Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-02

George L. Evans Shoots and Probably Fatally
Wounds John Il. Behrens.


BEHBENs HAD RUINED MISS EVANS AND REFUSED
TO MARRY HER-HE ALSO DOES SOME SHOOTING
AND WOUNDS A MINISTER IN THE CROWD
EVANS TELLS HIS STORY.
There were several badly frightened persons
near the Baltimore and Ohio depot Yesterday
afternoon when two young men, John E.
Behrens and George 7. Evans, met on the side
walk and exchanged pistol shots. The affair
happened about o'clock, Just as the com
muters were on their way to catch the afternoon
trains, so that it attracted large crowd in a
few minutes. Among the first to respond was
Policeman John T. Howe, who is on duty at
the railroad depot. When he approached the
crowd Evans, who still held the smoking pistol
in his hand, handed the weapon over TO the
officer and said. II did the shooting"
Lying on the sidewalk in pool of blood was
young Behrens, while leaning against the fence
inclosIng L. W. Smiths lumber yard was the
Rev. John II. Boyd a Methodist preacher from
Baltimore. One bullet from Evans pistol had
entered Behrens' right side. and it is thought,
penetrated the liver, while one of the bullets
from Behrens weapon had struck the minister s
little finger and then lodged in his thigh.
Evans said right there in the crowd that
Behrens had ruined his sister and he shot him
for it.
Policemen Horne and Harlow soon arrived
upon the scene and arrangements were made
for the disposition of the three parties involved
In the affair. Behrens was sent to the Emer-
gency Hospital, the minister. who was disinter-
ested bystandcr was cared for by DIR. Harmon,
aud Evans was taken to the sixth police station
and locked up.
Upon his arrival at the station he remarked:
"He seduced my sister and [ shot him."
BEHBESs SILENT AND INDIFFERENT.
At the Emergency Hospital Drs. Woodward
and Heinecke attended Behrens, and later in the
evening DR.. j. Ford Thompson examined him.
He did not probe for the bullet, az such an
operation was useless at that time because of
the dangerous condition of the patient. it
was thought that the bullet had entered his
liver.
Although so badly wounded Behrens declined
to say any thing about the affair further than
that he had been shot. and he seemed perfectly
Indifferent a6 to the cause Of the trouble as
wen a. Of the nature Of the wound and It's cE-
pected consequences. Although he declined to
discuss the affair which involved the honor Of
the one TO whom he was engaged to be married
1t wac reported among the physicians that his
father intended setting matters right as far as
he could.
The prisoner, who is painter. twentyfour
years old lives at No. Pal d street northwest.
His father, III. 4. Evans. is i'll the employ OF
Sth street northwest
Young Evans and his family make no attempt
to conceal the facts. They say that Behrens
ruined a member of their family and refused 10
right matters as far as ne could, and had not
the prisoner shot him some one else would have
done so.
THE STORY OF THE AFFAIR.
The story of the affair, as related by the
members of the Evans family, runs back two
years, when the courtship between John
Behrens and Lizzie the nineteen-yea sis
dressmaker and earned her own living.
Behrens was in the bakery business,
and should he live until next month he
will be twenty-one Years old. He Was
said to be of a Jealous disposition and never
would he permit his sweetheart to keep COM
far as to object to her going out with her rela-
tives and often when she did so she received Il
note or letter from him the next morning asking
the reason why.
Then according to the statements Of all the
members of the Evans family. the young couple
became engaged and we're to have been married
next month. when the young man attained his
majority. This arrangement was satisfactory
and arrangements were soon TO J.
made for the celebration of the even:
but several weeks ago the daugl ter
made known to her mother the fact that she
had been ruined, and then the parents. in order
to save the good name Of their only daughter,
tried to have the young marry her and
avoid any further trouble or publicity.
HE FAILED TO KEEP HIS AGREEMENT.
Young Behrens willingly accepted tho propo-
sition, bat when the day set for the event ar
rived he failed to materialize and postpone
ment of the event was rendered necessary.
Again the time was set, but according to the
Evans he pleaded poverty and said lie was I'M
able to provide for wife. But you will not
have to provide for her. said the brother
who lis now III custody. 'All we want is TO pro-
tect her honor and save her good name. II you
marry her we viii support her and you need
not even live with her,
Still the Young man did not want TO become 4
benedict. for the day ne was 10 90 to Baltimore
and get married ne failed to appear. and then
the brother about determined that something
else must be done.
THE STORY TOLD BY EVANS
To STAR reporter the brother said that he
met Behrens Last Tuesday. and the latter said
that his brother Will had given HIM p;sto
and told him TO shoe: if any OF the Evans came
too close to him.
u told him. said Evans, Il guess somebody
else can shoot. too.
Evans said he had learned that Behrens had
friends in Frederick, Nd. and. thinking b,
would go there. he Evans went to the railroad
station to see what time The trains left. as he
thought lie would go there this morning. Whill
waiting he went into Diets saloon and got a
lunch. and while sitting there Behren5 and 4
friend came in and got glass of beer.
When Behrens started out Evans said he fol-
lowed and called him aside on the pavement
He asked him WHY he was trihing about mat
ter OF so much Importance to his family and
followed this question by asking him If he in
tendsd to marry his sister and protect her good
name.
II can't do it, said Behrens
Then. said Evans I'VE had better settle j.
here" With these words Of warning lie stepped
back. drew his pistol and fired. IS he wa
about 10 fire the second time a lady walked be
tween them and man at work or the stree
grabbed lin.
All this time Bchrens was doing his bes
to XII Evans He had drawn his pistol arc
fred two shots, bat Evans was not injured
II was one of these bullets that caused the pain
ful injury 10 the minister.
After having his injuries treated by DR.. Han
noa tho minister continued on his way TO Bal
timore, whsre he arrived about o'clock.
EVANS IN THE POLICE COURT.
This morning the prisoner was taken into thu
Police Court. where there was II warrant agains
him, charging assault and battery with intent Il
kill He was represented by Lawyer Campbell
Darlington.
Deputy Clerk Harper called the case and Mr.
Carrington said he would enter plea Of MOI
guilty.
The Witnesses in the case were called, bu
Mr.. Ciagett said he was not ready for trial