Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-08-20

A COLORED PRISONER HANGS HIMSELF TO A BAR
OF BIS CELL WINDOW.
Yesterday afternoon at 4 O'Clock, Mr. John 81
Jones' one Of the guards at the Jail, in going
his rounds to lock up, noticed the occupant of
cell No. IS in the south wing, Charles Thomas.
colOred, apparently looking out of the window
Calling TO him and receiving no answer Mr..
Jones went into the cell, when he found that
Thomas had hanged himself to the upper bar of
new dne MlnnoM Gov ana was dead: Mr. Jones imme-
were sent for, and the body being quite warm
go attempt was made to resuscitate the body,
(Dr. McWfll1ams and the physicians of the asy-
lum working On him. but without avail. 1t
appears that he had made moose OF a hand
kerchief and passed it around his neck and, by
standing on up-toe on the wooden spICtoon he
window.
Thomas, with Richard Ross, was before the
Police Court on Monday (havlng been arrested
oy the detectives2 on the charge Of the larceny
and pocketbook, valued at about 800, from the
residence OF Col. 81. C. Corbin. The principal
testimony against him was that OF Josephus
Wllliams, much younger boy, who had been
before the court previously for stealing, and he
testified that it was Thomas who went into the
house and got the things and who handed him
this story was wrong; that the first he knew of
the articles was when Williams came to him
saying he had something, and he then went
with him while he disposed of the things on
his arrival at the Jail he was assigned this cell
0he one formerly occupied by Sam Clark, who
was killed by Jack CASH, and he was very quiet
IN his demeanor. On the day before his suicide
Island avenue and 18th street, asking that he
get him out On bail, and expecting that he
would get him out he yesterday appeared to be
In excellent spirits.
THE INQUEST
THIS morning the coroner, DR.. Patterson, held
an inquest on the body at the jail, Mr. Chas. F.
Smith being the foreman Of the jury. John W.
rAQ nyTn nd ncfi fa6
one OF the guards, and about4 O'Clock yesterday
afternoon deceased was discovered hanging by
the handkerchief, as above described. The
was sent TO the Police Court and fully Commit
ted on Monday. Witness described the situa-
ton OF the deceased, his feet resting on the
spittoon. His hands were loose, and be could
disposed. he was warm when cut down. Wit
ness was seated only about ten feet away, and
could have heard the slightest noise. James
was outside on the Ter With Psssick coats an ns
the latter called to deceased to hand his tub
out. fThls was according TO custom.) No
answer was made, and Coats said the man was
2 piece OF the handkerchief; called
II. Jones and the body was cut down.
Capt. james Coleman, one OF the guards, testi-
few minutes after O'Clock, one of the prisoners
saying man had hung himself there, asking him
1or knife to cut him down. They had taken him
ooWn and witness found that the extremities
were cold and physicians were sent for The
deceased appeared on the day before to be as
cheerful as any OF them. d. C. Stockstile (resi-
dent student at Washington Asylum) and Dr.
A. McWilItams testified that they tried to resus-
c1fate deceased. but did not succeed Patrick
Coats. prisoner, corrOborated Clark In his tes-
tfmony as to discovering the body.
VERDICT OF SUICIDE,
The Jury found verdict OF suicide by hang
Ing, while confined In jail awaiting the action
OF the grand jury, and they find that no blame
can &c attached to the officers of the institution
nom want OF due vigilance or precaution to pre-
vent such act"
The parents OF the deceased had not made
apphcatfon for tie body up to noon to-day, but
IL Is thought they will. The boy Williams, on
whose evidence Thomas was committed is con.
nned In jail as Witness and he insists that his
story OF the larceny as related ia the Police
Court on Monday Is true