Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-21
JOHNSON RESPONSIBLE
For the Death Of "woolly" Alexander, Ac-
cording to the Coroner's jury.

cording to the Coroner's Jury.
There nothing but dry scab on the side
Of William Alexander's body when Deputy
Coroner Schaeffer viewed the body at the morsue
yesterday. but beneath that small scab there
was hole through which bullet from George
JohnsOn's pistol had passed. The bullet had
passed through the liver and had also pene-
trated one of the kidneys. The wound inflicted
was necessarily of a dangerous character. DR..
Schaeifer secured the bullet where it had lodged
and 1t had not been Aattened at all. Alexander.
who was known to his companions as "woolly. -
l'eo three days after receiving the wound.
GUS BROWNS STORY.
Gus Brown. young colored man who lives
on Grant avenue near 9Th street, was the first
witness called and he described the trouble
that occurred Thursday night which resulted
in the shooting Of Alexander by johnson.
Witness said that he with the deceased and
Cornelius Burrill, and when passing through
MoOres lane they stumbled over Johnson and
Hattie Peel johnson got up and asked: ''Who
| In the HI are you foxing?
One of their number told him that they did
not know he was there and they went on the
way toward the city. They passed through
lie Droit Park and went as far as 18th street and
Florida avenue. when the prisoner drew his re-
volver and shot Alexander.
When questioned by the coroner witness said
| they were on their way home from a garden
party on Pomeroy street. He was asked why
he went along Moore's lane out Of his way,
and he said that he was going home with Alex
ander. because the latter had asked him and
Burrill to go with him.
One OF the jurors expressed surprised that
the shooting did not occur on the lane where 1t
is a lonesome place instead of at Florida ave-
nue. and 18th street. where the place is brightly
lighted.
CORNELIUS BURRILL's TESTIMONY.
Cornelius Burrill, eolored. also gave testi-
mony as to Alexander stumbling over johnson
and Hattie Peel and to the language used by
Johnson Witness did not hear johnson say
anything before he did the shooting. He and
Brown went part Of the way home with Alex
ander as he thought the latter was afraid be-
cause it was dark. He said that when johnson
bred the shot he ran and got on a cable car.
Witness followed and got on the car to tell
policeman, but the conductor put him of.
CONDUCTOR LYNN SAW THE FLASH.
Conductor Joseph Lynn of a cable car testi-
fed that he saw the flash of the pistol John
son and a woman ran down toward the car and
one Of the men following him said: mister.
catch that man. he shot somebody"
Witness pretended he was going to catch the
prisoner. when the latter pulled . pistol from
his pocket and said:
Don't you touch me-"
"AIuess itt MN go anu ne went across the
street. He then returned to the car and Alex
ander said All right you sucker, you've shot
me- but will get you.
johnson retorted: .Yes. d-n you, I'll shoot
you again if you follow me-
johnson and the woman got on the car and
rode down as far as street. when he (witness)
called Officer Barnes attention to him and the
latter arrested him.
Policeman Barnes testified to the arrest and
finding Of the pistol ON the prisoner. The lat
ter said he shot Alexander, whom he did not
know, because the latter was stoning him.
There were three empty chambers in the weapon
and three were loaded.
HATTIE PEEL's VERSION.
Hattie Peel, the colored girl about whom the
shooting occurred. was next called. She lives
on Wilson street, in the county. and was with
George johnson when he fired the fatal shot
Witness said she met George down the city that
night and he started home with her. Before
reaching her house and while on Moore's lane
they met Alexander, Burrill and Brown. They
spoke to her and johnson and tine latter told
them that she (Hattie) was going to stay where
she was. Cornelius Burrill, she said, told
Johnson he would have five minutes to get out
OF the camp. Alexander, she said, asked John
son if he had a match, and he replied that he
had not. Alexander said: Its all right and
you can have five minutes to get out Of the
camp"
Witness said that she started back with John
son because she feared he would get in trouble
The three men, she said, threw stones at them
and followed them to the corner of Florida
avenue and 9TH street. where Burrill threw a
stone at Johnson. The stone missed him and
struck house. and johnson then fired
The witnesses Brown and Burrill were re-
called and were brought face to free with the
gIrl, but the latter did not change her first
story. Neither did the men.
THERE WAS LYING SOMEWHERE.
Coroner Patterson told Hattie that there was
some lying somewhere and Hattie said 1.-The
boys" lied.
In answer to question by juror Hattie said
that Alexander had piece of brick in his hand
when he was shot.
Policeman Mcdonald testified to the identify
of the weapon and said that johnson told him
he shot Alexander in self-de:ense; that the
boys were stoning him when he fred.
Sergt. Daley testified to statements made by
Alexander and johnson and Deputy Coroner
Schaetier testified to the autopsy. The state
ment of the dying man was that he and his
companions followed Hattie and George to 7th
anu Boundary. as stated by Hattie. Witness
said lac searched the ground where the shoot
ing occurred and found piece Of brick and a
cobblestone.
JOHNSON HELD RESPONSIBLE.
This closed the testimony and the jury re-
turned verdict holding the prisoner. George