Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-12


and he said that he witnessed the shooting. He
said that he was with Officer Oriani, detailed
in citizens clothes. They were coming up H
street just west Of 18th, when they saw two
men come out Of an alley. One of them was
about ten feet behind the other and he had
basket on his arm. ''We asked him what he
had in the basket" said witness, land he an
swered il was none Of our business. We looked
in hfs basket and told him we we're officers.
Seeing the milk in his basket" the witness con-
tinued. I'VE naturally suspected that he was the
milk thief"
should take him for milk thief and witness
said that he had been detailed that night with
Oriani to look out for milk thieves.
The negro said that he got the milk at the
back door of the house and was taking il to the
front door. He said to the officers that he was
employed there.
BREAK FOR LIBERTY.
Witness said it was very dark that morning
and they went to the rear of the house with the
colored man to give him chance to prove that
he lived there. When they reached the rear
OF the house the prisoner called 'Wiil several
times and receiving no response he made n
lunge at Officer Oriani, but witness could not
tell whether he struck him not. The man
ran past him and went in the direction of New
York avenue. when Officer Oriani fired one shot
at him. The man continued to run and had
nearly crossed New York avenue when the Sec
ond shot was fired. The fugitive continued to
run. Going around the corner of 18th street
and then turning into l street he entered
the alley in rear of the Franklin school
building and backed Up against the fence. Of
hcer Oriani pointed his pistol in the mans face
and said. Throw up your hands" The col
ored man threw up his hands and witness put
his nippers on him. After they had walked a
short distance out OF the alley Jackson said that
he was shot and when they examined him they
fnYry kali Of bxIx l. al - II
wagon was called and the injured man WAS
taken to the hospital.
When crcss-examined by Mr.. Armes witness
said he had been q member Of the force police for
six weeks and he had known Officer Oriani for
about month. Friday morning was the first
time he had done duty with him. and then they
were sent out in citizens clothes, and were told to
look after the milk thieves early in the morning.
Witness said the affair happened about 5:35
o'clock; that it was dark. jackson had three
bottles Of milk in his basket. He had reached
the mouth of the alley when Officer Oriani first
shot at him. The officer at that time was
about twelve feet behind the fugitive.
INSTRUCTIONS AS TO FIRING.
''What are your instructions with reference
to the use Of your Weapons" inquired Mr..
Armes.
mot to fire except in case Of self-defense,'
was witness reply.
''Any instructions in writing!"
"No. sir; only verbal
Following this Mr.. Armes stated the circum-
stances OF the arrest, and asked witness if he
thought there was sufficient Justification for
taking the mans life when he had only been
pursued thirty feet. and then asked if stealing
the milk was all there was against the man.
Witness said he judged from the way the man
ran that he had done something bad. and con-
cluded by saying: I'VE were trying TO maintain
our arrest
OFFICER oRIASI's STORY
Policeman Thomas Oriani, who shot the man.
was next sworn, and DR.. Schaeffer asked him if
he desired to make statement. He answered
that he did. At the suggestion of Mr.. Armes
he was told That he need not make statement
unless he SO desired. He said be desired to
make a statement OF the affair. In answer to a
question by the coroner witness said he had
been member of the police force about five
years. He explained that he had been sent out
in citizens clothes that night and had been told
to go to the vicinity from where complaints of
milk thieves had come. 1t was little after 5
O'Clock Friday morning, he said. and when they
got near 18th and II streets they saw two men
in the alley. One Of the men came out and a
few feet behind HIM came the other. who proved
to be Jackson. He had basket on his arm
and they stopped him and inquired what he had
in the basket. He replied. None of your bust
ness.
".we are officers he was told" said wit
ness. and We want to look in your basket
Witness told the story about their going to
the back door OF the house to see if the colored
man lived there.
While there, said witness. Jackson made a
lunge at him. but he coul! not what he had
in his hand. He ran out the alley and witness
called to him two or three times to halt.
FIRED AT HIM TWICE.
HE kept on running" said witness, "and
fired at him.
Witness fired second time after the man
refused to halt and then pursued him around
the corner Of 18th street and followed him to
the alley leading north from l street. When
they walked out of the alley Jackson said, I'm
shot" Seeing that he had been shot they sent
him to the hospital.
Mr.. Armes then cross examined him. He
said that lie saw the man in the hospital after
day break ana he judged he was about thirty
five years old. Witness was in the carriage
way when he shot, and in answer to Mr.. Armes
he said Il tried to cripple him, and not to kill
him"
1t was very dark that morning, said witness.
1t was cloudy and the lamps were not lighted
witness then told that complaints had been
made and said he knew the man had three Jars
of milk in the basket when he (witness) fred
the shots
Witness said he had received no special in
structions about his pistol that night. but he
understood that an officer could fire when his
prisoner got away.
~ oShaSuct WtAttu 10 KNOW II IL WOulO De
competent to ask if the officer knew that a
pistol had been taken from brother officer and
| snapped at him. Mr.. Armes thought the ques-
ton not proper one, and it was not asked.
DIR. wooDwARD's EXAMINATION.
DIR. Woodward was the last witness examined
He was present at the autopsy and he described
the deceased as being five feet six and one half
inches high muscular and athletic build and
said he weighed about 175 pounds. The bullet,
he said. entered the back at about an inch be-
low the twelfth rib and was cut out OF the front
of the body some distance higher than it en-
tered. showing that the body must have been in
STOPPING position when the wound was in
| ficted. The bullet, eaid witness. perforated
| the lower margin of the liver and wounded the
kidneys, gall bladder and intestines. The
wound was necessarily fatal. Witness told of
the operation performed on the patient in the
hospital and said that the patient was given to
understand that he would die. He was told SO
/ before the operation performed. Witness
said that death was caused from shock, the re-
suit OF the pistol shot wound.
| THE VERDICT.
After q few minutes deliberation the Jury
returned q verdict, ''that the said Andrew
Jackson came to his death at the Emer-
gency Hospital about $50 q. IN. December
10, 1892, Of shock, the result Of a pistol-shot
wound Of the abdomen, inflicted by pistol in
the hands OF Thomas Oriani. From the evil