Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-03-26

THE DEAD BODY OF DENNIS DONOVAN FrsHEp FROM
THE CASAL-THE STORY TOLD BY MISS LILLE
SWAN OF MIDNIGHT ALLEGATION.
About 1880 yesterday morning the body OF
Dennis Donovan, about IS years old, q Waterman
at the Aqueduct bridge, who lives near George
town college, was found In the canal at the foot OF
Potomac street The search which resulted in
finding the body was instituted because Miss
bridge, reported that between Is and 3 O'Clock
Yesterday morning she heard an alteration, then
heard something fall down the steps OF the bridge
and after that splash In the water. During the
alteration she heard one voice say: NOW have
fixed you, guess" and just before the splash an.
other voice say; 20 God! don't Kill mel" just
you struck me, dii your" When this story came
TO the ears OF Oficer Burrows he secured the ser.
vices OF Philip Mcdonald, who dragged the canal
and found DonoVans body. Blood marks at the
top OF the steps where the alteration described
must have takep place strengthen the suspicion OF
foul play. The fact that Donovan, who had
been drinking Saturday night, was seen In the
nefShborhood OF the bridge about 1880 O'Clock In
company with two young men, seemed TO corrobo-
E Brown and Charles Brown, who stated that
Donovan had been put out or John Curtin's res
taurant. and that they had tried to persuade him
TO go nome, but, failing to do so, LETT him These
men were seen to leave Donovan by a police on
Ger and everything seemed quiet and
an AUTOPSY no held sns Il. M
son, yesterday. No external marks OF violence
were found upon the body, except slight ebra-
d q
bruise on the kidneys were found. These may
have been caused by heavy fall; but the fact
that blood was found at the top OF the step pre-
by the fan down the steps The body was taken
70 Clements undertaking establishment where
the inquest was held this afternoon. Donovan re-
celved "a per week, and this amount can be &C
counted for by his purchases at Dyer's grocery
store and elsewhere SO that II he was murdered It
was not probably for robbery.
THE INQUEST.
fhao NogA
the station this afternoon. MessrA j. 4. PRODIGY,
a. R. spetes, ]. B. Wells, N. v. Buckley, 8. 7.
Brown and H. W. Brewer were sworn as Jurors
over the body at the undertaking establishment
OF Mr. J. 7. Clements, High street. The testimony
p. F. Mcdonald testified that he lived at the cor.
ner or Potomac and Grace streets; that Sunday
morning he saw a quantity OF blood on the plat
1orm but paid no attention to it Afterwards his
attention was called to blood on the side OF the
house and he thought there had been fight ON
Ger Burrows subsequently came there, and they
say there were prints OF boot heels In the side or
the bank Witness then started to drag, thinking
that some one might have fallen into the canal,
ana ne found the deceased. His mouth was bulged
out and there was blood below the nose. Did not
at first recognize him. There were blood spots on
the stairs as wen as on the platform. Witness
1.-THE location OF the pool of blood on the side of
the house and steps were shown.l The deceased
Donovanl was an industrious, hard working man.
Ing his attention called to the blood about the
bridge, at Potomac street and the Canal, and
from information received he was satisfied that
there had been 1ght-a young lady having told
him OF hearing an outcry. witness then had the
canal dragged, and helped to get the body out.
Witness thought that deceased had been struck
In the mouth, and possibly he might have had
1alL witness thought from appearances that the
man had been struck on the PLATFORM for the blood
the rail with bloody hands.
John Curtin testified that he kept place at
5SbO street, and deceased came into hts place
at II 80 O'Clock Saturday night alone, called for
glass OF beer and invited the four others to drink
with him. which they did. Witness then COM
menced to close up, and two OF the party left
"Pink" Bowling and Ed Barker. The other two
Charley Brown and l. E. Brown-remained with
donovan. and witness said, "come on boys. I've
got to close up" Charley started out and ..BecKn
another drink but he declined to give it TO him,
and putting him outside witness closed the door
Deceased took hold OF the door, and called to him
to open after he mad closed the door, Deceased as
pretty tight when he came In. They all appeared
friendly and converSed pleasantly.
CHARLES Brown testified that he lived near
Curtfn's where he was on Saturday night Dono-
van came in and they drank with him. and then
he conversed with Curtin. He asked Tor another
drink and Curtin refused and started to nut him
Curtin caught hold OF him and put him out Wit
ness was outside ana saw Donovan fall and get up
again. Witness then went home, deceased going
down warehouse alley and came back and went
down, passed Curtin's, when he fell in the gutter,
ana witness picked him up and took him to Har-
ris' corner. This was near 1880 O'Clock. Witness
lett him there, and deceased attempted to follow
them, and fell at the bill board on the corner but
got up and came over to CrOpley'S corner. He then
got to swearing saying he wanted satisfaction,
The inquest was In progress when our report
closed.