Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-02
CARNIVAL OF CRIME.
In Twenty-four Hours Six Men Shot
or Stabbed.
Two OF THEM WERE KILLED at ONCE.
Sergeant Kenney Exonerated for
Shooting EIwood Reid.
DETAILS OF THE CASES.


full acceptance of the word in this neigh
bo-hood. Murders, cutting ARRAYS. shoot
ings in self defense and mysterious crimes
fell upon the police like hailstones. AS
result of the outburst two dead men lie at
the morgue, two more victims are in pre-
carious condition, while several other per-
sons are suffering more or less from in
juries. The most horrible crime in its fea-
lures was a killing near Tenleytown.
Thomas Matthews. colored. was shot and
cut at about O'Clock yesterday morning
on the Broad Branch road, near Rock Creek
ford. death resulting almost Immediately.
Three hours later John Ellsworth, shoe
maker. white. who resides in the vicinity.
was arrested by Officers Riley and Hartman
and charged with the commission of the
crime The arrest was based upon the
knowledge that the two men had been seen
together just prior to the shooting, that
they were under the influence of liquor,
that they were Quarreling and last, that
Shoemaker short time after called at the
house of Mrs. Helen Keller and requested
the loan OF a gun, saying that he had reason
to fear burglars. Also that a hat recog
nized as one that had been worn by him
was found near the scene Of the killing.
Further than this, two men who were with
Matthews at the time OF the last meeting
report that they saw him raise the gun to
mis- shoulder and take aim. They fled, leav-
ing the covered one behind. A moment
later came the shot and death cry.
In the spot where il had fallen the body
was found a little later by the officers who
were notified of the crime. The dead man
was carried to the home of his mother and
then began the hunt for the alleged shooter.
Shoemaker He was found at his residence
sleeping OFF the effects of his drunk and ap-
parently unconscious OF the deed he had
but a short time before committed
John Shoemaker Is a well-connected citi-
zen Of Tenleytown. a plasterer by trade and
has borne good reputation. He is twenty
nine years Of age.
Matthews was the average colored boy
His business was farm work Coroner
Woodward and his assistant after viewing
the corpse of the dead man thought an au-
topsy necessary. and will hold 1t this after
noon at o'clock.
The Two Wounds.
Last night In the bare morgue beneath
the rear part of the station The Star re-
porter viewed the corpse Of the dead man.
1t lay on rude board. all covered except
ing the feet, which were exposed. The
hands were tied together and rested on the
breast. The face wore a natural express
sion. Two wounds were plainly visible.
one In the right thigh about the size Of a
quarter that had evidently been inflicted
by the load from a gun and a cut from the
right eye to the middle of the nose whose
depth could not be readily ascertained,
II Sccfneu 10 reach TO the brain.
From the appearance of the corpse last
night but little blood had escaped and that
from the nose. An examination Of the
mans trousers showed that the shot had
passed through them right at the base of
the side pocket. leaving a round hole, whose
edges had been perceptibly burnt by the
powder.
With an instrument the hole was probed.
The hlmy bloody flesh that had prevented
the eye from seeing into the wound any
distance gave way easily and the probe
went through to the bone. That seemed
not to have been shattered, and Ii is prob
able the shot went over and under it.
OF the two wounds IL is believed the deep
upward cut in the nose caused death, as
the brain was beyond doubt touched by the
weapon used. Such a wound as that in the
thigh could not have caused death. at least
so quickly. While the shooting party might
also have used a knife or other sharp in
strument on the face of the deceased, II is
possible that on being shot he fell and
struck his face against something sharp
and penetrating enough to make the visi-
BILE wounds.
II this can be proven to have been the
case the guilty party will possibly only be
charged with manslaughter.
II both wounds were inflicted directly,
that is. il the party who fired the shot
also made the facial wounds with a knife
or similar weapon, either before or after
the shooting, murder will be the charge.
Matthews was but twenty years Of age.
though large and comparatively matured
looking. He would have tipped the scales
at 49,
The bloody Gun.
The breech-loading gun used by Shoe
maker has been secured. Around the trig-
ger blood Is plainly visible. The trigger
guard is unusually narrow and sharp and
could possibly have made the wound that
shows up on the dead mans face.
Some think that the shot not killing, the
victim was struck across the face with the
butt Of the gun.
At the station last night the reporter was
unable to see the prisoner, orders having
been left by the lieutenant to keep him
from all outsiders
SHOT BY An OFFICER.