Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-20
BEER AND BULLETS.
A Tragedy That Brought Carouse to .
Sudden End.


FATAL SHOOTING AFFRAY NEAR THE oBsERvA-
ToRY-EDwARD DAVIS, WHO FIRED THE
PISTOL, CLAIMS TO HAVE SHOT IN SELF
DEFENSE
Don't let that beer get you in trouble" was
the remark made by Sergeant Trunnel at the
third precinct station yesterday about 1:30
O'Clock. The remark was directed to several
young men who were leaving the police station
with key of beer. There was history of
disappointment and surprise connected with
the beer, and later on it resulted in the killing
OF Webster Brenaugh. tolored. by Edward
Davis, white. The beer was purchased Satur-
day night at John Albert's brewery and was
kept on ice there until Sunday afternoon, when
1t was delivered
THE POLICE INTERFERED.
The men were rolling the key down the hill
from the brewery when they were interrupted
by two policemen, who took possession OF the
beer, and the men were obliged to go thirsty
The officers tried to make a case of violating
the Sunday law against the brewer, but MIR.
Dumont would not prosecute him, because the
sale was not made Sunday.
Thus the beer reverted to the possession of
Mike Curtis, James Dunn and Charlie Connell,
and Davis was invited to drink with them.
The keg OF beer carried as far as
Fletcher's hill, near the Observatory grounds.
where it was tapped and soon emptied. One
keg among the party was not enough for them.
lhey clipped IN enough money and a second
keg WAS purchased
ME. BRENAUaH's SHED.
Before they succeeded in emptying the
second key it began to rain and they ran with
the beer to shed in rear of house occupied
by the Brenaugh family. Upon reaching the
shed the key was again placed ION tap"
Webster BrenauGh came ont to where they
we're and drank a glass of beer that was offered
him.
THE FATAL QUARREL.
Then he turned to Davis, with whom he had
some trouble two years ago. and ordered him
outside. quarrel ensued and Davis fired
three shots at Brenaugh. The third shot took
effect in the negroes breast. After the fatal
shot was fired Davis friends parted them.
They left the wounded man there and went on
toward their homes.
The wounded negro was taken to the Emer-
gency Hospital where he was attended by DIR.
Ellyson, and no was afterward removed to
treedmans Hospital, where he died about 8
o'clock.
Policemen Jacobson and Kersten arrested
Davis at his boarding house and he was locked
up.
THE PRISONERS STORY.
Il was walking along the street." said Davis
the prisoner, when seen by a STAR reporter
this morning, 'when a friend asked me to 90
over to Observatory Hill and have glass of
beer, saying that the fellows had n key. at
first objected because the others had not in
vited me. but he insisted that if he was well
come was and go went with him. / drank
two glasses of beer and then went over to nv
boarding house on oath street between 6 and
II streets
Il had no work to do and so l thought
would walk over on the flats and shoot nv re-
volvcr. Taking the revolver from the room
started toward the flats. On the way there l
had to pass the boys, and they then had the
second keg of beer, for which had ,chipped in
hiteen cents. l stopped again and had some
more beer. Before the keg had been tapped
long enough to empty the storm came I'D and
the whole party made for a place of shelter.
we ran into the first shed we came to- and it
happened to be in the rear of Brenaugh's house
Had known it was his house would have re-
manned outside. After getting under the shed
Brenaugh came out and got a glass of beer
Then he turned to me and ordered me ont, He
dld that suppose because of some trouble we
had two years ago, when he assaulted and
nearly killed me with a cobblestone tied in a
handkerchief.
Il got up to leave" continued Davis .'when
Brenaugh drew a revolver and pointed it at me.
drew my weapon and fred two shots at him.
Those shots 1 directed at his legs. Brenauph
had the weapon i'll his right hand and l
grabbed 1t with my left Seeing he
intended to shoot me if possible 1
fred the third shot to kill; pulled the trig-
ger the fourth time, but it hung fire and would
not go off. Drenaugh has threatened to kill
me number of times and have been acting
like a mouse pursued by cat"
PREPARING FOR THE POST MoRTEM
This morning the dead body of Brenaugh
was placed on a stretcher and removed from
the dead house at the Freedmans Hospital to
the norge. where it was placed on the zinc
covered slab and prepared for the post mortem
examination.
THE INQUEST.
Deputy Coroner Schacffer held an inquest at
the sixth precinct station at noon today. The
prisoner, Davis, was brought from the third
precinct and was present at the hearing His
father, who is in the commission business on B
street, and his brother were also present with
Lawyer Campbell Carrington looking after
the interests of the accused
The testimony at the inquest brought out the
story OF the tradedy substantially AS told above
DR.. ". NJ. Sprigg. who made the autopsy,
testified that the bullet entered the left chest
about two inches TO the right and three inches
below the nipple. The seventh rib was slightly
fractured and the ball entered the stomach.
The prisoner made statement in his own
behalf
THE PRISONER DISCHARGED.
The jury after half an hours elaboration
returned a verdict that Brenaugh's death was
the result of pistol-shot wound inflicted by
DAVIS, but from the evidence the jury believed
that Davis was i'll fear and danger of
losing his own life and under these circum-
stances they found that the shooting was justi-
fable. The verdict exOnerates the defendant
| and he was discharged