Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-18
CUTTING OF FRED HIPKINS.
Testimony BEFORE the Co-oner's Jury y
terday-Johnson Found Guilty.


CUTTING OF FRED HIPKINs.
Testimony BEFORE the Co-oncr's Jury Yes
terday-John.on Found Guilty.
William A. Peacock. James Holmes Patrick
Cusick. William A. Sleeper, James d. Grigg
and John n. Baird followed Coroner Patterson
into the morgue and were sworn to inquire
into tine death Of Frederick Hopkins, the col
orcd man who died in Providence Hospital
Monday night from the effects of a wound in
the neck inflicted by John Arthur johnson.
alias James Brent
Hipkins' body lay on the dissecting table
covered with Q sheet, while in the only ice
chest provided for the morgue was the body Of
PAL Frazier, the other coored man who had
died from injuries inflicted by William Lam
caster.
After being sworn in the case OF Hipkins
they were similarly sworn in the other case.
In the sixth police station. in front OF the
morgre, sat the aged mother OF the deceased.
With two of her children. aud the elderly woman
time that her dead son had been cut, she said.
and she knew that he mover carried a weapon
of any sort Several years ago. she said, he
cut by viii Smith.
present at the inquest. The police say that he
always travelled under the name of John Ar
thur johnson. although he Gays that his name
is James Brent.
MARY YoCNG's TESTIMONY.
Mary E. Young was the first witness called.
She is young colored woman, who gave her
residence as Locust court, but she said there
was no number on her house. Locust court is
between 4 and 9th and l. and NJ streets south
west II was going down the alley to the
pump. she said, when the men came along.
The deceased IHipkins) was in front and john
son called to him to stop Hopkins did not
stop. Then Arthur johnson said to Hopkins,
stop, you -. / will die for You, and
Johnson started to run after Hopkins again.
johnson returned in about three minutes and
said be had cut Hopkins Witness said that
johnson came down VI street and went toward
the southeast, but she saw nothing more Of
Hipkins.
Had you seen the men together before shis?''
asked the coroner.
NO. sir, responded the witness; "the first
saw OF them was when they crossed the alley"
Witness added that Johnson said he had cut
Hopkins with a razor.
POLICEMAN soNrAe.
Policeman Sontag Of the fourth precinct tes-
tilted that on the evening in question October
81 his attention was called to a man on 18th
street southwest between F and G streets. The
crowd was ON the east side Of the street. Wit
ness ran down there and found Hopkins with a
IL
posed, bleeding to death. He called some men
to assist in carrying the injured man to DIR.
Judd drug store, corner of 18th and + streets,
and called in DR.. Hammett to attend him. The
injured man at that time was unable to speak.
but after the doctor had treated him witness
learned from him that his name was Fred Hip
kins and that he was stabbed by a man named
John Arthur johnson. Earlier in the evening"
possibly between and o'clock. Hopkins came
to him and complained that another man lad
70 NfA.Ve
time Hopkins came from Hennessys saloon
corner of Az street and Louise alley. Hipkins
asked him 10 go over to the saloon and prevent
the trouble if possible, and he went over there
but the man had gone. Witness saw nothing
more OF Hopkins until after he was stabbed.
THE ARREST OF JOHNSON.
Policeman Henry testified that two weeks
ago Monday, about 10 o'clock in the morning.
when Policeman Henry arrested johnson, wit
ness went with the patrol wagon to the corner
of 18th and NJ streets to get the prisoner. When
brought to the station the prisoner was ques-
toned In reference to the cutting and he posi-
lively denied that he the one who did
it. He continued to deny it until about 2
O'Clock in the afternoon, when he was taken
from a cell with the intention of taking him to
the hospital for identification. When witness
took hold Of him to carry him out the prisoner
asked: where are you going to take me!'
ITO Providence Hospital for Identification"
witness told him.
There's no use taking me over there" the
prisoner added. Il acknowledge that did the
cutting
The prisoner then claimed that he and Hip
kins had some trouble and that Hopkins had
hit him first. There was small piece of plas-
ter on the prisoners head and there he said
was where Hopkins had struck him. Witness
did not raise the plaster to see the wound.
The prisoner was then taken to the hospital
and the patient who was then very sick,
pointed at him and said: That's the man who
cut me-. Sergeant Berry, he said. was with
shim at that time.
POLICEMAN KINGS EVIDENCE.
Policeman Robert l. King was next sworn,
and he told of arresting the prisoner on ferry
boat as he was about to leave the city. That
was the Monday after the cutting occurred.
The prisoner denied that he cut Hopkins. al
though he admitted that he had some trouble
with him. He said that after they had quar-
relied they got drink and made up.
THE VERDICT.
The jury returned o verdict holding the pris-
oner responsible for the killing, and the coro-
ner made out the necessary paper for his de-