Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-19

THOMAS H. TATE INFLIcTs FOUR WOUNDS UPON JAS.
D. BUTLER-REsULr OF SEEING THE TOWN
THE WOUNDED MANS CONDITION SAID TO BE
CRITICAL AND HE MAY DIE.
This morning between $50 and 4 o'clock,
when there were but few persons on Pennsyl-
vania avenue except policemen and might
liners" or all-night cabmen, a stabbing and
cutting match occurred at tho corner of I1th
street, in front of The STAR Office, that was the
result of what started as a friendly exchange
of words.
The participants were Thomas II. Tate and
James ID. Butler.
The former. who is from North Carolina, is
now in custody behind the prison bars and the
latter, who is said to be brother of Congress-
man-elect Butler, is suffering from four wounds
lie is occupying u cot in Providence Hospital
Both are young men aud they hold positions
under L ncle sam. Butler Is clerk in the
War, State and Navy building, while Tate is III
the same building as a messenger.
WHAT STARTED THE DIFFICULTY
They were on friendly terms last evening
when they started out to see the town, but
while in house south OF Pennsylvania avenue
one Of the female inmates made fun of Tate
because of his peculiar actions, which were, no
doubt, the result OF drink.
aleE mousse, WHICH was not long
before the clerk received his possibly fatal
wounds, Butler still amused himself by refer
ring to what had been said by the facetious
female, which evidently did not suit Tates
fancy, and when they reached the corner of
18th street they halted
Policemen Weldon and Eaton were standing
IN the street conversing and they paid no par
ticular attention to the young men.
Presently they noticed Butler receive a slap
on the cheek, but as such pleasantries are in
duged IN by men out ON a lark the officers
paid no attention to it.
BUTLER STABBED FOUR TIMES.
Butler then made toward Tate and the lat
| ter swung his arm around as if going through
the motion of INJECTING an injury with
| weapon although the officers had no idea that
| such had been the case.
Butler grabbed late, threw him down and
| sat upon him. You see," he said to Tate II
| can hold you down like a child" While down
Tate inflicted three more wounds, making four
| IN all
Get up there. We want you," said one of
the officers, and Butler. who was ON top,
obeyed- As he arose he put his hand to his
side and said, I'm cut"
| Officer Eaton then took Tate to the first pre-
cinct station, on 18th street, and Officer
| Weldon went with the injured man to the
Emergency Hospital There he was attended
by Dr. Middleton. The patient was very weak,
having lost nearly gallon OF blood.
| DESCRIPTION OF THE WOUNDS.
| There was q cut in his left side about seven
inches long and a shorter one on his hips
There was also stab wound in the side and
| one near the groin. The doctor dressed the
wounds and stopped the flow OF blood and then
sent the patient to Providence Hospital
This afternoon the physicians at the hospital
| said that Butler was doing well as could be
| expected under the circumstances, although
he was in a critical condition.
Tate, who Is twenty-five years old admitted
to Officer Eaton that he inflicted the wounds
and gave up the penknife that he used.
The blade is only about two inches long. A
| warrant was sworn out today charging Tate
! with assault with intent to kill and the case
was continued indefinitely to await the result
Of Buffers injuries.