National Republican., 1878-07-01
rHs MARBLE SALOON noxrcIDE.
Tho Result Of the Inquoss-Funeral OF Ksp-
nal.


pei.
William Fletcher. who Is implicated In the
killing Of David Keppol, surrendered himself
to Major Morgan at Police Headquarters last
Saturday. An inquest was held Saturday after.
noon, and several witnesses Of the fatal afffay
In the Marble Saloon last Thursday evening
testified. 1t appeared from the evidence that
the fatal blow was struck by Fletcher, aud the
jury returned a verdict that Kcppel died from
injuries received by q fall from blow In.
dcted by William Fletcher, during n quarrel
between Fletcher and Jeremiah Desmond, at
the Marble Saloon.'
After the inquest Desmond was released
Tor Fletcher. Fletcher was soon afterwsrd ro-
leased on 5000 bail, Mcssrs. Birch and Web.
stcr appearing as his bondsmen.
Mr.. rLETcHERs STATEMENT.
Mr.. Fletcher, knowing nothing about the
death Of Mr.. keppel, OH Friday night went
out to his home IN Virginia about eight o'clock.
The next morning Saturday Mr.. Henry
Himber, contractor, having read an account Of
the AFFAIR In The REPUBLICAN, took his team
and drove out to Mr. Fletchers and found him
there. He told him Of the death Of Mr. Kep.
rel and both of them came directly to the city.
They proceeded to Police Headquarters.
There Mr.. Fletcher surrendered himself to
Major Morgan and remained ut his office until
subsequently admitted to bail. While at Po-
lice Headquarters stream Of friends kept
pouring into the building. assuring him Of
their belief Of his Innocence OF any intentional
wrong and protiering all the assistance they
could command. Mr.. Fletcher was very much
affected, claimed that tho deceased was q dear
friend, and he would give anything In the
world he possessed II life could be restored to
him. In conversation with n representative Of
THE REPUBLICAN ho made the following state
ment:
lie was In tho restaurant on tho night In
question, when Keppel and Desmond came In
together; both had Teen drinking He knew
the former, but not tho latter. Ho spoke to
keppel and Desmond asked him to have some
oysters. He declined, saying that he did not
want anything. Desmond insisted that he
must eat something, at the same timo using
profane language. Fletcher then said he would
take some clam cbowdor, aud they all went
and sat down at n table together. Just ast they
began to cnt, Desmond, who had been using
oatas and epitbcts, called Fletcher s. Of a
b-h. Fletcher said he did not como there to
he insultcd, aud II ho (Dcsmond) was going to
talk in that way lie would leave lie then got
up from the table and walked toward the coun-
ter, and Desmond, pulling tho cruots from the
castor, threw them at Fletcher. He threw
four bottles and one Of them struck him on
the top Of the head, making an ugly wound
and drawing the blood. All this time Fletcher
bad not seen Koppcl. His face being covered
with blood, he went to the basin to wash him.
self, and while there heard that Koppel was
hurt.
He sent for a carriage and had Keppel sent
home and then went himself. He did not
know at the time that keppel was much in-
Jurcd, and cannot account for tho cut that
Keppel got on his lip. He afterward heard
that Desmond was drunk In South Washing
ton, hunting for him (Fletcher) aud threaten
ing to take his life.
KEPPEL's FUNEslL.
David Keppol's funeral took place from his
late home, No. 5J7 New jersey avenue, yestcr.
day afternoon, and the attendance was very
large. Several Catholic societies were pres
ent In regalia. The rcmaus wCro buried at
Holyrood Cemetery, Georgetown.