National Republican., 1880-03-30
SHOT DO WN IN THE STREET
A CoIOred Man Coolly Murdered by
a White Rough.
a Tragic Scene In Front of Young Hirth's
store-Thc story Cleaned by "Ro-
publican" Observation-Disclosures
without Cause - Arrest of
"Big-Toop Johuson, the
Alleged Assassin.
Killed without Provocation.

~
of Fourteenth aud p streets. He was shot by
white man named Joseph johnson, and so
far as the facts could be ascertained last night,
was murdered without the least proyOcation.
II is an interesting fact that the tragedy oc.
cured Immediately in front Of the store
formerly kept by George Philip Hlrth, the
young man who was murdered on p
street on the 9TH of January last, for
which crime Bedford, Piun aud Quecnan are
now under sentence of death. Last nights
tragedy is an Offset for the Hrth murder as
in the latter case respectable young white
man was murdered by negro roughs while
johnson, an industrious and reputable colorod
man, was the victim Of the fcrocity of u white
rullian. Following are the details
Officer lIallinan, of the Sixth precinct,
while standing on the corner of Fourteenth
and n streets, II few minutes before o'clock,
heard
PISTOL SHOT,
and while endeavoring to fix the locality he
heard the cry Of police proceeding from the
corner of Fourteenth aud streets. Hasten
ing thither nc came upon II large crowd of
persons, mon, women aud children, III the
highest state of excitement, standing on the
west side of Fourteenth street, just north OF
p street, in the midst of whom hc beheld the
PROSTATE body Of Johnson on the pavement
rhe crowd gave way upon his approach, aud
with the assistance of several of the by.
ISLANDERS he conveyed the man to his home,
1924 Samson street. where he was made rs
comfortable as possible, aud physicians were
sent for. Drs. BigcOw, Ramsey and Blair
soon responded, and made every effort posi-.
bic to save the life of the unfortunate man,
but were unsuccessful. They at least sue.
Cocded in somewhat alleviating his sutlerings.
The man breathed his last at few minutes
before IL o'clock, having remained unconscious
until death. reporter of THE NATIONAL
REPUBLICAN, WAS Oh the spot soon after the
tragedy had been enacted, aud after diligent
search for the facts succeeded in compiling
the following
STORY OF THE TRAGEDY:
While johnson was standing upon the spot
whore he met his death, convcrsing with
James Waters William Ellis William Cole.
man and William Robinson, all colored, Ellis,
Coleman and Robinson being engaged in
putting away coal for Dr. BigcIow, four or five
young white men came down Fourteenth
street. and in passing Johnson and his asso-
ciates one of the white mon knocked up
against Johnson, and when few feet beyond
turned round and said to johnson What ia
h is the matter with your Nothing is
the matter with me- what is the matter
with you?' Johnson replied "I'll knock
your d head off," retorted the white man,
and coming back kicked Johnson aud at the
same time drew pistol from his coat pocket.
Johnson said don't you shoot me-" No sooner
had the words left his lips than the man lev
elcd the weapon and fired The ball took
effect in Johnson's head and he fell TO the
ground. The white assassin returned the pis-
toi TO his pocket aud led, as did his compan-
ions james Waters ran into tho middle of
Fourteenth street and called loudly for police,
to which cry Officer IEallinan responded. This
story is corroborated by Waters, Ellis and the
other coIored men with Johnson at tho time
Of the shooting.
ANOTHER STORY
A coored woman, named Martha Harris
stated that she had heard johnson quarrelinq
with James Waters, William Ellis William
Coleman and William Robinson some time be.
fore the tragedy at the corner Of Fourteenth
and Samson streets; that Johnson cursed the
others and that Waters had said, "Don'U you
curse me or III blow your brains out" An.
other said, "Ill get oven with you ito john
sOu] before morning" This story, however,
is discreditcd by the police.
THE FATAL WOUND.
The ball entered the forehead just over the
right eye aud came out just over the right
temple, causing compound fracture of the
skull. The physicians in dressing the wound
took out several pieces OF tho skull Dr. Bgo-
low stated that the wound indicated that tho
shot had been fired at II close distance
THE MURDERED MAN.
james Edward Johnson, the victim of the
murder, was twcnty-iour years Of age, aud
had q wife and ono child. HIS neighbors say
that he WAS temperate and very
quiet and peaccable in disposition For
morly he was employed rs por-
ter in grocery store at the
corner Of Fourteenth and Samson streets. Lat.
tery he was employed in Tierney's rOstau-
rant corner Of Fourteenth street and New
York aycmvc. johnson bad left home only Il
quarter Of an hour before he met his death,
lie was in unusually good spirits aud had
been playing with his little girl baby, romart-
ing to his wife with great satisfaction how
nicely the child was getting along. The death
sccnU at Johnson's home on Samson street
was very affecting, When the physicians an
nouuCud that life had fed, JUhnsou's aged
mother was wild in her grief, and could not
be restrained. The wife was less demonstra-
tive, but wept bitterly and seemed utterly
stunned aud prostratod. The surroundings
indicated that the inmates of the house,
though poor loved neatness and order, for the
clean, WuspcCkCd walls aud ceilings were
tastily decorated, and there were many signs
of tho industrious habits OF the occupants.
Coroucr Patterson was summoned, and ar
rived shortly after the death Of johnson. AT
ter 4 short consultation with tho officers and
physicians, he arranged for Au inquest at tho
house at l o'clock to day,
ARREST OF BIGFooT" JOHNSON.
According to the statements made by Waters
aud lillS the Whlto mhu VINO killed johnson
was notorious rough named Joseph johnson,
alias "BigFoo Johnson
The police, as soon rs this fact was put in
their possession, instituted u diligent search
for Big Foot" Sergeant Amiss and Officer
Grant, of tho Sixth precinct, and Officers
Ahcrne aud llenline, of the Second precinct,
arrested him at his home IN the northern part of
tho city about midnight and he was taken to
the Second precinct station. "Big.FooJ"
johnson, few months ago was concerned in
Il desperate assault on Sergeant Amiss, who
led the party that effected his arrest last night
summer Clothing for the Police,
Yesterday bids were opened in the office of
Major Brock for furnishing the members Of
tho police force with summer uniforms and
hats, Tho bids received, upon which no awards
have yet been made, were us follows; Cloth.
ing--JOhl. Wan0muller, Of Philadelphia, differ.
cnt samples Of rocS coats, the prices ranging
at $9.s5 $40 uul SlI; sack suls SIS3S aud
a0n. Lruuk nnnL.- I'D 50 alA IN. nunL amILs All