Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-27
He Could Not Survive the Wound Inflicted by
Myers-His Good Record on the force

He Could Not Survive the Wound Inflicted by
Myers-His Good Record on the force
brave policeman is dead and his loss Is
mourned not only by his family, friends and
brother officers. but also by the abiding
citizens, who respected him as much as the law
breakers feared him. Officer Slack passed away
about twenty-four hours after he received the
fatal stab wounds inflicted by his neighbor,
Charles j. Myers, the butcher and driver Of a
public coach. as published in yesterdays STAR.
Yesterday morning Police Surgeons McKim
and Stricken visited the patient and while they
knew that the wounded officer was in a bad
way, they gave the family hopes Of his re-
covery.
Maj. Moore, in his endeavor to do all in his
power toward saving the officers life sent for
DIR. j. Ford Thompson and had him see the
dying man, whose condition was correctly
stated In yesterdays STAR. He made an exam
ination Of the patient and said he could give
the family no hopes in the world as he consid-
cred the wound a fatal one. o..
Later in the evening Maj. Moore received
word that the officer resting quietly, and
he then had some hope of his ultimate recovery.
HIS LAST MOMENTS.
Policeman Crawford of the eighth precinct
was sent to the Slack residence last night to sit
up and look after his brother officer.
Mrs. Slack. who had remained with her hus-
oano ever since the fatal minute. was tired out
but as she had little hope Of his recovery she
determined to remain with him until the last
moment and SO she did. Mr.. Stanley l. Slack,
the offcer's brother, who is a teacher at the
reform School, reached the house shortly after
dark and remained until the last moment.
shortly before 2 o'clock the patient seemed
stronger and wanted to sit up. He was raised
and was able to sit up without assistance. He
apparently recognized everybody in the room.
and, taking his brother by the hand, he said,
at is all up with me-
Then he wanted to lie down again. and as he
did SO he breathed his last.
THE DEAD poLIcEMAN's RECORD.
Officer Slack was one of the best known men,
bers of the police force, having worn the blue
clothes and brass buttons since 1880. He was
born near Langley, Fairfax county, Va, July
10, 1876, and when quite young he came to the
District and lived in what is known as the old
first ward, where he served his apprenticeship
as carpenter. For a number of years he
worked at his trade for J. q. Naylor an extern
sive carpenter and builder. and in 1876 he APP
piled for position on the police force. The
Disagreement of his face operated against
him and he was rejected by the surgeons. He
was persistent, however, and four years later
ne received his appointment. Lieut.. Vernon,
who was then captain. assigned him TO the pres
ent eighth precinct, where he has done duty
ever since, with the exception Of a short time
that ne was In the present sixth precinct
TERROR TO ILLICIT LIQUOR DEALERS.
Soon after his appointment as an officer he
was put on the mounted service and has done
duty in the county, particularly along the Ben
ming and Bladensburg roads and in the vicinity
OF Ivy City. From time 10 time he has per-
formed valuable services for the authorities at
reform school fhronDh his 81 viz ut an.
ton to duty he had about succeeded in stopping
the sale of liquor on his beat on Sunday, and
had made that section quiet place, where
rowdies and thieves seldom went and violated
the law. During his term of service he made
many enemies among the whisky men and law
breakers. but the law-abiding citizens remained
faithful to him. and for that reason in his many
trials he came out all right.
His father was the late John Hancock Slack,
who was teacher of languages in the school in
mother was Lydia Hastings of Georgetown.
THE FUNERAL ON SUNDAY.
The deceased leaves a wife and five children,
the youngest being seven months old. His
funeral will take place At 2 o'clock Sunday
afternoon. The services will be conducted by
the Rev. Mr.. Markham, and the interment will
be nadein Congressional cemetery.
INVESTIGATING THE CASE.
This morning Maj. Moore had Inspector
Swindells detail Detective Block in the case, as
he wanted . thorough investigation made. An
order announcing the officers death and max
ing detail of twenty-four men to attend the
funeral will be issued by Maj. Moore tomor-
row.
The fatal meeting between the officer and his
neighbor, as published in yesterdays STAR,
happened about ten minutes before 1 o'clock
Yesterday morning. when the officer returned
home from duty. After the fatal injury had
been inflicted and Myers had also received Sc
we're injuries the distress whistle blown
and Policemen Brown and Wannell responded.
When the officers reached there the men were
not clinched. but the officer had been taken
into his house and Myers was in his yard not
far from where he had thrown the knife.
Mrs. Myers, who is an estimable lady, ap-
peared upon the scene, but she probably had
no idea Of the damage that had been done.
Policeman Wannell thought that that was Mrs.
Myers first appearance on the scene and he
says that she remarked That's whisky; that's
whisky"
The officer said he asked her not to repeat
it as he did not want Myers excited any more
than he already was. Knowing what had been
done the officer feared he would repeat the as
sault and they proceeded cautiously toward
him. expecting every moment to see him draw
the knife or a revolver, but when they caught
him he was not armed.
ANOTHER WOUND FOUND.
After the officers death it was discovered
that the wound of the left side was not the only
one made by the splitting knife" as there
was another stab wound almost as bad in an
pearance as the one which had been dressed by
tho physician and which it was supposed had
caused death. This wound was in the region
Of the groin and was about the same width as
the other wound and was probably as deep.
It is probable that one wound was received
he m ri nod in h., A.