Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-14
POLICEMAN REILLY'S DEATH.
Was That Officer Murdered or Killed by
q Fall2

1
ALTHOUGH IT r. ASSERTED THAT HE had BEEN
DRINKING RECENTLY, YET MEN WHO SAW HIM
| DIRECTLY AFTER HE WAS HURT SAYS he WAS
soBER-THE CORONER.
| Coroner Patterson said this morning that he
was unable to tell whether or not he would
hold an inquest in the case Of Policeman Reilly,
| whose death yesterday was reported in The
STAR He had not been fully acquainted with
the facts, nor had he seen the attending ply
stefan, DR.. Henderson, who prescribed for the
officer after he was injured. Lieut.. Heffner
had informed him that Mrs. Reilly, the police
mans widow raised an objection to an autopsy
being made, and he would. therefore, have to
consult the law on that subject. The law re-
| quires an inquest in a case where the death is
not clearly accidental and where it is not the
result of natural causes. The question to be
settled is whether an autopsy is part of an in
quest or not.
| NO EVIDENCE THAT THE OFFICER WAS DRUNK.
Doubt is expressed by some persons con-
nected with the police force and other persons
as to the entire truth of the statement made
by the officer after he received the injury. 1t
Is animated that he had probably been drink
| ing and that that was primarily the cause of
his death by fall. Such theory, however,
Is not borne out by the statement made by DIR.
Henderson to a STAR reporter yesterday; nor
is there particle of evidence that the officer
was intoxicated that night. 1t is said, how
ever, that he drank two glasses of beer in the
hour after he went off duty.
TESTIMONY OF TWO PERSONS WHO OUGHT TO
KNOW.
Policeman Gantz was the last person who was
with Reilly before he was found in the gutter
by MIR. Brooks, as published in yesterdays
STAR. Policeman CAN'T, when questioned bya
STAR reporter, denied positively that Reilly was
drunk when he left him and the time between
then and when he arrived home was not long
enough for him to have got drunk.
Mr.. BROOKS. who escorted the officer part of
the way home, was seen by STAR reporter to-
day he said that he was on his way home
Saturday evening when he saw the officer in
the gutter trying to get up. He helped him up
and handed him his hat, which was some 10
or 10 feet from whore the officer was lying
Inc officer, he said, did not appear to have his
right senses and muttered something about
roughs or toughs. Not thinking Reilly was
seriously injured he left him at the corner of
Sd street, not more than half square from his
house. Like Officer Gantz, he denied that
Reilly was intoxicated. and he certainly had a
good opportunity Of learning that fact had it
been so.
THE CONSISTENT STATEMENTS OF BELLY HIM
SELF.
Soon after getting in the house the officer
told his wife the story of the assault, as hereto
fore published in THE STAR, and also told about
the profane answer made by a colored man
whom he (Reilly) asked for assistance.
tuesday night when the officer was taken so
Ill the wound on the back of his head began to
swell and soon was as large as hen egg. All
night long he was delirious and in his rawlings
his talk indicated that he was struggling with
negroes. He refused to lie down except during
short intervals and when the officers would
m Ia an ha
to pick him up. Frequently during his delirum
he called Don't let them beat me" and Catch
them"
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS.
Mrs. Reilly's brother arrived here from Mar
tinsburg, w. Va, this morning Undertaken
Wright embalmed the body and it was decided
to have the funeral services Friday morning at
III O'Clock. The remains will be taken to Mar
tlnsburg for interment. The remains will be
accompanied to the depot by an escort Of
twenty-four policemen, and officers from the
second precinct will probably be selected as
pall-bearers.
THE CAUSE OF THE OFFICERS DEATH
Is a question Of considerable interest, not only
to the community but to his widow and child,
as they may be entitled to the benefit of the
policeman's fund. One dollar is deducted
from each mans salary every month, which Is
made part of this fund. The fund is for the
benefit OF old and disabled policemen and their
widows and children. The law on that sub
Ject, however, Says that the fund is for the
reiief OF officers who are injured or who are
diseased in the line of duty. If it is decided
that the officers death was due to
violence, as he stated, his wife and
child will come in for assistance.
but If 1t is decided to the contrary they will not
be provided for from that fund. Officer Reilly
was member OF the relief and his widow
would receive about $3.50 from that source in
addition to s75 for funeral expenses.
THE CORONER HAS NOT DECIDED WHETHER TO
HOLD AN INQUEST
Coroner Patterson said this afternoon that
he had not yet decided what course he would
pursue in the case and did not think he would
determine the question until tomorrow 1t
was stated today on good authority that Police
man Reilly had been drinking lately and that
his death was probably fastened in that
manner.
The police department will Issue an order
this afternoon or tomorrow formally announc-
ing the officers death and making detail of
officers to escort the remains to the depot.
Should be Brought to Mount Vernon.
To the Editor of The EVENING STAR:
/ suggest that instead of erecting a monu-
ment over the present resting place of Mary
the mother of Washington, the remains be
brought to Mount Vernon and there placed by
the side of her illustrious son as a natural and
fitting solution Of the question. Let the ma
tional government acquire the ownership of
Mount Vernon, which might then be placed in
the charge Of the quartermaster general of the
army, which official now controls the national
cemeteries.
The advantages Of this proposition are
obvious. The idea of the lonely grave at
Fredericksburg shocks the moral sense as
marking family separation. To visit it neces-
states long and wearisome Journeys seri-
Gus tax on the time and pockets of the people,
II she ID brought to Mount Vernon a suitable
monument can there be erected by the govern
ment, and on may be inscribed the story which
will be an object lession to other mothers and
their children, reaching vastly larger number
OF our citizens than is possible at the present
site. Many other reasons will suggest them
selves ON reflection. SID NJ DAVIS.
The Death Record.
During the twenty-four hours ending at noon