Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-09-09
SHOT DEAD By NEGRO ROUGH.
Policeman Brusally Murdered.

OFFICER FOWLER KILLED THE PERFORMANCE OF
HIS Duty BY a NEGRO DESPERATE IN THE PRES
ESCE OF NUMEROUS BYsTANpERs, WHO WERE
'AISLf APPEALED TO TO AID HIM.
This morning. about 1920 O'Clock, Officer John H.
Fo"ier. OF the Metropolitan police force, was shot
ana hiIied by John LANCASTER, alias ''Gunea" Lam
caster. aIias Robinson Officer Fow.er was In
charge of the chain gang, which was at work ceap-
Ing alleys near the Baltimore and Ohio railroad de-
pot Lancaster managed to get away from the
others, and he was pursued to an alley between
and and LIST and I'd streets northeast by Of11cer
Fowler. who found him IN an out house, and called
on him 10 surrender. Lancaster defed arrest, and
Fowler said then he would have to shoot when
Lancaster told him that he could shoot too Ofticer
Fowler then seized him and started TO take him
out, when negro named Wilson rushed up Lancas-
ter then struggled 10 get away, and Officer Fowler
prisoner struggled with him. during which time the
officer fired one shot in the air. The prisoner then
got possession OF the pistol and at fired at the
olIcer the ball passing through the right hanu and
into the right SIDE or the policeman in the region
al the liver. lille the officer was struggling he
Yany called for help, but although there were sew
efal Ii III about none went TO his assistance A
numpe. of boys-JGseph L. Pearson, W. s. Chesey,
thornton Chesley. A. Hamilton and E. Holmes
We're piaylhs baseball In the neighborhoOd, and
one OF them offered his bat TO man to go To the
assistance OF the officer bat the man refused.
Immediately on receiving the shot Mr.. Fowler
put his hand on his side. and ell near the corner
OF list and streets, and said: Il am dead" and
lAt prisoner uurlng the excitement got away.
TIE MURDERER CAPTURED.
He was pursued to No 81 st. by Offcers Boland,
Boyle anu S!acH. with Lieut. Kelly. The fugitive
threw away the pistol In his flight The first
named officer found him in a basement in the act
III pulling bis clo;hes-the striped ones-on. When
tuid tntt there was one more load in the pistol he
saiG: Il am sorry did not know 1t, for would
have given him that, too" He was taken to the
seventh precinct station where he refused 10 give
rs Name. ana he was locked up.
SOME OF the officers and citizens bore Mr., Fowler
to the room Of Lieut.. Kelly at the seventh precinct
and Mr. StOcksriil, a medical student and Dr.
Ma%ruder were soon at his side but he died Within
lew minutes. Officer Fowler was regarded as
one vi the best Officers on the force, and resided
Win his family AT the corner OF 9Th and streets
southeast, where he leaves a wife and three small
children He was born and reared in the west end
and his wife Is Il daughter OF Mr. Joshua Lloyd.
ne allalr drew to the neighborhood OF the sta
ton an immense crowd, but only a few, other than
tue witnesses, were allowed 10 enter.
Two MEN ARRESTED FOR REFUSING TO ASSIST THE
OFFICERS.
Officers COghill and Boland selected from the
crowd Robert Jackson and John Miller, two colored
men, and charged them with refusing To assist ti2e
officer, and they were locked up. Both OF them
protest that they are innocent OF any charge.
GOODNESS OF THE MURDERER
Soon after they We're locked up Lancaster CON-
menccd to sing as II he had nothing on his mind.
Several parties gathered about his cell, and The
prisoner. recognizing one in clerical garb said to
him: God told me TO Kill him"
" Diu COO ten you To shoot him tWice?" he was
asked.
NO." said he, Il am good shot; one shot is
enough What did he shoot at me for? one shot
sung right past lny ear. ana when got II shot
YES. said one OF the prisoners You shot at the
officer twice, aiming Tie fist shot right at his
| head
No. didn't" said the prisoner 81 am dead
| shot"
Ills manner such that even the clerical gen
tlHlndn remarked, II hardly look ut the officer
anu hear this rlbaliry without Wishing Tor lynch
law. In Such case lynch Jaw would not be out Of
| pIace'
THE PRISONER PLAYING CRAZY AND MIMICKING THE
WIDOW OF FOWLER IN HER GRIEF.
Mrs Fowler arrived AT the station at l1:30 o'clock
with lady friend, and was nearly frantic with
! grief. a short time afterward Mr.. Mitchell, the
| undertaken, and Mr.. Joshua NJ. Lloyd. her father.
We're sent Tor. and in the meantime the prisoner
diSrobed himself and attempted 10 play crazy, and
nlimicked Mrs Fowler in her grief.
THE CORONER's JURY.
DIT. Patterson. the coroner, and DR.. TownShend,
the health officer, were soon at the station. The
former directed jury OF inquest to be summoned,
and The following were sworn: Daniel Sheehan, j.
tred. Kelley. Henry H. HOff, c. I. SheJtle. W. O.
PATTON ana Charles Spent. In consequence or the
prevailing excitement the inquest was adjourned
iii ten O'Clock Tomorrow, and the witnesses were
directed TO appear at that time
LANCASTERS RECORD OF CRIME.
Some three years ago Lancaster. after being COM
United to the Reform school, made an attack on
Mr. Newman, foreman Of the chair shop, for some
fanc1ed wrong, and the foreman mad TO knock him
! down before he could quiet him. His acts on this
occasion We're diS5racefu and recently he made an
1 attack on Mr.. Fdrnham. one OF the teachers and
| head OF cOored family OF the reform school He
| had TO be severely punished Tor this attack.
Some time since he was fined $50 In the Police
/ Court for cutting man with razor He was ar.
rested for assault and battery with intent TO kill
his father by shooting at him. The charge could not
be sustained, and he sentenced TO three months
| 1Or carrying concealed weapons