Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-05

Policeman Joseph 4. Burns received more
money this week for last months work than he
had ever received before for the same period,
and prosperity proved too much for him. He
received his money Monday. and last night he
went on duty got drunk and used his pistol in
a manner that is likely to result in the death OF
Capt James N. Miller. a one-srmed veteran OF
the Iate war who holds u clerical position in
the Treasury Department. The policeman this
morning SAYS Il don't remember. and that
is hisexplanaton of the shooting Of Capt. Miller.
Ate o'clock last evening Burns was perfectly
sober lie answered roll call in tie station.
made the military movements without break
and marched up 18th street toward his beat
with his brother officers.
NE TOOK DRISK-
Not long after going on duty he left his beat
,ad got a drink of whisky. which shaI pened
ais appetite for more, and exactly how much
more lie got ne probably does not know. lie
remembers. however. when he got his last
.lr;uk and II will in all probability be some
time before ne will re; smother. The shooting
occurred just front of tho fredoala Hotel
on street northwest between 18TH anu lain
streets and Witnessed by more thHn a
dozen persons. The affsir caused a great deal
of excitement at the TINE aud one man III the
crowI went 20 FAR y 10 suggest that the olhcer
Ought 10 be iynch-.L. Among the guests at the
IreGOI.LI a number OF persons WHO were
attending 'he convention of Christian Work.
ers AMI several Of the ladies, among them
being several from Hartford. hal attended n
meeting at the Central Union AIssioH and
were returning to the hotel when they Inc! the
officer.
his AcTi0SS TOWARD sTRsSaERs.
Being strangers in the city they wcre not
sure that they were the right road TO the
hotel and the officer was asked to give them the
no,essary directions. The ladIes evidently dlI
not notice bis condition when they made the
request: and his Willingness to go with tatm 10
The hotel made, IL uppear that he was all right.
Instead OF taking them 10 the hotel ne leu then
80 the old skating rink on New York avenue,
now occupied by battery a, Light ArtlIicry-
His actions then Indicated TO the iati1cs that
there was something wrong with the PAID
Guardian OF the peace as his conversation was
That of either crazy or an Intoxicated HAL
burns dlsaI peareu ana Ie!t the ladies staining
at the door Of barracks, where they We're found
by three, vOuEz men OF battery \. The ladies
tOId q. N ! re th5y wanted TO 50, and the
Young men escorted them across New York
avenue passing; the New Ork AveEue lresby-
teriaIs h1rcn. and VI 1t Win them 10 the door
o. the hotel
EE WAS CEAZY DRUNK.
The drunken Policeman had reached there
before hem ami L. he.I ans large police pistol
l.: his hand by bis sije and WAS trying to tell Of
SOM one whom ne ima -lLe4 had been follow
ing HIM he Lad BY LIS time become 80 IN
toSic,t.d ,rtt he tuT,eared lISe q. crazy man
and naturally q ugmOCt OF persons stopped 10
see what ils "OJ-.. next nlh re- rs the Sinaii
yatcrIn., increased ILr liquor MS iucreas.!s I's
ba,. effect Oh the mind aad nerves ct the po-
Ecenau VINO from his actions imagined that
su:ke- OF some person was pursuing h1m, ana
he blew mis- viii tIe Ior help " 20 TINS lime
there had been no violence attempted nor had
il even been intimated that there would be
- I'll hFE aar
Policeman Eaton was not lac 81 Winnie all tins
wa going on and his attention WAS first at
tracted 70 She affair by letter carrier, who
asked him il ne n.,sl seen Burns
Officer Eaton told him thai he had not seen
him slncs O'Clock. when they went on duty
together. a. the letter carrier told him that
Burns was drunk and Was around on III street
making fool oI himself.
OFFICER EATON ISroG.IED.
Officer Eaton st%rted tOwJrd the FredOnia
when be was met By citizen who shoute,:
Run quick there's a drunken policeman
around tie corner clubbing a woman The
The Ch.cer hen hasteuel ms footsteps and he
heard severed tUo,s of II whistle When he
rcachel the hotel lie .ou.d E,lrr:S standing in a
group Of persons with hla hands :. his side lie
did no. TIE pistol
Whats TIE natter. Burns: no asked
oh. nothing. repied the intoxicated man,
"these people are TT ing to DO me: that's all.
Capt. Sll.eT was then Standing ON the con-
crete pavement near the curbstole. and fearing
the drum ken man would do some damage he re-
marked: lake tbat pistol from him
Az UNPROvoKED SHOT.
Before Officer Eaton had time to see the
weapon Burns raised his arm and saying,
''you - Of -, pulled the trigger and
scus one of the large ieaden bullets into the
lett side of Capt. .Iilier's neck, Then followed
fe.ce struggle for possession % the weapon.
ami Policeman Eatun's Euod management
alone prevented Burns from shooting some one
else. The shot hal hardly been fiIeG before
Eaton dropped his baton and grabbed the
pistol with both hands Pairing the struggle
Burns got the pistol pointed toward 0ihcer
Eaton several times. but the latter had his
hands upon the weapon III such manner that
Burns could not discharge IL While this
struggle was going on Policeman Pearson. on
Tacrs beat IT happening, reached the
scene, and Eato: called 10 him: Grab him;
hes Eilled n man Pearson did as instructed
and Burns kicked him twice III the groin, caUs-
Ing him mach physical pain snd temporarily
disabling nIua-
BCI.Ss FINALLY oyERPowEREr.
Ofirer El.oa then ehoked Earns until he
was almost insensiDle asd finally succeeded in
ge..ing him upon the sidewalk aad getting his
uippe-s On hiIu. Strgt Shilling thea arrived
ard cltiz.a sent to the patrol box 20 call
.Le WAGON When the officers .,artad toward
the box with Burns he had so Ear recovered
from the effects OF fhC caOAinf shat be again
resisted and shO:Tvd tight
He ought 10 lie lyasAe1," WAS the remark Of
a bys:anJer. and 10 sooner had lie said it than
. the intoxicated OFFICER EIcked him. but the re-
suit vas rot serious Finally the patrol wagon
arrived. and after considerable trouble tho
IEisoEer wLs ,0t IN the vehicle aHt taken to
the station he remained Standing most of
re wav down the street, ard usei Wild and
abusive language besides kieSinG Oneer Eaton
l., the car Upon arriving at the station he
wert through tho usual .O-m OF other prls-
on-rs. re WAS relieved Of what yaIuables he
had, besides being suspended and charged with
attempted murder Whale III the cell the
prisoner said that private detectives we've after
him. and mentioned the name OF one who does
not happen 20 be in tie S.ty.
Being placed behind the bars did nc. pacify
the obstTeperous prlseEer. for he continued 20
talk m an iS-cnerent manner about the private
detectives and about people doing him.
THE WOUNDED CITIZES.
Ali this tine Capt Miller was being cared for
by people in the hotel Rev. l. Paysou Ham
naond, the evangelist, was among the FIRST TO
reach him after lie was shot and lie assisted in
tskiag the wounded man into the hotel Dr.
Sewers, who Wa sent i0E. rendered medical aid
for Capt Miller. whose wife Vas soon at his
sile. Later IN the evening The wounded man
MAS taken to Garneld Hospital and DIR. Ford
Thompson remained with him most OF the
night. Capt. Miller hal attended h meeting las
evening and was on his way to his home. No.
Sf4 18TH street. when ~ rec sd the Sauseroas