Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-02-22
PLAYING WITH A PISTOL.
A COlOred Boy Killed by Little Boy
who Did Not Know the Pistol was
Loaded.

About four o'clock Saturday afternoon John
Chapman, a colored boy fourteen years old. was
seen to run from the residence of Mr.. William
Chedal, 614 New Jersey avenue, and fall down
the front stairs, being closely followed by Solo
mon Minister, a twelve-year old white boy. who
jumped down the steps and prevented Chap
man from falling all the way down the steps
Several citizens who saw the affair went to-
wards the colored boy while Minister went for
a physician. When the citizens arrived at the
steps they found the colored boy dead, and
blood oozing from a wound in the left breast
near his heart. In the house they found Willie
Chedal, IL years old. who was too frightened TO
tell what the trouble was or how the colored
boy killed. The dead body of Chapman
Kelly and officer Oliver. Willie Chedal was
afterwards brought to the station by his father.
An examination of the body of the lead boy
showed that a bullet had passed through Chap
mans heart.
THE INQUEST.
Coroner Patterson held an inquest at the
seventh precinct station yesterday morning.
Solomon Minister testified that Willie came
over to his house after him to go to his will
lie) house and play while his mother was out
shopping The witness mother consented, and
he went over. While in the house Willie called
him To look at pistol, but he declined and
said he was going home if the pistol was not
put away. Witness went back and looked at
house as a servant, then came in, and Willie,
who was upstairs, called: "John, come up
stairs" Nv hat do you want?' inquired John.
"Never mind" said Willie, come up here"
John started upstairs, and Willie, who was
standing on the landing above pointed the pis-
toll through the banisters and ii went off. John
ran out and fell down the steps, but witness
jumped over him and prevented his falling
further. Witness then went after DIR. Merriam,
Willie Chedal, who did the shooting testified
that Chapman, Minister and himself were mind
ing the house while ms mother went shopping,
and he went up stairs to get some papers to
read. While up stairs he found q pistol which
he did not know was loaded. tie said he called
John up stairs and pointed the pistol at him,
when it went Off He said that Chapman was
employed at his house.
THE VERDICT.
The jury returned verdict "that John Chap
man came to his death from pistol-shot wound
of the chest accidentally inflicted with pistol
held in the hands of VIM. Nj. Chedal. The jury
believes that the shooting was accidental, with
out malice or intent to do bodily HARM
Chann e Oned h was release1, ana h ,ne Doay OF
pared for burial by Mr.. Lee, the undertaken,
Mr.. Chedal bearing the expense.
THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF CIvICs.-The
annual meeting of the american Institute of
house Wednesday evening. The special sub
Ject for consideration is Education for citizen
ship and the best means for carrying forward
the work." Chief Justice Waite will preside
at the meeting. The organization includes in
its membership many gentlemen, who will
| attend the annual convention OF the depart
mont of superintendent to be held in this
city during the present week. The president of
the institute is Henry Randall Waite, PHI. d.
The National advisory board consists OF Hon.
Morrison r. Waite, LII. D., president; Hon.
Alfred ii. COlquitt, vice president; Hon. John
Eaton, Ii. D., secretary; Rev. Noah Porter. ID.
D., LID; Hon. William Preston Johnson, LII.
D.; Hon. Hugh McCulloch, Hon. and Rev.
Julius III. Seelye, ID. D.; Hon. Justin S. Morrill,,
Hon. Mellen Chamberlain, LII. ID. Councils
have been organized in various states and in
the District. The object of the organization is
to promote education in its relation to citizen
ship.
TEMPERANCE INSTRUCT IN THE SCHOOLS
AT a meeting at Foundry church yesterday af-
ternOOn addresses were made by Representa-
tive Dingley, of Maine, Mrs. Mary +. Lathrop,
of Michigan, and Mrs. Mary II. Hunt, of Bos-
ton, urging the Importance of scientific temper
ance instruction in the public schools. The
meeting voted unanimously in favor of such
instruction, and Hon. Hiram Price was au-
thorized to report 70 Congress the sentiment of
the meeting.
A CHANGE IN AN OLD FIRM.-A special
notice in THE STAR on Saturday announced q
change in the We'll known firm of Beavans and
Shaw, who have been engaged in the wholesale
flour and feed business for quite quarter of a
century, being the oldest firm in continuous
service in Washington. Mr. Beavans retires
and is succeeded by Mr.. 5. r. Merrill who has,
OF late years. been resident of Washington,
and is well known an upright, energetic
man of long experience in business affairs. The
new firm OF Shaw and Merrill will continue, of
course, at the old and familiar stand at the cor
ner of 11th and streets northwest