Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-11

THE MYSTERY OF TURNER FRKEMAN-DEATH AT
FIRST SUPPOSED TO HAvE RESULTED FROM
INJURIES INFLICTED last cBRIsrAss-rHE
DEPUTY CORONER SAYS THE INJURIES WE'RE
OF RECENT DATE
Somewhere in the state Of Ohio there is q
well-to-do colored woman whose sons body is
now lying in the morgne in this CITY. The
mother is unaware Of the death OF her son.
although she knows that he has been living
here for the past ten years. Six months ago
she wrote him q motherly letter beg
ging him to return home and comfort
her in her old days. as his father had died and
che was alone. He had determined. IL is said.
TO return to his mother when he met with the
violence to which his death is attributed.
After q long period of SUI. ering the poor man
finally died in poverty when he might inst
well have been enjoying the Injuries Of com
Portable home in the west.
The mans name was Turner Freeman and his
occupation wss that of a bootblack. lie
about thirty-three wears Of age and those who
knew him regarded him q quiet. honest
and inohensive colored man. For about
ten years he has lived in Pleasant alley south
west between q and Ii streets. and recently
ne has been sleeping in an unoccupied house
In that alley. Most Of his time Was spent in the
'iSA"ts vi NlNdula avenue anu ON street
and IN addition to backing boots he did odd
jobs about the Elkton Hotel and other places in
the neighborhood.
HIS LAST ILLNESS
He was taken sick last Thursday morning at
Lynns saloon and was sent in q cab to Pleasant
alley.
subsequently be was taken to the fourth pre-
clnct station for treatment When he reached
there be was unconscious. but he soon rallied
and said to Officer Henry: Il m sick and | want
to go out to get some medicine"
thinking be was over the spasm the officer
permitted him 20 leave the station. and later
In the day he returned to the unoccupied house
In Pleasant alley.
During the evening it Was discovered that he
was sick again and the ambulance vas sent Cor
to remove MIN to the hospital.
He was placed in the ambulance and the
driver started for the hospital but when he
reached there discovered that life was extinct.
SO the body WAS taken TO the morgue.
Ii was thought that friends would call for the
BODY, but up 10 Yesterday no one had called.
and then DR.. Schaeffsr. tine deputy coroner,
proceeded to make an autopsy.
EVIDENCE OF VIOLENCE
Soon after the insertion Of the surgeons
knife IT became evident that the mans death
was due to violence. There was evidence that
a blow had been inflicted on the left breast in
Then the scalp WAS lifted and more than one
fracture of the skull Was visible. At this point
the autopsy was stopped and the doctor con-
cluded to finish the task today.
In the meantime the janitor of the morgue
attempted to ascertain something of the facts
concerning the mans death.
A STAR reporter went over in South WASH
lngton this morning and there met several
persons who had known the deceased. There
1t was learned that he had spent most of the last
ten years in the vicinity of Pleasant alley.
where he was respected by white and
colored persons alike and no one had bad
word for him. The only objection to him was
that he would drink liquor and that habit had
grown on him to such an extent that he had
not been very industrious for some time.
BADLY BEATEN CHRISTMAS MONT
He had always enjoyed perfect health until
he met with misfortune Christmas night He
left the vicinity Of Pleasant alley and went
down near the old James Creek canal with some
companions and the next morning his almost
life!ess body was found not far from
the waters OF that old death trap.
Freeman was unconscious at that
time and even after being taken to
the hospital he remained in that condition for
several days. Finally he recovered so far that
he was able to leave the hospital, and then
again he returned to Pleasant alley.
A MYSTERY.
Who beat him and what the cause of the
trouble was he would never tell. Those who
were acquainted with him supposed that he was
beaten by his companions, and for that reason
be would not tell their names. He never did
tell the names and will carry the secret to the
grave.
After his discharge from the hospital he had
spasms and from time to time he has been
taken with them. Persons with whom he had
associated or whom he had visited think that
his skull was probably fractured on Christmas
night and that mis- liability TO spasms or lis was
one OF its results.
HIS iNJCRIEs NOW SAID To HAVE BEEN RECENT
This afternoon Deputy Coroner Schaeffer,
assisted by DR.. W. c. Woodward, finished the
autopsy. making a minute examination Of the
extended fractures of the skull as well as of the
injury to the brain.
At 2;30 O'Clock an inquest was held
Before the inquest was held DR. Schaeffer said
to STAR reporter that the injury was I'M
doubtedly inflicted within twenty-four hours of
tue time of the mans death He thought that
the deceased had probably been struck with a
stone or kicked in the chest, and then the fall
resulted in the extended fracture of the skull
DR. wooDwARDs TESTIMONY.
DR.. Woodward was the only witness exam
ined before the coroner's Jury. the police not
having made any investigation whatever of the
affair SO far as could be ascertained.
Death. he said, was probably due to depres-
sion of the brain. caused by the clot of blood
between the skull and the brain. Witness said
the clot was due to a blow of some kind and the
wound on the chest was evidently inflicted BY
some smooth instrument
he said there was no outward evidence Of in
jury, but that such an injury could have been
inflicted when the man was wearing his cloth
ing. without making a scar
Witness said that neither of the ipiuries
could have been inflicted three months ago
They were OF more recent date, and be thought
they were inflicted within twenty-four
hours OF the time Of death Witness
thought that either injury might have been re-
ceived in fall. but that both of them could
hardly have been received in that way as the in
juries were on opposite sides Of the body.
THE VERDICT.
The jury returned . verdict that the de-
ceased came to his death from cerebral hemor-
rhage and fracture Of the skull, the result Of
an injury inflicted by some person or persons
to the jury unknown.