National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-10-10
SELFMURDER
A FUGITIVE FROM JUSTICE DROwNsl
HIMSELF

a EOd4IlNE thOA JUSTICE DhOW MI
HIMSELF.
Yesterday the case OF Albert Matthews on the
charge of committing an assault and battery en-
John LSVi on Wednesday last, was called in the
Police Court, when Offieer Hamilton testified to
the assault, and Judge Smell fined him twenty
,dollars. He was placed in the cell at the Police
Court to await with other prisoners TO the
jail The marshal Of the court, having occasion
60 90 down to the cells, Matthews informed him
that he was ready TO pay his hne. The marshal
then asked him his name, when he stated 1t was
John Young. In the cell az the same time there
lined for some petty offence, and the marshal then
took Matthews up to the court, where he paid his
f1ne and was released. On cleaning out Of the
cells Yong was found, and soon it was discovered
that trick had been played, and Marshal Eek
loH ordered Frederick Y. ReVels to take the com
mitment and arrest Matthews. Dir. ReYells,
knowing the place where Matthews would pro-
coed to, directed his movements to Uniontown.
,roII os ~, ~ b ana made
known to the officer on the beat his business, and
the officer promised to arrest him on sight. Mar
shall Revels then started over the AnaeOstia
bridge, when he met Matthews on the other side
OF the draw of the bridge. He approached Mat
thews and sked his name, when in response
Matthews said his name was John Young. Mar
shall Reyels then said, "NOur name is not John
Young, but Albert Matthews" The marshal
then produced the commitment and arrested
Matthews. The prisoner said he would die before
he would 90 with him. The marshal then pro-
ceeded TO place his nippers upon the prisoner,
WHEN ne WOTkeu away lEOll nlL1 anu ran twenty
yards before being Overtaken. The marshal on
Overtaking him tried to clineh with him, but fell
with his prisoner. Matthews worked himself IN
der the rail and over the side OF the bridge, when
the marshal, finding that he was lOOsng his hold,
cried for help. No assistance being furnished he
made another effort to hold his prisoner, but
Matthews seeing that the marshal was deter
mined, made desperate struggle, and putting
both hands against the bridge forced himself over
into the water. The marshal, seeing the condi-
tiOn of Matthews, again called for help, and
Messrs Quinn and Miller soon responded in q
boat, but too late, Matthews having sunk.
Mr.. Revels informed the police, who made a
search and the body was recovered about o'clock.
The coroner was notified and held an inquest,
and the following jury was summoned: George
Brown. F. J. Ofutt, John Eiseman, Henry Bot
ter, G Windus, Lewis d. Place, Chas. E. Joyce,
James DAILY, George Maddox, Jas. W. NJ. Sep
hus, John W. Meads, J. Peck. Marshal Revels,
Alexander Stuart, and Charles MOultOn were
examined, who testified as above stated. The
case was then given to the Jury, who rendered
the following verdict: "rnat Albert Matthews
came to his death about o'clock p. m, the 9Th
day of October, 1874, by jumping into the river
from the Navy Yard bridge, to escape from
United States Deputy Marshal Frederick Reyels,
who was trying to arrest him; and we further
find that the said United States Deputy Marshal
was acting in the line of his duty and in no man.
ner to blame for the death Of the said
Matt