Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-02-14
Killed bv n Stab.


FATAL CUTTING AFFAIR IN BAR ROOM.
Night before last in the bar room of Levi Kad-
den, No. 400 ~ street. a fight occurred among
several colored boys during which one named
Charles Nelson stabbed James Simms in the
left breast with pocket knife. Simms was at
once taken to his home on II street, between
st and f. southwest, and DR.. HaZen attended
him. but the wound was so serious that death
enSued about 1017 O'Clock last night. The whole
matter was kept quiet by kadden and those
day that the police learned OF it. Nelson thus
managed to escape.
TIE CoRoNER's INQUEST.
To-day officer Burns OF the LIST precinct, sum-
the body, and The inquest was held at the 1st
precinct station-an autopsy having been pre-
viouSly made by the coroner, DR.. Patterson and
Dr. j. F. Hartigan.
Or. Hartigan testified as to the autopsy and
to his finding q wound on the left side OF the
abdomen just below the ribs, penetrating the
stomach and causing death-the contents or the
stomach going into the abdomen, producing
peritonetis, &C. The wound was II inches
wide, probably made by two edged instru-
ment, and four inches deep.
Of the deceased, who was brought home Wednes-
day night, about 81, O'Clock. having left home
about O'Clock. He was sober when ne went
away, and two young men brought him BACK
He made no reply when asked what was tn {.
matter, but one OF the young men said ne W. IS
cut. Afterwards deceased asked for ST .frt.
anu yesterday morning lie SalQ CnditcJ N SfS1Q
cut him. He died at twenty. minutes. 90 II
O'Clock last night, and little time Def IRE death
be said 81 send for Charley Nelson, aid ask him
why he cut me-"
night he was in Kadden's sar-roOm; that Nelson
slapped Stmms on the side OF the head, and
Simms in the mouth with his fist, and Simms
grabbed and struck him. Kaddon run from be-
hind the bar and got between them; Nelson
stood back and OpeLed pen-knife, "a small one
a
pf1nging ii in INSIDE. Richard Crummey tried
10 stop him, and Nelson jerked away from him.
Cr1lmmey said 90 Don't cut that man. kadden
then showed Nelson out the door, who came
back and asked for his Oyercoat, and went away
when he found out that SimmS had been cut.
Nobody knew he was cut until about three
minutes afterwards, and Nelson had then got
away. There were eight or nine others there at
the time. Witness went with deceased 10 DR..
HaZen. No one made an attempt to catch
Nelson or said anything about informing the
police.
Robert Henderson testified that he was at
kadden's; that Nelson WIS playing cards with
TO get his ''pOSt" (the drink for which they
played), when he struck Simms and Simms
kicked at him. Nelson struck him in the mouth
and SimmS asked, what do you mean? Nelson
said mean Just what done. Simms ran up to
Nelson and slapped him several times. kadden
then separated them, when Nelson drew the
knife and ran in and cut Simms. Witness, in
reply TO The coroner said that post" was the
drink they played for and that before they
commence TO play kaddcn demands that ) cents
be put up for drinks. and receives il. Nelson's
mother said that he had Sharpened the knife
the same evening. Witness knows the knife
for he sold il to Nelson two weeks ago.
Levi kadden testified that he thought the
parties were skylarking and called 10 them to
stop. Run out and they had got In the corner
when he lerked one Of them outside. Did not
know that there was any cutting until some
tlllt afterwards. when SinmS raising his shirt
said My God, I'm cut" Nelson was the one
he put out, ana he came back just as Simm5
said be was cut and went Of; didn't think then
tnat II was serious. There were six or seven
there at the time. some standing around and
some playing .'casinO." There had been no
guarreiihg before this. After tie cutting Slmms
SAID. Il didn't know that he would get angry
for have fooled with him before" Don't know
who came in first; don't generally observe Who
comes III; Just stands there and takes the
money. Did not see the knife until
observed pocket knife in his hand. Yesterday
morning Nelson came in and said he was under
arrest, ana asked witness what he knew about
H. witness asked him. What kind OF a knife
ne had.7 and Nelson showed it-a small pen
knife-and said that he had it in his hand when
the man ran against him, and he Just made a
thrust. The officer came in about live minutes
later and he told him that Nelson had lust left
Witness denied that the parties came together
after he separated them. When he showed Mel
son out or doors lie told SimmS TO go out, and
the latter said he was afraid that Nelson would
hurt him. He denied that Nelson run under his
arm, when he did the cutting. When Nelson
udSN ioI ms tUdt. NItUeSo Hhu lIldileG In
his hand, and he threatened ii they renewed
the hight that he would knock them I'm the head
Richard CTummey testified that he was in
haddens at the time. His version OF the affair
was about the same as that OF the preceding
witnesses. Charley 1erked away from witness
ana cut at Simms; saw the blade OF the knife
Slinms said, ''Oh, Dick, ain cut to DEATH"
THE VERDICT.
The Jury returned verdict that James SinmS
came 10 his death from wound i'm the abionnn
Inflicted with knife in the hands OF Charles
Nelson on the night OF February 18th
Nelson IS still at large. and as the police have
little likelihood of his arrest. AS may be sun
posed, there is considerable Indignation felt be-
cause OF the affair having been Withheld froIl
the officers.