Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-29
HIS SKULL WAS CRACKED.
But He Walked About for . Week and
Then Died.

SAS&ASA&S2>s
But He Walked About for Week and
Then Died.
A FATAL FIGHT IN Bah ROOM ABOUT 1AYrxo
FOB DRINKs-PATRIcK BURKE, A BAR xxxPTn,
CHARGED WITH THE MURDER OF wALTrs
DUvALL, A BooTBLAcK.
Walter alias 'Pete" Duvall, the colored boy
who had for several months blacked boots and
shoes on 7th street northwest between II and
streets, is dead. His body is now ON the dis
secting table in the morgue awaiting the ar
rival Of the coroner, while the man
who caused his death, Patrick Burke,
is locked up at the second pre-
cinct station, charged with murder. The
deceased was about eighteen years old and his
alleged murderer is three years older.
Patrick Burke is employed as bar tender in
Wards saloon, corner Of 7th and L streets
northwest, and it was in that saloon that Duvall
received the wounds on his head that 1t 10
thought caused his death.
THE FATAL FIGHT
occurred one week ago tonight. Il was sbout
$50 when Duvall entered the saloon, &C.
cording to the information received by the
police. He called for drink of liquor, and it
was paying for that drink that caused the fight.
The witnesses of what passed between the
differ, but all agree, and the prisoner admits,
| that he dealt Duvall more than one blow on
the head with q baton such as is used by
policemen.
After the trouble the injured boy left the
saloon and, with the assistance Of some friends,
he managed to get to his home, No. "A Jackson
alley, in the rear of the government
printing Office. From his home, so some
of the colored people say, he was taken
to drug store, where the CHASTITY wounds
on his head were dressed. He remained home
the following day, but Wednesday morning he
| went out, although it was thought that his
skull was fractured in more than one place.
During last week
HE SUFFERED GREAT AGONY,
but he did not remain in his bed or even in the
house. Strange to say, although he was
so badly injured, no physician was summoned
to attend hip. Some of those who saw him
say that there was a wide crack open in his
skull.
Yesterday morning he left home as usual,
but did not remain away long. He returned
| and complained of his head feeling worse and
said he was very sick. His mother treated him
as best she could, but still no physician was
sent for. To his mother the boy exhibited
morning when it was thought that he was dy-
| Ing, two colored girls ran to the sixth precinct
station in search of doctor. This was the
first time that the police had been informed Of
| the serious assault.
DYING ON THE PAVEMENT.
Policeman Oliver sent for DIR. Sprague and
that physician went to the house to see the
patient. Before he arrived there the boy had
been placed on the pavement in the alley, and
| there it was that the doctor found him in q
dying condition.
TOO LATE FOR MEDICAL AID.
DR.. sprague reported to the police that he
could do nothing for the boy, as he was dying,
| and Policeman Oliver fastened to the house to
learn some particulars of the tragedy.
When he arrived there the boy was dead. The
body was placed in the patrol wagon and taken
to the morgue.
Learning where the assault had taken place
and who had committed the deed the officer
telephoned the facts to the second precinct
station, and Policemen Barnes and LYDIA went
in search of the alleged murderer.
They went to Wards saloon, but he was not
behind the bar as usual. They found him up
stairs arranging his toilet, and the
officers think that he was about to leave,
as he had previously learned of the serious
condition of the injured boy. He told the Of
ficers of the circumstances under which he
dealt the blows, and he was then locked up on
a charge of murder, to await the result of the
coroner's inquest.
THE PRISONERS STATEMENT.
When seen in his cell by a STAR reporter the
prisoner did not hesitate to give his side of the
case. He said that the boy came in the saloon
last Monday night and got a drink of whisky.
The colored man employed in the saloon waited
on him.
"Duvall turned to me-" he said and asked
Did l pay you for the drink? Ireplied No,
when he said, NO, and you - of =, don't
intend to pay Burke said IN call police
mans attention to it if you don't
''Duvall said: You - of -, would you
have fellow pulled in for five cents?' He re-
piled: Yes, indeed would
:" Here's your old five cents said Du-
vail
s.As he threw the money on the bar" con-
tinued the prisoner, ''he reached over, and call
ing me - of -, slapped me in the face.
then got the club walked around the bar and
struck him on the head"
"How many times did you strike him?" the
prisoner was asked.
Indeed, and don't know" he responded.
81 didn't count them. but suppose my blows
were harder than his
THE vfCrIM's STATEMENT TO HIS MOTHER,
When Duvall went home he told his mother
that he went in Wards saloon and called for q
glass of beer; that he was too long getting his
money from his pocket and for that reason the
bartender struck him.
Coroner Patterson was notified of the death
and will hold an inquest at the sixth precinct
station tomorrow.
TWO OTHER PERSONS TO BE ARRESTED.
Coroner Patterson, assisted by Deputy Coro-
ner Schaeffer, made an autopsy this afternoon
and found that conclusion Of the brain. the
result of shock, was the cause of death. From
| statements made to the coroner by friends
of the deceased, DR.. Patterson ordered the ar
rest Of two other persons charged with being
| connected with the fight in some manner. The
arrests will be made this afternoon