Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-23
Willis Washington, the Victim of
Officer Terry's Pistol.
THE VANDAL BURGLARS RESTING.
A Woman lmitator is Held for the
Grand Jury.
ROBBERIEs LATELY REPORTED

The matter was also discussed among the
citizens, and while many persons deplored
the affair, there were also many who were
not slow in condemning the action of the
officer, and asserting that the case should
be treated like any other shooting.
The question of justification will of course
be determined when the case reaches the
courts
In event Of the victims death, the coro-
ners jury will have to pass upon the cause
and whatever may be their finding, the
grand jury will take hand in the case
In the first place, no one questions the res
pectability of the victim, nor his right to
be upon the street at the early hour in the
morning that the affair happened. That he
was on his way to work is not disputed
On the other hand. the policemen were in
citizens clothes, and Washington had no
means of telling whether they were citizens
about to assault him or whether. as he
supposed, they were doctors. Thinking as
he did, he ran in the direction Of his home.
and would have reached there in less than
| two minutes time had not the bullet from
| the policeman's pistol laid him low.
The officers partner, Policeman Steur-
mann, did not shoot and he told a Star re-
porter yesterday that he thought the case
looked bad for his brother officer. AS stated
in yesterdays Star Officer Terry re-
quired to remain at the station virtually
under arrest, although his name was not
put on the blotter as being charged with
any offense. Later in the day he was sus-
pended from duty, pending the outcome of
the affair. AS stated yesterday, Officer
Terry was tried only a few weeks ago on
charge of using his pistol while in pur-
suit of a colored man charged with mis-
demeanor, and Judge Miller held him guilty
of the charge. In dealing with that case
the Judge laid down the law concerning the
use of the pistol by policemen and COM
mented on the case In question. He gave
the officer a warning and said he hoped
that others would also profit by what he
said
When Major Dye was chief of police he
issued an order to the members of the de-
partment calling their attention to the use
of their pistols. The order was intended to
serve as a warning against the improper
use of the weapons, and not many months
ago Major Moore issued an order calling
the attention of the officers to that issued
by Major Dye.
PitinbIe Condition.
Willis Washington, the victim of the po-
liceman. is in a pitiable condition. He Is
suffering intense pain and when the doc
tefSreRS his bedside he invariably pleads
with them to do something for him to re-
lieve his suffering. DIR. Kerr. assisted by
Drs. Pyle and Sillers, performed an opera
ton yesterday and discovered that the bull
let had been split by coming in contact
with the spinal column. They succeeded
in finding a piece of the lead, but owing
to the patients condition they did not at
tempt to find the larger piece.
The patient stood the operation well and
seemed much stronger than the physicians
had anticipated when they had finished.
Warrants Sworn Out.
Washington's brothers visited him at the
hospital yesterday and expressed their in
dignation at the action of the officer. They
called upon Lawyer Z. NJ. Hewlett, who is
also justice Of the peace. This morning the
latter went to the hospital where the wound
ed man swo ore to a warrant charging the
officer with assault and battery with intent
to Kill. The warrant was turned over to
the police department and the officer will
probably appear in court this afternoon or
tomorrow and give bail.
Servant Girl Held.
During September last the house of Mr.
VIM. p. Vandergrift, 511 1st street north
east, was entered during the daytime and
about $50 in money, watch, a diamond
ring and a quantity of other jewelry were
taken. The loss of the things was discover
ed by the colored servant girl, Fannie Mil
burn. Upon an investigation of the affair
by the detectives, 1t was intimated to the
! family that the girl was responsible, but the
| idea was secuted at by Mr.. and Mrs. Van
! gergrift, and the matter was allowed TO rest
, for while. Subsequently other articles
were missed from the house, and few days
ago the girl was detected in the act of
stealing provisions from the house, and her
arrest was determined upon, the girl mean
| time having left the employ of the family
Yesterday officer H. L. Barney of the ninth
precinct arrested the girl, and after locking
her up, searched her house in Clicks alley,
between 9th and 9TH and r and streets
northwest. All the stuff stolen from the
Vandergrift family was discovered there
| excepting the money, and also a consider
able lot of other goods mostly silverware
and plated stuff, amounting in all to several
| hundred dollars worth. The unclaimed
stuff, including spoons, forks, knives, a
water pitcher, two porcelain-lined dishes,
mugs, sirup and milk pitchers and simi-
! lar goods were taken possession of. One
spoon is marked -. c. P.," another H, :"
and the dishes bear the name of The John
Shillito Co." makers. The goods are held
at police headquarters for Identification.
| Fannie given a hearing in Judge
Millers court this morning, on a charge of
grand larceny. She was held in 81, 600 real
estate security to await the action of the
grand jury. Her husband was charged with
receiving stolen goods and he too was held
under $1,000 bond for the action of the
grand jury.
The Slasher Resting.
| Jack the Slasher'' has not been heard
| from for several nights and the police hope
that he has either left the city or that he
| is behind the bars, where he is forced to
| quit operations. Since the recovery of the
clothing left at one place by the myster-
| ious burglar the officers have made a
thorough investigation concerning their
ownership, but nothing yet has developed.
! The trousers were made at the establish
ment of a 7th street tailor and from him
| the officers obtained as nearly as possible
! the names of persons for whom such cloth
| ing had been made. Some of the clothing
was made as far back as 1880, but the Of
| ficers traced them back to colOred persons
| to whom they had been given, and in two
! instances they even found the old suits.
| This part of the investigation was made
by Detective Boyd and Officer Horne, who
served as a member of the detective corps
| for several years.
The action of the mysterious Vandal who
| has caused such wholesale scare through
out the city recalls the action of John Jack
son, the Ghost Burglar" who operated
here five years ago. His conduct in some
respects was similar to the slashing done
here during the past month. He was can
| tured by Detective Boyd after he had shot
and seriously wounded Policeman She
han. jackson is now serving twenty years.
Although the 'Slasher' has not appeared
| for several nights the female residents of
|