Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-09-26

hoy Fatally Shot While GuUm1m8s
Monday last, q colored boy, named Wallace
Bird, residing in an alley between D and and
18th and 18th streets southwest, was shot while
cunning on the Virginia side of the river, above
the Long Bridge, by white boy named EN-
nett Bush. Bird was brought to the city by
Bush, and was taken to his home, and Bush
was called and picked out Of Birds leg about 20
No Q shot, and he bid fair to recover. but SUBJ
sequently he commenced to droop, and died on
wednesday. The coroner was notified yeSter-
day, and Drs Hartigan and Leach made post
mortem examination, finding the wounded limb
almost entirely decomposed; Both parties
ner's inquest was held this morning at the Of
fee OF DIR. Boarman, corner 18th street and
Maryland avenue southwest, on the body Of
night. The affair was kept 50 quiet that not
even the police were aware of the circum-
stances until notified yesterday, after the death
OF Bird, when oficer Lewis went ana took Bush
into custody, and he was kept at the South
Washington station until this morning when he
was brought out to attend the hearing before
Coroner Patterson. The first witness at the
coroner's inquest was Charles Gerger, bar
keeper az the tavern at the south end OF the
Long bridge He testified that about O'Clock
Monday afternoon the colored man Sullivan
roWed up to the shore, near his place,
with BIRD, the wounded man, in his ski1;
at the same time Emmett Bush came down
Bush was greatly alarmed and exclaimed, ION,
my God, I've shot colored man. 1 did it &C
cidentally. Here he comes In that sktff; for
coos sake do all you can for him; give him
anything he wants and I'll settle for It," He
ran down to the boat, assisted him all he could,
got glass OF whisky to battle his leg and some
for the wounded man to drink. He sad he
would 60 right off for doctor. The man who
rowed Bird down also said it was accidental
and that 1t happened up at Gravelly creek
went down to the landing to see Bird. When
he came back he reported that Bird had
said that the shooting was accidental
he did not ask him If the shooting was acct
dental, but he heard Bush ask him II it was not
excitement ana said '.I'm done cunning. I've
shot man and Pm going to get rid of my gun
and ammunition and quit this business"
Charles Sullivan, colored, testified that Mon
day afternoon he went over the bridge cunning
for birds. He found Bird over there. He had
just been shot In the leg by Bush. Witness
heard the report Of the gun; was about one
hundred yards away and fastened to the spot.
When witness came up Bush was bathing Birds
leg with water. Witness took both Bush and
Bird in his skif1 across the river, and landed
Bush, and he walked down from the creek to
the tavern at the bridge. Witness asked Bird
il Bush done it on purpose. Bird shook his
head L1 and said, "The gun went Off in his hand"
Witness did not think Bush did it on purpose
Witness brought Bird home in his sklff, and
removed him to his home and went for the doc
tor. DR.. j. F. Hartigan testified as to the post
mortem examination. The cause of death was
from the result of the gun shot wound. DR..
Leech, who was first called to see the boy about
MONEY eEean TESTIFIED that he re-
as to the change which resulted In death. En-
NETT Bush, the young man who did the shoot
ing, testified that he lives on Pennsylvania ave-
nue., No. 1926. Monday he went cunning In the
Virginia marshes, and met Bird at Gravelly
creek, in the marshes. They spoke together
in a friendly manner, and sat down on
the bank. A flock of black birds flew
over, and Bird shot, killing two, one only
OF which he could find. Afterwards witness
gave him part Of his lunch from his satchel
They sat together until the tide went down. A
flock or TWO of black birds came flying over,
and Bird proposed that they both squat and fire
into the lowest flock. He was little ahead. and
as they squatted down witness gun went off at
half-cock, the contents going into Bird. They
were not more than six feet apart at the time
During his testimony he seemed considerably
affected at the affair. The jury, after a few
moments consultation, returned unanimous
verdict Of accidental shooting, whereupon the
coroner dismissed Bush, Who returned to his
home, accompanied by his sister, who was
waiting outside the result o fthe inquest. The
deceased:wil be buried by his friends this after
noon,