Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-07-31
DIED OF HIS WOUNDS.


DIED OF HIS WOUNDS.
The Negro Intruder Who Was Shot by
Charles Howison.
THE LATTER's MIDNIGHT WATCH ron TIE THIEF
WHO HAD BEEN RoBBINo HM-rHx PRowLER
SHOT IN THE BACK WITH BInD sHor-Nyu-
RIEs WHICH PROVED Fatal.
William johnson, the negro who was
shot Monday night by Charles Howison, was
injured worse than was at first supposed and
yesterday afternoon about o'clock he died
As stated in yesterdays star, the shooting oc-
CURED on Mr.. Howison's premises.
Mr.. Howison, who is about twenty-eight
years old, is . cripple, and with his father, he
works garden on HALF street southwest near
the river. Mr.. Howison, like many Of his
neighbors in the same business, has been In
the habit for some years Of loading his wagon
over night in order to be ready for an early
start to market in the morning. He would
leave the vehicle standing on the roadway in
the garden near the house with only covering
to keep the rain out From time to time
vegetables and fruits were missed from
attention was paid to the pilfering.
PERSISTENT PILFrRER.
Recently, however, Mr.. Howison has been
the victim Of series of thefts. Seldom would
a night pass that his wagon was not robbed
In order to guard against these depredations
he determined, after loading the wagon each
afternoon, to put the vehicle ia the wagon
house and secure the doors. Even this did not
have the effect of keeping the thief away.
Every morning when Mr.. Howison went out to
start for market he would find that he had
been robbed, and each time it was the choicest
fruits and vegetables which were missing from
the boxes and barrels. Several nights the
barking of the dog awakened the members Of
the family, and each time some one would 20
out to make an investigation, but was never
able to get glimpse OF the robber. The bark
ing OF the dog would brighten the thief of, but
he usually secured basket of choice products
OF the garden before he departed. The losses
were more than the Howisons were able to
stand. and the son made up his mind to secure
the burglar if possible.
MIDNIGHT WATCH FOR THE THIEF.
Monday night was the time he selected to
watch for the thief. 1t was after 9o'clock when
he picked up his shot gun, which was loaded
with Nos. 6 and 8 bird shot, and went to the
stable to await the arrival of the robber who
had been reaping the benefits of his hard labor
Seating himself in the carriage he waited pa
tiently for two hours. Now and then he would
hear dog bark or a sound about the fence,
and each time he was sure that the thief was
coming. The night was dark and rain fell at
intervals. At one time it would clear up so
that the form of a man could be seen some dis
lance off. Again threatening clouds would
cover the sky and make it so dark that nothing
but the fickering lights on the river could be
seen from the HowIson garden.
THE RoBBER CAME
.Ja~ H. II
him. On his arm he carried basket, in which
were three sacks in which to put his plumber.
He had a few ears of corn in his basket, but
where he got them no one will probably ever
know. Stopping at the gate he removed his
shoes and put them in the basket. Thinking
the coast was clear he passed through the
garden to the carriage house. He had no
difficulty in finding it for he had been there
before. "Click" went the stable latch and Mr..
Howison was surprised. He looked toward the
door, but the darkness prevented him from
even seeing the form Of the burglar. Being
barefooted the intruder crept noiselessly to the
wagon. The faithful watcher then heard him
climb into the wagon and take hold of box or
barrel By this time the negro was high
enough in the air to be seen, but Mr.. Howison
could not tell whether he was white or black
Being satisfied that he could surprise the in
truder Mr.. H0wison shouted ''Stop there! stop
theren'
THE FLYING THIEF SHOT IN THE BACK.
The negro, finding he was detected, sprang
from the wagon and, pushing the heavy doors
open, started to run off. Just as he opened the
doors Mr.. Howison raised the gun and fred,
He had not the slightest idea, he SAYS, of kill
ing the negro, but thought he would brighten
and probably stop him. The bird shot, he
thought, could not have fatal effect The
negro continued to run. He turned the corner
of the stable and disappeared in the darkness.
The report OF the gun shot brought the other
members Of the family to the stable but Mr..
Howison, as he came out of the stable with the
gun in his hand, said: ats no use; he's gone"
THE WOUNDED MAN SAYS 1T WAS HIS FAULT,
His father, however, said they would look
around the place, A lantern was procured.
and not 40 yards from the stable was found the
negro lying in the path with his face toward
the ground.
1T was my fault" he said, az they picked
him up; don't have MIR. Charlie arrested. be-
cause 1 am to blame for it."
1t was then about HIS o'clock. The injured
man was carried to the house and given drink
OF brandy. Word was sent to the station house
and the patrol wagon soon arrived. The
wounded man was first taken to DR.. Winters
Office and then to the station.
Mr.. Howison was placed under arrest. After
being treated by DIR. Winters the negro was
taken to Freedman's hospital.
Mr.. Howison was released on 800 bail on
charge of assault.
DEATH OF THE WOUNDED MAN.
When examined at the hospital the victims
neck and back were found to be full Of small
shot and bits of his clothing were in the small
wounds. Yesterday the patient grew weaker,
and about o'clock in the afternoon he died.
HowIsoN AGAIN ARRESTED.
When the negro's death was reported Po-
liceman TreadweIl rearrested Mr.. Howison,
The police were generally of the opinion that
Mr.. Howison should not be punished for shoot
ing the man who was robbing him, and the
officer did not treat the prisoner as a criminal.
Instead of being put in cell where other
prisoners are placed he was placed in one of
the large dodgers rooms on the second ioor,
The dead body Of the negro was removed to
the morgue, where q coroner's fury was sum-
moned to appear this afternoon at o'clock.
THE AUTOPSY.
Deputy Coroner Schaeffer made an autopsy
on the body. He found that most of the shot
entered the right side near the arm pit and
some Of them entered the arm. The shot
shattered the right lung and filed the lung
with many small pieces Of bone. The wound
was necessarily fatal one.
THE INQUEST.
The jury, which was composed Of George
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