't go, jim, let him XII
| you right here; witness took hold Of Jim ant
/ tried to put nippers on him; Jim resisted and !
/ tussle began; Onicer Auldrdgc grabbed Jim ant
| witness took hold Of George, when they tusslet
| about 1--WE minutes, when George got the hatnI
away from witness and threw II on the counter
/ he then got George outside and called on Mr.
/ Neenan to assist him; George succeeded In get
! ting away pursued by witness; Jim was inside
] UuFiuU thia time nUhfuU AulUTiOUps Wttupaa fri
three shots at George, and went hack and got hi
baton and hat, when he found Auldridge hat
/ Jim up In an alley; did not see the Ofcer FIRE q
Jim; Auldridge at the time was about one var,
. ahead Of him; he assisted Auldridge to put jim
In the cart to remove him 10 the statlOn-hOuse
Jim was dead when he was put into the cart.
/ Otiicer ThOs. Auldrdge sworn, who cOrrObOratcI
the first portion OF OftiCer BTesfOuiS statement
and testified, when he went into the alley HI
asked jim II he would surrender, when he re
piled "No,- and raised his hand TO strike. Wit
ness then pulled out his pistol and fired and shO
jim. During the fraCas In the store jim beat wit
ness WIN a bottle ana his fist inside the store.
Lieut. GessfOrd sworn. Information was sen
to the station that there was trouble on street
sent Auidridge down; the boy who brought tn
message returned a short time afterwards, ant
said the OificeS were getting badly beaten; h
then sent Sergeant Ashton to the scene; the mex
he heani Of the affair was seeing the dead body.
Or. McWilliams, sworn; Made the post m0rfrn
examination; the hail struck on the right side
almost parallel with the right nipple, cutting tn
aOTta and yena Cava; broke the right rib an
passed through the lungs and behind the hear
and lodged In the aorta and vcna caya.
Or. J. p. HartiRan examined the wound an
found the ball between the eighth and ninth rth
lie suhstantated the testimony Of DR.. McWll
ams.
The case was then given to the Jury, VIII
shortly after returned the following verdict:
The said James Burnett came to his death OF
the 9Th day Of December, isT2, In Fighting alley
by reason Of q pistOl-shOt wound Of the chest
wOundlng the anrta and vena cata, fred In tn