Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-02

through even the layer of the scalp. Wit
ness examined the entire body, and found
no other wound except bruise Of the left
shin. which might have been made by q
fall or a kick.
Were the injuries necessarily fatal?" the
coroner asked.
Yes, SIR"
did you discover any other reason which
might have caused death?"
None whatever. The body was that OF
man in perfect health"
Did / understand that there were two
bullet holes?" asked one of the jurors.
Witness again described the two wounds
and said he thought 1t possible that one
bullet made the two wounds. He thought
the shot was fired from the front Of the
man.
Officer skinner Testihes.
Policeman c. w. Skinner was next ex-
amined. He testified that he was standing
on 4th street just south Of T street about
80 o'clock yesterday morning when the
sergeant Kenney) came along and stopped
Then he noticed the colored man come
along with something in his hand Witness
thought 1t was carpet sack, and going
over to the negro he inquired: What have
you in that bag?
Some old Clothes" he replied
Come over here to the car and let's see
what Kind OF clothes they are said wit
ness. and over to the car they walked.
man became very nervous and managed to
turn. Witness said to him, II wonder II
you haven't pistol in your pocket"
He then darted out the door and ran, and
Sergeant kenney fired one shot to intini-
date him.
Witness said that the negro ran toward
the high wooden fence. and he (witness)
knew that the only way to catch him was
to wing him." That was why witness
pulled out his revolver
He saw the colored man fumbling in his
pocket. and just as he grabbed him he
heard the sergeant remak: oh my God"
and fired. The man dropped his penknife
In the tree box. and witness lowered him to
the ground.
Did you know the character of the
man.? asked the coroner.
NO. SIR replied witness. but the SER
geant took desperate chance when he
| fred. for 1 was between the sergeant and
the man."
Did you know anything Of the contents
| of the valise before the shooting?"
mo, SIR
Witness was then questioned as to rob-
| that several attempts had been made to
| rob houses about lexington.
| What did the sergeant say after the
| shooting?" asked the coroner.
| He remarked 1t was your life or his"
| Witness thought that the man was fright
| ened to death, as he thought II impossible
| for the sergeant to shoot the man and not
hit witness. Witness first saw the knife
4
| Sergeant Slattery said that there were
citizens who could tell of the acts of burg
| lars and Of the trouble they had had about
lexington. He said there was witness
| who saw Reid p-owlng about the street be-
| fore the shooting.
The coroner said that such testimony
would not be competent before this jury
and Sergeant Slattery said that Sergeant
Kenney would like to give his evidence.
Sergeant Kenney's Account.
| The coroner explained to Sergeant Ken
ney his rights in the matter. telling him
that he could testify or not, as he pleased
He told the officer that anything he might
say could be used against him.
| Thanking the coroner for his advice the
sergeant said he would make a statement
| Of the affair.
| He testified that up 20 the time of the
prisoners arrival in the car his statement
was the same as that OF Officer Skinner.
When the first straps Of the valise had
been opened the prisoner grew pale and
showed fight
officer Skinner asked him If he had a pis-
the way to find out" Just then the negro
made a dash and went out the door. Ofl-
| Ger Skinner followed. When witness got
to the car door he took snap shot to
| brighten him. The negro reeled and raised
| his arm.
II saw the steel blade descending in the
direction of SINNERS collar bone" said the
officer. land 1 fired the shot" Continuing.
witness told Of what was done for the man
and said:
Il fired that shot to hit the man II 1t
knife from descending. 1t was the life Of
my comrade or the man and I don't regret
the action before God today"
Witness then told of the trouble the po-
lice had experienced with robbers In that
section and said that the lives Of the OH
GERS were constantly in danger. He thought
II have laid on my stomach night after
night and crawled around there like a
Sioux Indian" he said
Only a few nights before this occurrence.
he said. Policeman Voc was shot at out
there when he was attacked by three men.
The officer laid one Of them out with
stick.
Had you ever shot prisoner before in
the line of duty?'
mo SIR"
Witness said that the knife was found
by officer Skinner and a Waterman right
near where the man fell.
More Witnesses.
DR.. I. Spencer Hough, resident physician
Of the Emergency Hospital. testified that
the patient was unconscious when he
reached the hospital and he died in less
than two hours time.
Officer Skinner was recalled and he said
he picked up the knife. He found 1t in the
tree box, with the blade sticking in the
ground.
The Verdict.
The Jury then retired and after a few
minutes consolidate returned the following
verdict:
THAT the said Elwood Reid came to his
death at the Central Dispensary and Elmer
gency Hospital at 4:45 o'clock, October l, as
the result Of gunshot wound of the head.
The said wound was inflicted by a revolver
held in the hands of Sergt. John NJ. Ken
ney of the metropolitan police force. at or
near the corner of 4th and T streets north
east, in this city. From the evidence We
believe that the fatal shot was fired in the
discharge Of duty and to protect the life
| of Police Officer Skinner. and that the
shooting was justifiable. In the opinion Of
| the jury there Is no blame to be attached
to said Sergt: Kenney for the killing Of
Elwood Reid
The verdict met the approval of a number
| Of citizens Of the county, who were anxious
| to testify in the officers behalf and tell of
what has been going on in the county re-
Gently.
May BE a Lesson.
The shooting of Reid recalls the troubles
experienced about lexington by the police
during the past few months AS published
| In The Star few days ago the officers
have routed several gangs Of tramps from
along the railroad track. on one occasion
| there being thirty-two tramps in a crowd.
| Last Friday night negro who has been
| identified as the deceased went to the
80 Nv 1yha