National Republican., 1877-03-08
KILLED IN THE CAPITOL GROUNDS.

Tho Result of an Array Between Two white
Men and -Four Unknown Negroes-A White
Mans Neck Broken and His skull Frac-
tured.
A MIN named Wash. McGraw WAS killed in
the Capitol grounds, by one Of party Of negroes,
last evening, under circumstances which make
his death appear to have been the result OF q
most brutal attack. SO far, little is known Of
tho affair McGraw and william Mahonsy, two
young white men, OF South Washington, both
about twenty years Of age, were together in the
Capitol grounds, and under the influence Of
liquor. party Of colored men, numbering
three or fsur, met them In the vicinity OF the
hsh-pond, at the west 'front.' Of the Capitol, about
1o'clock, or twilight.
The whites and blacks became engaged in q
fight. ncGraw and Mahoney were both knocked
down, and the negroes ran away. Tue men
made little noise in
THE sourYLE.
The grounds were nearly deserted. gentle
man who was not far away states that he saw
through the dark at least six persons engaged in
q rough fight, and one Of their number ran apart
from the rest and appeared to be picking up
stones or some other missiles -Four Of the men
were negroes. He LEFT to get out of the way Of
danger. The ofacers stationed in the Capitol
heard no d Q urbancs.
Amer the negroes had escaped, officers OF the
Capitol police force discovered the two white
men lying on the terrace above the fish pond, in
'front.' Of the entrance to tho Capitol and near the
fight OF steps at the left in approaching the
Capitol. The men were carried into the Capitol
building. McGraw was dead, or died very soon.
Mahoney was bruised, as If by fist blows, about
the lips, nose and the side Of the face. He was
stupehsd with liquor and unable to give any &C.
count Of the ARRAY, and did not seem to recolect
any Of the circumstances. Dr. Ford was sum.
moned to the CAPITOL and after brief eramina.
tion of McGraw's body decided that his skull wai
fractured.
MS NECK had BKEs BRoKIS
by the force Of the fall. Mahoney's only injurIe.
appeared to be the bruises about his head. ON
Ger Smith, Of tho Capitol police force, reported
the circumstances at police headquarters, and
Detectives Coomes and yoss proceeded to the
Capitol took possession Of the effects Of the de
ceased and began an investigation for the pur
pose OF discovering who the assailants wero
Lieutenant Austin and Oficer John Luskey hac
McGraw's body removed to the Eighth precinct
station, where an inquest will be held this morn
ing. Mahoney was accommodated with quarteri
In the Capitol
Prom all the circumstances known OF McGraw'i
death, It appears to have been the result of q
most brutal and cowardly attack by four negroes
upon the men, who were too much undor the in
huencs Of liquor to offer a very vigorous resist
ancc.
The detectives are making strenuous efforts tS
trace tho murderors. II seems that the light be
gan about the FISH pond, and that It worked 1t.
way up the steps, or that the two white men
TRIED TO ESCAPE
by the way ofthe steps, at the top OF which they
were found lying.
A remarkable circumstance OF the killing was
that 1t occurred in such public place, through
which there are generally many persons passing
at that hour in tho evening, and yet there were
so far as is known, no actual witnesses to tho act
that caused death except the participants in the
airray themselves. Three tramps were found Ia
the grounds after the killing, and as they were
supposed to have seen the ailray, were arrested
as witnesses by order of tho detectives, and
locked up In tho Eighth precinct station. 1t /,
said Of fMcGraw, who was killed, that he I, Of ar
excellent family.