Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-02
ACCIDENTALLY KILLED.
The Legal Inquiry Into the Circumstances Of
the Death of Chas. Bradshaw.


the Death of Chas. Bradshaw.
John Rau, one Of the young men in the
party at Mr.. Goodalrs Wednesday night at
which Charles Bradshaw was accidentally shot,
went to Lieut. yernOns station yesterday and
stated that he was under the impression that
the ball Of his pistol was the fatal
one, but he could not tell how the pistol went
of, unless, after he had shot twice in the air
and when he dropped it, supposing that the
pistol Was not cooked, he must, in the excite
ment, have Internationally pulled the trigger.
He expressed his willingness to appear at any
investigation and was allowed to leave with the
understanding that he would appear at o'clock
Mr.. Bradshaw, the father Of the deceased, was
satisfied that the shot was accidental The fam
lily Is from Culpeper county, where the inter
ment will probably be made on Monday.
DIR. Thompson states that the ball passed d.
rectly through the heart and death was almost
instantaneous.
The coroner, DR.. Patterson, yesterday held
inquest with the following jurors at the fourth
precinct station: G.. Z. Mattingly, James Lee
Fontane, L A McDermOtt, Thomas A.
King, John Riddle and J. +. Collins
Aaron Cole man the first witness and he
testified that he lived at 1911 9TH street north
west; that they were all invited out to see the
old year out and new year in, and they stopped
NJ the corner; some gentlemen came up
and cigars were passed; Mr.. Rau fired,
when the whistles sounded, two
shots in the AIR and one downward.
Heard some one say that he had shot young
Bradshaw. The firing by Bau was all that
there in the party. Mr.. Rau and others
had come up TO / street from church and ex-
changed situations with him and friends and
all were OF good terms.
W. L. Gooial testified that he standing
on the corner with a friend named Cox; heard
some pistol shots and looked in the direction of
Bradshaw, Who was about to fall. Witness ran
and caught him and with assistance took him
TO the house; laid him down and sent for the
doctor; saw Rau with pistol; he fired twice
upward ard once as he lowered the pistol
John Rau testified that he and some associ-
ates had agreed to watch the old year out and
the new year in and. after a walk. at a few min
utes Of II o clock, they were on the corner Of
Maryland avenue and 9th street and some
young men were coming from Mr.. Goodalls 8;
there were fifteen eighteen in all about the
corner, When the whistles of the Baltimore and
Potomac engines commenced to blow the wit
ness drew his pistol and fred twice In the air.
Some red lights on the car track attracted his
attention and he lowered his pistol and it went
of and he raised II and fired IN the air again
He must have had his hand on the trigger
when he pulled back the cock. and il was when
he fred the fourth shot he heard II said some
one was shot Neither he nor hisSompanions
had been drinking; they do moi drink. The pis-
tol was an old-fashloned Colts revolver altered
for cartridges and was easy on the trigger
Lieut. Vernon showed the weapon, remarking
that it was out of order and dangerous to ham
die. A colored man had found it.
Mr.. Rau remarked: when / found that
had shot the young man / threw 1t as far as 1
could"
The jury returned verdict that death was
ally fired by John Rau and the latter was
allowed 10 depart for his home.