Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-01-04
Woman Burned to Death.
WAS SHE PURPosELY SET ON FIRE BIT DENNIS
JOHNSON?

al her residence, in GrabamS alley northwest, as
as stated in last evenings STAR. It will he re-
membeTed that the girl was found with her
clothes burning IN the yard Of the houe On
3 street ON Christmas morning, and when
tie flames were eXtinguished the whole upper
part OF her body. as well as her face and neck,
were found to be horribly burned. 1t was at
first supposed that the burning was the result
OF accident but soon there were whispers OF
foul play. ruinofs that she had been purpos aIt
set on fire, and young c0lOred man was arrest
cd, but he succeeded In showing tnaU ne was
not responsible. Dennis Johnson Young man
who was at the house on the night OF ChTistInaS
eve was next arrested by Harlow and Daley,
and il was thought that the evidence against
him was clear. He was taken 10 Cne fol'ce
Court and committed for a hearing. the aItnori-
ties meantime awaiting the result OF the lnJu-
lies.
TIE jurors having been selected pr0ceede1
from the fifth precinct station to the residence
of the deceased. She had been quite n hand
some bright mulattO girl. About two-thlrdS OF
her body was burned over. The coroner and
jury returned to the station, when the teSti-
mOny was taken as follows:
John cole testified that on Christmas eve
night he was at BlighS hall, and between ana
C'clcck III. when ne left he heard sorne one
screaming and rem over TO little shoemaker
shop and saw the cloth over the window was
burning, and he tried the door. but 1t was locked
and lie pushed il open. There was clothing
burning over the floor and the room was full Of
smoke, and in the back yard the woman was
burning He ran 10 her. and nearly all her
fi0fHlHQ MAO DCcA Dlticl Oli tACGpl I6F CDs'SctS.
A lady brought blanket TO wrap her UP in.
There was nobody in the yard Whe,i lac we 1t in
ard no one In the house. There YVES nothing in
the shop through which he went except the
shGemaker's tools. He carried her, with the
aid OF another party, into the shop. Only heard
her say For Gods sake. carry me hOme'-tO
some Of her relatives. There was a little fire
IN the stove ard shawl partly burned was in
q chair.
TaiGeLaar jackson testified that between 10
and II o'clock lie was in the shoe shop, and
there was a fire in the stove. Parker was pre-
sent and witness left him there.
benjamin lAlOpfeT "a private Watchman) teS
tilted hat lie was passing along G. street to-
ward 18th about .. O'Clock and saw light In
door in just before ne got there. Just as he was
going UP tie steps saw q man jump from the
platform and run around the corner. going
westward. When he got in the house he fought
the fIe till he saw light in the yard. and when
he went there saw the WCmfn lying on the
snow. John Cole was then standing OF her
head. All lie heard her say was in reference TO
her poor mother" Witness mas been a private
seeing Eer, and never saw her under the iniiu-
ance Of liquor.
Charles Washington, a brother Of deceased;
Jacob Madden, colOred; Barbara Kelly and
Lula NARROW testified, but nothing new was
elected.
MISS Lucy King testified that she lives in the
same house; heard & cry Of fire. and Mrs. White
exclaimed that she was being burnt up; saw
man put this child out in the STOW and take ~
a BUCKET and try to get water This was a
bright nan, and he Went of. The next time
SIZE saw him was when he came running over.
asking what was the matter, and he went with
them when they took her home.
Samuel Tyler testified to going to the house
and taking the woman to her home She
told witness that she did not know how il hap
reEed. lie Gid not believe that she knew, for
Size was pretty full.
DR.. Walters testified that he was called to see
deceased on Christmas morning. She said at
1lSt that she did not know; but subsequently,
She said that she went to the house about ii
O'Clock. and she went TO sleep, and she knew
that Johnson did it. There is no doubt but nat
the cause OF death was the burning. There was
10 Cdor OF Kerosene about the clothing, and he
thought that she concluded that kerosene was
used, because there was no fire or light in the
place.
