Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1872-08-27
THE KNIFE.
STILL ANOTHER MURDER,
Peter Bennett Killed by Fred De
Kraft.
A JACKSON ALLEY TRAGEDY.
Scenes and Incidents OF the Terrible
Array.

Last nlNht bllll hnOthor was nduoo 10 the long
Hat Of capital crimes which have recently 50 die.
grsosd this city, and which, II continued In their
terribly quick recurrence, will certainly stamp
this community as one Of the worst 10 tho ooun.
try. Week amer week We have been called upon
to chronicle murders, each more Wauton, brutal
and unoalled Tor than It's predecessor, until last
nlghtthe climax was reached by tho foul murder
the particulars Of which are given below.
THE BPoT
Al which tho affair occurred was At tho corner Of
Delaware avenue and First street east, cen.
trail point 10 the locality best known to the
readers Of the kEPUnuCAF as "SWampooIlo,
this tragedy In real life have resided for some
time As Is usual In such cases, II 10 rather hard
to arrive at facts, both parties having their
friends and adhoronts and each making the best
possible showing for their principals.
THE FIRST sTATENKNT.
Tho irst which was known In the centre OF
tho city OF the sad affair was dispatch received
at psiic, headquarters IRON the seventh police
station announcing that man by the name Of
Bennett had been killed by another named
Padgett Where, how or whom was not stated.
up his mind that the best way 10 get at the facts
was to visit the scene, and Accordingly started
out Of the ONCE, Intending 70 visit the station
and then tho spot where the party occurred
Hardly hal he crossed tho threshold, however,
before he was met BY q medium sized man, 10
his shirt sleeves, almost breathless, his gar.
NnNuN7 NNNNANA WIN bAN'AN "hN ihNAVANNoA ~ w
"aY hRorHER WAS MuRDHEEp,"
AMER he had got calm he stated TO the chief
what he afterwards repeated to tho reporter.
that himself, his brother Peter (the murdered
bowl and q younger brother were standing at
the corner OF Delaware avenue aud Jackson
alley about nine oGiccE Laughing , and talking
Dekra I atlas gritiu, VIM. Padgett and John
Miles tho trio evidently much excited aad talk.
ing loudly. When the parties were opposite
each other, Padgett stopped and without word
struck Peter, who attempted TO strike back,
when DeKrRit drew knife and stabbed him In
the heart, then turning TO his compAniOns he
said, I've killed tho son.Oi'a.b bitch, lets 60"
and of they started on run. In tho meantlEie
THE WOUNDED nov
had fallen to tue ground without uttsring .
word; and when bis two brothers, after mo-
Inentiry purrult, returned 10 look aflsr hun, he
was dead. The news spread like Wildhro
through the nelghborhood, where tho deceased
was we'll liked, and soon large crowd had con:
gregatcd, among them Ofncers Reardon and
Taylor, who were on duty. They gave hurried
directions for the removal Of the corpse TO the
home Of Mrs, bennett, his mother and started
In pr-suit " the murderors, but without sue.
cess. They, however, came across James II.
padgett, u brother OF one Of the parties, and he
was taken TO the station. house and locked up.
lie states that he knew nothing Of the affair.
hut that he thinks II grew out OF some trouble
between bis brother William and one Of the
neighbors about his (WiIliAm's) wife, they being
greatly opposed to the marriage because the
N0A'ANhJ WV NV NAV fhaNN ~ WV SesaNhN
church.
TAX DouY,
as stat ] above, was removed 10 the residence Of
his parents, In Jackson alley, near North Oapk
tol street, where II was laid on the floor. About
II o'clock the coroner arrived, aud AFTER viewing
the remains concluded TO hold an inquest this
MOI ling at 10 O'Clock. Tho eNamlr nOn devel.
opsd tho fact that, rs stat above, there was
hut one blow struck-that directly In the heart.
The coroner gave permit To have the TemAlns
placed In icr, which was soon done.
: a ha HFa WgH he ma
Lieutenant John Kelley, In charge Of the Sew.
enth precinct, and he at once took all possible
preeAuuOn to apprehond the villain. AlItho re
serves 10 bis oWl precinct were started out on a
scout, and all the other precincts PROMPTLY mott,
ned OF the occurrence, Lieutenant johnson bo.
Ing requested (by Chlef ClArvoe) TO start tho
entire mount | force out at once with instTuc.
tons to soSur tho county. TelegrAphs were
also sent to Baltimore, AnplPOlls, Frederick
and intermediate points desiring that q strict
lookout should DO kept, as Il was supposed he
0 would leave tho city.
THErARTIHs.
Peter Bennett, the victim, Is young ma n,
about Is years Of age, about ieet Q
inches high, fair complexion, blue eyes, and,
dead, certainly showed Olainor the appearance
Oi u gentleman than either OF the others by
whom he was sUrTOundC 4. He was q trim mer
by trade moral and regular In I g life, and was
looked upon by those who knew him as one Of
the best young mon Of the town.
DE KTatt isR pretty rough character, who for
istsncS by doing odd Jobs about he depot. lie lie
Is married, aud resides on First street east. He
has been under arrest several times, and has
serve 4 one term 10 lall.
SURRENDER OFPAD0ErT.
VIM. Padgett seems 10 DO about Is years Of
age, and Is not the most propossossing Of our
young blOOls. Ho 10 4 painter by trade, but
has not been working for some time. About u
o'clock last night he entered the station. house,
as uncOncerned as possible, gave himself up,
and was locked up for the nighL lie appears
TO be perfectly cool, and says that Grimm did
the stabbing aitsr bsbng assaulted by younk
BonnettI that he docs not know where be went
To atter the OccurTou co.
However the oficoTs are ali on the lookout,
and no must certainly DO arrested In a short
time as every possible precautiOn has been taken
TO secure him.
Possibly some new facts may he developed TO,
day at tho inquest but the above ls q fair
resume Of what was learned after patient
search In quest Of tho truth on the subject.
tLuteF.l
About 1880 o'clock Lieut.. johnson Of the
Second police p . 5inct, tolegrAphsd 70 police
headquarters that no had arrested a man an,
swerlng the description Of De krAft. Une oil
Lieut., Kelly's men who knew him was lmme,
diatoly sent to this station, when II was Ascer.
tOinOd that he was not the party thoy were In
search or