Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-01-26
Beaten to Death by q Tramp.

THE MURDER OF NIX. FENNER
TIE STAR has heretofore mentioned the
tragic death OF Benjamin Fenner, a citizen
of Prince George county. Nd, who was wa y
laid near Hyattsville on the night of JanI,-
airy 10, and SO badly beaten over the head
with stone as to cause his death on the 18th
instant. A Hyattsville correspondent of the
Baltimore Sun furnishes the following par
ticulars: Mr.. Fenner returned to Hyattsville
from q visit to friends in New York anj
New Jersey on Monday evening, the 10th In
slant, about six CLOCK, and employed a
strange negro man, who had been sitting
about the station that day, to assist him in
carrying several bundles which composed q
portion of his baggage to his house, which is
about four hundred yards from the station
In the direction of Baltimore. When Mr..
Fenner rerched his house the negro, and a
colored man named Albert Brashears, re-
turned to the station for some trunks, Mr..
Fenner giving the checks for the baggage to
for some time previous to his visit to the
north, and whom Mr.. Fenner had left i'm
charge OF his premises in his absence. Ar
irving at the depot the tramp professed to
be uneasy a bout pay for his services, and told
Brashears he wanted it in time to pay his
way to Washington on the 7:30 train, then
nearly due, and returned to Fenner's house,
telling Mr.. Fenner they could not get the
trunks without bis presence, and induced
him to start for the station. Mr.. Fenner
thought strangely OF not being able to get
bis trunks after sending the checks, but con-
cluded to 60 back with the tramp, who fol-
lowed behind. When partly on the way Mr..
Fenner was struck from behind with Stone
which the tramp held in his hand, and was
Knocked down, and though severely stunned,
struggled with his assailant and loudly cried
for help. He received several more blows
from the negro, and would doubtless have
been killed on the spot but for the appear
aid. The negro hearing the approach of per-
sons fled and has not been seen since. Mr..
Fenner dragged himself to the fiagman's
house at the Bladensburg crossing, where he
was found by Brashears, bloody and bruised,
but apparently not suffering much. Mr.. Fem
ner was able to describe the terrible encoun-
robbery, as he (Fennerl exhibited :. H., OF
bills Wien he paid the negro for carving
MS bundles for him. The negro however
tailed to secure any of Mr.. Fenners money.
time as serious. and did not send for a
Physician TO dress his wounds. DR..
Hail. q clerk in Washington, being near
by, called to see him the next day, and
dressed his head and told him he thought
he would be all right in few days. On
Wednesday, however, some friends from
washington called to see him, and believing
0. Lewis, of Biadensburg, who, upon exam
lining his wounds, decided that his injuries
We're such as required skillful treatment
and advised that he be sent TO hospital. He
a. washington city. where 1t was discover. /
that his skull was broken. Mr.. Fepner dIeI
on Sunday, the 10th instant, but his deaf 4
evening. Mr.. Fenner was from Orange, New
Jersey, and had lived near Hyattsville since
1862, at times, however, remaining absent
Tor months. He was about 80 or GO years of
age, and bachelor. He kept bachelors hail
upon small farm purchased by him Of Mr..
Johns, and was engaged in fancy chicken
raising. He proposed going into the dairy
business, and had made some preparations
for doing SO. He has friends in washington
one OF whom, nephew, has taken clArge OF
his affairs.
"A MANS SKULL FRACTURED BY A
BRICK. Yesterday afternoon about five
O'CLOCK Robert jordan, q colored laborer EN- .
ployed on the st. Cloud Hotel building, cor
ner OF 9th and + streets, was walking on the
+ street side OF the house, when q brick fell
from the roof, I'VE stories above him, and
struck him on the head, knock king him sense
less TO the ground. He was carriei to the
9th precinct station, and Surgeon General
barnes, who saw the accident, decided mai
the skull was fractured. Jordan was re-
moved TO his house on Cedar street, near
l3th. Shortly before the accident Iady Who
was passing with an infant In her arms
Dtre'y escaped q falling brick. Sereaant
Fa1nter took immediate stems tn have ~ a
dangerous place barricaded.
Book SALE.-The sale OF books which bs.
gins Tuessay evening, February i,t, a. the
rooms OF Thomas bowling, are Arranged f,r
ex animation and catalogues re0 fy for dis
trloutioD. This IL one Of the an a 2 ,liec-
tons that have been On the shelvo, In a loSe