National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-03-29
THE KARCnER TRAGEDY.
Result or tho Coroncr'S Inqucst-Further
Particulars About the Affair.

Particulars About the Affair.
The tragedy. which occurred Thursday
night at the house corner of Seventh and u
streets southeast, in the shooting and killing
of j. w. Grimes, u sewing-machine agent, by
Louis Karchor, draughtsman in the coast
survey, has elected the most intense excite.
mcnt in the neighborhood of the Navy Yard
This morning groups of persons wero OBJ
served discussing tho affair of the mut tder,
aud the house, tho scene OF the murder, was
surrounded by large crowd. Various views
woro expressed, but the prevailing sentiment
seemed to be that Karchur did not 20 far
enough, and that he ought to have killed
the woman also. Much sympathy was ex-
pressed for the wife of the murdered man, as
she is a hard-working and much respected
woman.
DIR. Hartigan performed an autopsy upon
the remains of tho deceased at the house
whore the tragedy occurred. az
The coroner held an inquest yesterday at
tho eighth precinct station, shortly before
noon. The jurors were Samuel T.. Arnold,
Charles Wilkinson, Charles Beall, Henry
Davey, George Brown, and John T. Cannon.
The prisoner Karcher, by advice of his
counsel, refused to testify as to tho killing.
He Is q small man, with a small gray mus
tache. His face looked somewhat haggard.
He wore spectacles q dark suit Of clothes,
with black ovorcoat, and clean linen, with
Byron collar and no cravat. @
Officer John J.. Daley testified to some
parties coming to the station house and re.
porting the firing of three pistol shots in tho
house ut Seventh and ID streets, and to somo
one hallooing murder and police. Witness
went there as fast as he could and found Kar-
cher standing in tho middle of the street hall
looing police When witness approached
karchcr he said, Come with me- como up
a a M I Ngi gInN yx.l,n H.. 1.
Witness then described the nature of the
wounds received by Grimes and already re-
ported in THE REPUBLICAN,. Witness asked
Karchor "Whoro's the pistol?" Karcher
said, Here II is," and handed witness tho
pistol. Karchor said, This has been going
on long while, l caught him at last"
DIR. Hartigan testified to having made n
post norton examination of tho body of dc.
ceased, and to the nature Of the wounds.
Sergeant James l.. Mulhall testified to hav-
ing seen Karcher in his cell and TO certain
remarks that he made.
Officer Daily, at tho request of Mr.. Mackey,
was recalled, and testified that the dead man
was barehoaded and had his collar and ono
shoe OIL. The woman was in bed and had O
night gown on. She was in the room that
Mr.. Karcher told witness was the one ho
occupied and not where the body was
There was bottle of whisky and n glass one
third full of whisky on the floor near tho
head of the bed. The witness handed tho
coroner q 32-caliber Smith 4 Wesson re-
volver which Karcher surrendered to him.
Karcher's left hand was bleeding at the time
of his arrest. Witness got piece of court
plaster aud put it on his thumb. Mr.. Mackey
called attention to the fact that the wife of
the prisoner was also locked up, and he pro.
tested against her being called. The coroner
said he would not call her. The room was
then cleared and the jury after few
minutes consideration returned the fol-
lowing verdict: That tho said John
w. Grimes came to his death about
IL o'clock p. m. March 81, 1884, at No. 400
Seventh street southeast, city of Washington,
d. G., from pistol shot wound of tho chest,
inflicted with pistol in the hands OF Louis
Karcher. The coroner then had Karcher
committed to the Jail. Mrs. Karcher, by
order Of the United States district attorney,
was dismissed Mrs. Karcher was very reti-
cent and would not talk about the matter,
although she stated to gentleman that she
did not know that there was a man in the
ROOM"
A burial certificate was signed by Coroner
Patterson, and the remains of Grimes wore
turned over to W. Demaine & Son, uuder-
takers of Alexandria. who removed the body
to his late residence, Tl3 Eighth street south
east opposite the marine barracks, and not
Odd Fellows hall, as stated in yesterdays
issue. The remains will be buried tomorrow
afternoon from Alexander, Va, and interment
will be had in Union cemetery, in that city
1t is said that he leaves q wife and six young
children.