Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-25

Even as they willed II, let 1t ever be,
And all be equal under equal laws
Native, adopted. or mere transient guesti
w. l. SHOEMAKER.
Under the dome OF the Capitol
HOMICGDES IN THE DISTRICT.
Murders From 1900 to 1850.
MANY CASES OF KILLING, But ONLY THREE Ex-
ECUTIONS IN HALF CENTURY.
Although the early criminal records of the
District of Columbia show that sbefore the war"
there were comparatively few executions here
for the crime of murder, it does not follow that
the violations Of the commandment 'Thou shalt
not kill' were mach less frequent in Washing
ton than in other cities having about the same
population. The records of the courts here show
quite large number of cases where the verdict
was ''manslaughter," in which cases various de-
grees Of punishment. from ''fne Of 81 aud one
days imprisonment" to ''ten years imprisOn-
ment in the penitentiary," have been imposed,
with now and then o sentence Tin the case of
siaves) OF branding on the hand aud whipping
on the back"
THE FIRST CASE OF
murder in our annals is that of Patrick McGurk,
who was hung on the 2Sth day of October, 1902.
McGurk was native of Ireland, and was en-
ployed as laborer on some of the government
works here. Going home intoxicated he beat
his wife, cruelty stamping her, and causing the
premature birth of twin children. She died q
few hours afterwards. There were no witnesses
TO the act, and the principal evidence against
the murderer was the dying statement Of bis
wife 1t is related that he rode from the Jail
Cthen In the rear of what is now known as SprOh's
restaurant md
streets) in cart to the gallOws, and that he in
sisted on jumping off the scatiold before the
marshal was ready to spring the trap.
NO REST FOR THE MURDERER's BODY
McGurks body was buried in what was then
known as the Western Burial Ground, after
wards HOlmeads- The remains were laid in
grave adjoining one in which young lady had
been buried the week before This becoming
known to her brothers, who were told by their
mother that she would not regard them as men
II they allowed the murderer to rest there.
they removed the remains Of McGurk
from the grave where they were deposited to
another part of the burial ground. This caused
some excitement among McGurks fellow coun-
trymen, and large band of them on Sunday.
dsinterred his body and carried it back to the
grave where it was first buried and for some
time Kept guard over it at night. Finally the
guard was withdrawn, and one morning it was
discovered that the grave had been robbed of
It's corpse Some forty years afterward the
owner of some land south of Homead's bury
ing ground remarked that he had, in digging a
a post hole. struck skull and some fragments
OF wood, and then it was that one of the
resurrecting party told how they had moved
AeGurk's body.
CASES OF MANSLAUGHTER.
On February 18th, 1908, Alexander veitch
struck Richard Walker with carpenters
square, and the latter died March 5th following.
For this Vetch was indicted for manslauyhter
and tried, but neither Cranchs reports nor the
rough minutes of the court show the final dispO-
sitiOn of the case.
The next case was that of Isaac Norris
charged with manslaughter in 1907 (noticed in
LIST Cranch, 411,) in which fine of $50 and II
months imprisonment was imposed
On February 4th, 1909. the records show that
Negro Nathan, convicted of burglary, was
sentenced to be hanged but subsequently par
was. on the same day, sentenced to be hanged
On March 18th; but there is nothing to show that
the sentence of the law was carried out.
LIGHT SENTENCE FOR KILLING CHILD.
In 1910 Nathan Turner alias Collier. was
charged with murder in killing Susan" a ne
gro infant four months old the indictment re-
citing that while intoxicated he laid on the
body of the child, squeezing the bowels and
lungs, ana suff0cating her. The verdict was
not guilty of murder but guilty Of causing the
death Of the child, and he was sentenced to pay
a nne OF 81 and 8 months in jail.
The next case was that OF Polly Bevens. con-
victed in 1911 of mansaughter. Judging from
the sentence-$l fine and day in jail-it must
have been light case.
HANGED FOR AN OUTRAGE.
On January S0th. 1918, q slave, ''Patrick,"
was convicted here of an assault with intent to
ravish white woman, and on March 18th was
hung-the gallows being erected on D street.
between Sd and 4th
In 1915, William Fitzgerald, on an indictment
for murder was convicted of manslaughter and
fined $50 and 80 days in jail
Oh June i1tn, 1876 Isaac Butler was found
guilty Of manslaughter, in killing Betsy Butler,
and was sentenced to 10 months in Jail. but was
subsequently pardoned.
OrHELLOs ESCAPE FROM THE GALLONS.
Michael Clarke, mulatto, who killed his wife
in tit Of jealousy on 14th street, south of
Pennsylvania avenue, was convicted in 1918 of
murder and sentenced to be hung, but escaped
from jail February 18th following and was not
recaptured.
James Flynn was convicted Of manslaughter
and sentenced to six months in jail and to pay q
nne OF $3.50. in June, 1921 his offence being the
killing Of a man in drunken brawl in a house
near Decaturs marsh, on the Eastern branch
He was subsequently pardoned.
A CROWD ASSEMBLED TO SEE A HANGING DIS
APPOINTED.
In October, 1921, soldier named John Lam
ham was condemned to be executed for the
murder Of Sergeant Kelly. Both men were
attached to the command of Major Hook. in
charge Of the mounted messengers detailed to
the departments. Lanham had formerly
been q sergeant. but for some dereliction OF
duty was reduced to the ranks and Kelly was
promoted, and it was alleged that Lanham in a
spirit OF revenge shot and killed Kelly For
this he was tried and convicted, and the day was
fixed and all the preparations made for his exc
cutlon. An immense concourse of people gath
cred in the rear Of the court house to witness
the hanging. but a respite was granted for six
months. When this announcement was made
from the scaNold by Col. Robert Brent an Off
Ger OF the court and the chief clerk of the State
department, the people became so much excited
that 1t was feared violence would be perpe-
trated. Lanham was finally sentenced to the
penitcntiary.
Nancy Swami was convicted Of murder in
May, 1872. but the records do not give the par
ticuiars or the name Of the victim. They show.
however, that Judgment was arrested
John Free, June 9th, 1923. on conviction for