Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-12-29
DEATH OF OFFICER CRUMr.-Ollice


De,rH OF OFFICER CRUMP.-Ollicer
ca,r,e W. Crump, after two months
" s,,1erjng, died at his home on Frank
II, street few minutes before 10
aalock last night. Mr.. Crump, it will
~ remembered, was shot in the leg by
Gfcer James McCuen early on the
worning of the 2Sth of last October.
The circumstances connected with the
shooting were peculiar. Officers Crump,
Arlington and McCuen were sitting in
tbe lower room of the station house be-
,weap and ) o'clock in the morning
nbep Mr.. McCuen fell into a doze or
dsze. and while in that condition DELHI
sra,ely drew his pistol, cooked it and
discharged the weapon at Mr.. Crump,
the ball taking effect in the latter's leg
near the knee. The evidence of Officer
Arlington was to the effect that Mr..
NcCuen was in the act of raising the
hammer Of the pistol for a second shot
when he (Arrington) caught his arm
and asked him sharply what was the
matter with him, at the same time tell
inc him he had shot Mr. Crump. Mr..
MCCuen, upon being brought to his
senses by Mr.. Arlington and Lieut..
Smith (the latter being up stairs at the
time Of the shooting) stated that he had
fallen asleep and dreamed he was after
a black dog and while in somnambu-
lstic condition had discharged his pis-
to. Mayor Strauss subsequently tried
Mr.. McCuen for sleeping while on duty
aud suspended him for 80 days. Mr..
Cump after having been shot was re-
moved to his home, from which the Sc
quel proves he was destined TO leave no
more save as corpse. 1t was at first,
however, supposed the wound would
readily Weld to medical treatment, and
the wounded man being of robust ply
sque everything seemed in his favor.
In week or two, contrary to these
sanguine hopes, symptoms which
caused apprehension were manifested,
and his condition gradually became
worse. though at times there were iluct-
uatious which afforded ground for hope
that the wound would not prove of q
fatal nature. Symptoms of py;cmia,
however, were later too plainly seen,
when it became apparent that the death
of the sufferer was matter of but few
DAYS. As has been stated, Drs Kip
stein ana Brown yesterday opened
large abscess which had formed in Mr..
Crump's leg near the pistol-ball wound
and considerable pus of 4 gangrenous
nature was removed The wounded
man appeared easier after this opera
ton, but, as the sequel proved, it was
but the beginning of the end, the pa
tent gradually sinking until near ten
o o'clock last nig ht when the curtain fell
upon the last act of the drama of life.
Mr.. Crump was rs years of age. He
was born and reared in Alexandria
and was well-known and liked by
everybody. In early life he was q
firemen on the Washington and Ohio
Railroad and later was in the employ
of Mr.. j. Rector Smoot, lumber dealer.
In 1891 he was elected a policeman,
and so efficient and trustworthy did he
prove in his new calling that he was
reelected by large vote last July,
and would doubtless, had he lived,
been reelected by each succeeding
Council. His stricken family have the
sincere sympathy of the community in
the crushing sorrow into which they
have been plunged by tine unfortunate
affair, and many willing hands, actu-
ated by that holy injunction, Bear ye
one another's burdens" are doing all
that can be done at such a time by
visiting the fatherless and the widow
in their atlliction," and ministering to
their wounded spirits. The deceased
was member of the Friendship Fire
Company, and meeting will be held
tonight for the purpose OF making ar
engagements for attending the funeral,
which will take place on Sunday after
noon at o'clock. The police force
will also follow the remains TO the
grave il body.