Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-05
STABBED TO THE HEART.
Joseph Shorter Kills Edwin Smith
with q Rusty Fork.

The fifth arrest in this city this year of q
man on a charge of murder was made yester-
day. VIM. Smith, colored, was killed at the
corner of 10th and " streets northwest in the
afternoon by Jos. Shorter, who was soon after
ward arrested and locked up at the eighth pre-
cinct station. The murder was the result Of
game Of dice, or what is commonly called
''crap." The facts in this case, as in all the
murder cases of recent date among the colored
people, show that the game of scrap" or
''shakin' de bones" is the cause OF more
ARRAYS and homicides than all other causes
combined. 1t invariably crops out in the testi-
mony that either one of tie principals or wit
nesses had a SGT Of "bones" in his pocket.
THE MURDERER AND HIS VICTIM.
William Smith, the victim, was about twenty
two years old. He has been employed at Henry
Sheehy's grocery store, corner of llth and Y
streets. He has always borne an excellent
character. He lived with his mother in Clicks
alley, between 9th and 18th and r and streets
northwest
The prisoner il about twenty years old, and
hives with his mother and sisters on W street.
between 10th and 18th streets northwest. He
was employed as laborer in the Belt line car
stables, at 18th and v streets. He has not been
employed regularly during the past few days,
but has been hanging about the car stables.
ne was known among his companions as an ex-
pert ''crap shooter"
HID IN HAY-LoFT.
After the homicide Shorter made his escape
to the Belt line car-stable and concealed him
| self in the hay-loft. Search was made for him
there, but Shorter was not found. Later in the
evening. when he was taken in custody, he told
the officers that one of them, while hunting for
him in the hay-loft, touched him with stick.
He laughed at the idea of Smith being dead
when informed of that fact by Detective Car
ter, and said:
"You can't fool me-" be said, 81 have been
| talking to Smith since we had the trouble"
That may be SO" said Detective Carter.
''but if so they have treated him very badly,
for he is in the ice-box at the morgue."
This morning, the old rusty fork the weapon
used, was found in the Belt line stable. where
Shorter had thrown it.
THE coRoNER's INQUEST.
The prisoner was taken to the sixth precinct
station this morning and was present at the
inquest. The jury was composed Of NJ. ]. Nor
gan, Patrick Cusick, George Prather, John
Holmes, George Sill and Bushrod Hay.
THE FATAL FIGHT DESCRIBED.
Burrell johnson, colored, the first witness
called, testified that the fight occurred between
4 and O'Clock yesterday afternoon. He was
standing opposite his house, No. 2203 10th
street, when he saw Smith and Shorter sitting
on Mr.. Edwards doorstep. near the corner of
10th street. Mrs. Edwards came out and drove
| them away. Then they walked to 10th and W
streets and sat in the bay window. About ten
minutes after they got to the corner they
had fight that lasted ten minutes. Then they
went away. Smith went to 10th and V streets,
| and Shorter's mother took him in the house.
About five minutes later Shorter came out of
his back gate and walked through the alley and
returned to Mrs. Edwards corner. where there
is an lce-cream saloon. Shorter met Smith and
| asked:
$40 you want to fight this out?'
Smith replied: mo, Mr.. Shorter, I'll do away
| with it," Without words warning Shorter then
| drew back and struck Smith several times with
his fist. When he struck the first blow Shorter
had nothing in his hand. He then reached
toward his pocket for something, and then
| followed two blows on the breast with what
Shorter took from his pocket. When the third
blow was struck Smith ran to the middle of the
street and attempted to pick up stone. but
did not succeed. He placed his hand over his
| breast and
RAN AFTER SHORTER,
who was making his way toward the car stable.
Witness called to Smith: Come here, young
man, you are stabbed. you are cut to death"
Smith followed Shorter to W street. between
10th and 18th streets. The wounded man
| started toward witness, and then turned and
ran toward the vacant lot on 10th stree. Wit
ness went over and caught him as he was fall
ing Witness felt nervous aud let him drop.
Then some one came to his assistance. and they
placed the wounded man on the pavement
Witness could not say what Shorter struck
Smith with.
THE FIRST FIGHT.
| Charles Lincoln, colored, testified that he
saw the young men when the fight first started.
number of them were sitting on Mrs. Ed
wards step singing. Shorter came up and said
something about five cents" Somebody said
something about gambling. but witness did not
| remember what was said. Smith, he said
struck at the prisoner first. but did not hit him.
| Smith said to Shorter Don't fool with me
any more, and if you don't, I'll make YOU"
Smith extended an invitation to fight it OUT
| in the alley. Shorter declined, and they
clinched. Witness separated them three times
and took Smith away. He did not witness
the second fight.
Charlie, is you got my cigarettes" asked
the prisoner, as the witness was leaving the
| room.
OTHER TESTIMONY
Samuel Lincoln, colored, testified that YES
terday afternoon when the first fight took
place he and others separated the combatants.
Smith went to 10th and streets and stood on
| the corner. Shorter's mother took him home
Later, when Smith came up 10th street toward
W street Shorter came to w street and met
him near a tree-box. and Shorter struck Smith
| three times with his left hand Shorter had
his hand clenched though he had some
thing in his fist, but witness did not see what
it was. Smith put his hand to the wound and
staggered across the street and fell Smith
made no attempt to strike Shorter. When they
met near the tree-box Shorter called to him:
do You want to fight now?"
Witness did not hear Smiths reply.
VIM. A. Hickey was the next witness, but his
testimony was unimportant.
Jas. Edwards. colored, was called, but he only
saw the first fight.
STABBED TO THE HEART.
DIR. Edward NJ. Schaeffer, deputy coroner,
testified that he made an examination of the
body and found three punctured wounds over
the left nipple. There were also three similar
| wounds in the sack about the heart and one
| wound in the heart. The left lung was also in
| jured, but death was due to the wound of the
heart. The wounds were close together, as
| though they had been made with a fork and
| the wound in the heart was necessarily fatal.
SAW THE LUNGEs WITH THE FORK.
| Richard Vigal, colored, testified that the
prisoner came mp 10th street and Smith came
down 10th street. They met near a tree-box.
| Shorter drew q fork from his pocket. Witness
| could not hear what was said, but Shorter
seemed angry and was crying. Witness saw
him make two lunges at Smith with the fork.
Special Officer Jesse Given, colored. testified
that about o'clock yesterday afternoon he
was standing in his door when some ono stopped
| and said. .sThere's icb down the straef "