Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-07-16

of O'Brfen rs to the Cause OF the
neutrality-suspicious. at the Core.
ner's lnqUest-O'Brien Committed
TO Jail.
At about eleven O'Clock last night terrible
tragedy, resulting in the death Of Samuel G..
Cunningham, residing on 9Th street., between
High and Frederick streets, Georgetown, took
place az Green Springs, on the line Of the canal
about one mile west OF Georgetown. A number
of the members of the Georgetown Schuetzen,
together with members of the Schuetzen of this
city, held a festival at this park yesterday af-
ternoCn and evening, during which shooting fol.
prizes took place. Some zoo persons were
present and everything passed off pleasantly
At ten O'Clock most of the members of the
Schuetzen had departed for their homes. From
he different statements of those who were pres
ent after that hour. it appears that police
Cfhcer Charles II. O'Brien, OF the third pre-
cinct, who was on duty at the park, be-
came involved in quarrel with Samuel
G. Cunningham and his wife, Al about half past
10 O'Clock, which ended IL the fatal shooting Of
Cunningham by OBrien. II does not appear that
excess although II is that after o Brien's
alteration with CunntE CHAM he drank heavily.
THE ACCUSED NAN.
O'Brien ia native of Georgetown, and is but
twenty six years OF age. He served in company
{, EusSe!lis inst Maryland cavalry. (uuion, y
during the way; was captured N the enga re-
-ment 81 Deep Bottom. o. he James river, An
gust Il, lSci, and sutferei sight months impris
onmert in AnGersOnviGe prison. He has been
been on the police force Of the third precinct az
private for about four wears past, and has al
ways borne good reputation, although OF
somewhat hasty temper. he hiss been on duty
most of the time in the county as a mounted
pauolman. and has always rendered satisfactory
service. About year and n half since he mar
ried Miss Wood, daughter of Jackson Wood,
laborer, residing on Ridge road. by whom lie has
living. pivht
months old. He is one of large family Of
brothers and sisters, all Of whom are respect
able people. One of his sisters keeps a private
school near the corner of Hish and West streets,
Georgetown. In personal appearance O'Brien
is rather prepossessing. He has none of the char
acteristics Of the rough, but, on the contrary,
modest demeanor. He seems much cast down
by the unfortunate occurrence of last night, and
says he prefers not to talk much until he can
he sent for early this morning.
THE VICTIM.
Cunningham was about twenty-nine years OF
p!oyed as a laborer at Sherman's coal wharf,
and had the reputation of being quiet, indus
trious man. His brother William is at present
on the police force of the third precinct. He
LETT wife and two children-one boy of six
seven and the other girl about eight years Of
age He had also mother and several brothers
and sisters.
O'BRIEN's STATEMENT OF THE AFFAIR.
The reporter of The STAR cOnversed with
e'Brien at the third precinct police station this
morning. He said he went on duty at about
noon yesterday at Green Springs, and during
the afternoon met Cunningham frequently and
conversed pleasantly with him, as they had
known each other from bOyhood, and had Always
been on the best of terms. He (O'Brien) had
recently been irving to get employment for
Cunningham, and had finally succeeded in get
ting the promise of q watchman's place for him
on the High street reservoir. He told Cunning
and subsequently, at about half-past 10 in the
evening, referred to the subject in the presence
Of Mrs. Cunningham, at the same time rem Ark
ton Of giving offence: Now, Mrs. Cunning
ham, as have got your husband position, you
must be good to 'the appointing power" Mrs.
G. took offence at this remark, and replied: 8. Ii
know that your wife is q bigger We than i
am" Cunningham also became indignant
at the remark, and said: eyes; Joe
proper iiberties with your wife more than
once, at my house, before she married you"
The above language conveys the idea OF what
cunningham said, but is not literal, as the
words he actually made use Of are unfit for pub
licatiOn.l O'Brientays that directly after Cum
ningham made this assertion he felt called upon
to protect his wife's honor. and knocked Cum
by. then came up, took his badge and baton from
him, and ordered him to go into a house in the
park kept by Joseph Ehrmantrout. After that
he says he remembers nothing until he was
seIzed by Captain Harry VOlkman, q member OF
the police force Of the third precinct, who said:
q" My God, Charlie, what are YOU doing !" upon
which which he replied, 81 ~ am defending my
dim remembrance Of being brought to
the station by Lieut.. Essex and Officer VOlx-
man, but in regard to the shooting lie has no
offensive by his remark to Mrs. Cunningham;
that she was always q free talking woman; and
that he had frequently joked with her before
without any show of resentment on her part. He
hat NIT 10 inn fnf cha
made against her, he is not sorry for what has
occurred, and If such Is his fate Will 60 to the
scaffold with firm tread, since he believes i,
the duty of every husband 10 protect his wite's
honor; but if his wife really deceived him he is
indeed sorry, and should il tIanspire that Gun
niDgham's assertion was true. he would not, OF
however, believe his wife the woman repre-
sented by Cunningham, ard win not until the
facts charged are proved true.
on the body Of Cunningham was held in the pa
viliOn at Green Springs, at II O'Clock to-day,
by Coroner ID. G. Patterson and his deputy,
DR.. j. +. Hartigan. The jurors were Robert
Geissel, VIM Mankin, Thomas Porter, Conrad
WOLF, A. j. Clements, Thomas Flnney, John
A. Waters, John w. Potter, and VIM. Tracey.
The first witness sworn was DIR. Kieinschmidt,
OF Georgetown, who testified that he was called
TO see Cunningham at quarter past II O'Clock
last night, and found hin in dying condition;
he died at half-past o'clock; witness had NO
death: had since examined the wound, and
fornd ii necessarily fatal.
II. c. VollrtGn, OF the third police precinct
sworn.-AbOut IL O'Clock last night saw O'Brien
cone TO the pavilion, and soon after that heard
the report Of q pistol; rushed 10 the place anc
seized O'Brien, throwing up his arm; cav pis-
to! in his hand; did not witness the firing.
LieH.. John T. Esser, commanding the police
force OF that precinct, testihcd that soon after
eleven lie went on Ehrmantrauts porch; soon
after Cunningham called him and told him that
Officer O'Brien had insulted his iC.'sl wife: left
the porch and went to C'Brien ana asked him
what heiIaesnt by such conduct; he (O'B.) said
he had insulted 10 one; he then walked with
witness towards the bar ana OH the way they
met Cunningham; O'Brien said TO him: ''i1 you
say insulted your wife You are LIAR" dOn'I
remember Cunninghaus reply; O'Brien then
said: cunningham, L can prove that your wife
Is Vs., witness told o'Brien he must not
use such language; Cunningham replied 70
" Is, III my wife Is We, yours is ave,
Also, at this O'Brien seized Cunningham; al
tie same time witness had hold OF O'Brien: the
latter strEck Cunningham, witness then took
O'BIiens badge and baton and told him to 90
to the house, as his (O'B.'s) wife was waiting
Tor him; saw nothing more of OBrien until
about fifteen minutes after, when the shooting
occurred; subsequently took O'Brien to the
statiOn-house.
Ckristian Beck testified that be was in the bar
room last night, when he heard q row outside:
went out and saw Lieutenan Essex taking the