Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-06
LAST NIGHTS TRAGEDY.
The Saloon Keepers Story of the Shoot
ing-The Colored Girl Released.

On another page of THE STAR will be found
full report of the terrible triple tragedy last
night resulting in the death OF three men.
Sergeant Duvall interviewed the saloon
keeper, Brown, and his wife this afternoon. He
learned from them that Bush met Martin
Bland, colored, near the door. Bland attempted
to stop Bush, when the latter said: "lf you
stop me I'll shoot YOU" When Brown heard
the shooting at the corner below his place he
left and started toward 18th street. Bush, who
had shot Basey, passed him. Brown turned
and followed Bush back. When Bush entered
Browns place Mrs. Brown was standing at the
door. Her husband started upstairs, but she
pulled him back. Then the policeman and
Special Officer Davis arrived and went upstairs
The shooting followed. Five shots were fired
in the room-two by the officer and three by
the negro.
The empty shells taken from the weapon by
Bush while he was going from Walls to
Browns were found in the room today, and
one OF the bullets that probably caused the
death Of one of the men was also found.
THE BULLET PASSED THROUGH POLICEMAN
CRrPPES's BODY.
When the body of the killed policeman was
prepared for burial at Speare's undertaking es-
adjustment today it was discovered that the
bullet that entered his breast had passed en-
tirely through the body. Another wound was
found in the left arm The bullet had entered
the arm about five inches from the hand and
passed out at the elbow.
All day long a stream of negroes have been
visiting the sixth and second precincts 10 get Il
look at the victims but the curiosity of many
was not gratifed.
THERE WILL BE NO INQUEST.
Coroner Patterson was satisfied from the
statements of witnesses that there was no per-
son connected with the affair other than those
who are dead and he therefore concluded that
an inquest was unnecessary. The bodies of
the negroes will be turned over to their rela-
tives
THE FUNERAL OF THE DEAD OFFICER.
The funeral services over the remains of the
officer will be held at Speare's undertaking es-
Enlistment at o'clock tomorrow afternoon
and the remains will be taken to his late home
on the 4:i5 train.
Rosie Briscoe, the colored girl, and Martin
Butler, also colored, who were arrested wit
nesses, were released this afternoon. Ii is
thought that fourteen shots were fired IN ALL
NUMBER las.
The dead officers number was ''l45." 1t has
not heretofore been considered an ''unlucky
number" by superstitlous policemen, but, on
the contrary, those who have had it have been
promoted and the number has fallen to several
privates in that way. Tho number was carried
for fifteen years by Lieut.. Heffner while he was
a private, and when that officer was promoted
it fell to officer Duvall, who was afterward pro-
NOTED.
The pistol used by Bush was a 80 caliber
double action revolver, and when recovered il
was covered with blood. The officers hat and
baton, which were picked up in the room, were
also covered with blood.
When the news of the shooting reached the
station the horse was hitched to the patrol
wagon and it took only seven minutes for the
reserves to reach the scene of the tragedy.
DEADLY SHOOTING AT SHORT RANGE.
From the position of the bodies in the room
as they were found, it is thought that the shoot
ing was done in very close quarters, and that
after the shooting Bush tried to get out of the
| room but was unable to do so.