James Parker testified that On Christmas eve
night, on his way TO his shop, he met Florence
Washington, and she asked him if lie knew
where Dennis was, and he told her that he had
gone to his (witneSsD shop. and she asked him
TO tell Dennis that she wanted to see him. He
then described his efforts to find johnson, in
which she joined. and OF finding him On 18th
street.
Nancy Coleman, the next witness, testified to
no facts OF interest.
Americas Murray testified about 121l O'Clock
She saw Dennis with the girl, and she was very
drunk.
TIE DYING DECLARATION OF TIE DECEASED
was lead. After stating that she was aware
that she was inortally sick and death was i'm
IL ltOu-.-'On tEidS eve MINT
went cut and met jim Parker and he took me
over TO his place on 18th street. He took ne in
there. There was not spark of light in the
house. Parker said to me after we got into the
house, 'Uaye you saw Dennis Johnson | told
him no, hadn't seen him. He then brings me
out OF there and We came On 18th street to ID
and along to Mrs kelly'S, and then Jim left me
there and didn't see Jim any more that night
lie left me at the door and l went in and Mrs.
Barbour tried to get me home In the mean
time came across the street on the other side
CT ID street and Dennis johnson went over to
Mrs. DdrDOGrS and ASKED for me. and Mrs. t.
tod him that had gone home. and he came
across the street and OveTtaken me- He taken
ne down street again and stopped along 18th
street So1ne where, and gave me glass OF egg
nogg, and drank it. Ee must have drugged it
for after drank was stupid and did not have
any sense at all. l don't remember after this
Till found my self in the house on 18Th street
where Parker carried me before There was no
ii!e nor light In tie room but il was warm IShp
then goes on to state that he made an Improper
request OF her ard she declined to yield to his
wishes. She continues as fUllows:] then laid
ny head up against his, shoulder and
he said TO Inc are You sleepy. 1 said to
him l am. knew nothing more till
woke up al ablaZe and he had his coat of
tanning me. / was so excited that / didn't
know what TO do. He picked me up and showed
me by my two shoulders right into the yard !
didn't know anything more until they had
picked ne up and brought me home and laid he
IN the bed in the house where | am now In
answer to the question whether she believed
DGnDlS johnson set lire TO her clothing. She an
sWerCd, "IeS, know lie did. for he was Jealous
If me-" He had visited me often before and
he found LuciuS Smith with me he
eeIned not TO like il. After 1 was brought
nome where | am now, Dennis Johnson was
standing oyeT my bed when my mother asked
ne, i florence, how came you over there?' Den
MS Johnson spoke up loud enough TOR al TO
near, ard said, i will get it Out of her. and
-Een asked me. Florence, how came YOU over
ihere?' and then whispered to NE and said For
christ sake, Florence, don't give me away"
GCCcUber oh. 1875.
The statement was sworn to before c. 6 Bun
iy, justice OF the peace, and atteSted by c. ST.
Clair burley and Charles Washington as wit
ncSEc5.
THE VERDICT.
Tie jury returned q verdict that the deceased
came 10 her death about O'Clock on the morn
lnS OF the Sd instant from exhaustion the re-
suit OF burns caused by her clothing taking fire
on the morning OF December 25; and they fur
tier say that they believe said burning was the
result OF accident.
Dennis johnson, who was committed to iail a
lew days AFTER the burning, will be released
HARMONY COUNCIL. SOvEREIGNS OF INDUSTRY.
last night elected officers as fOllowS:-u G. ia
coos, PRESIDENT DR.. A. S. GriSwold, vice presi-
dent; Frank Clyille, recording secretary; j. W.
EafSna, financial secretary; James Eyeleth
treasurer; ;. 5. Gardner, lecturer; W. G. Bick-
ford, steward, j. L. Frazer, inner guard; T. j.
GarCLer, George y. French, r. A. Bayley, II. A.
ChafieS, l.. .. Leech, executive committee; L o.
Leech, trustee OF the SOyeTeigns dStributive
agency; Charles Lyman. T. j. Gardner, r. A.
nyrn ny ~ ThN11