Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-18
EDUCATIONAL.
A FATAL FAIL.
frightened by n Suspicious Man Mp~
Craigen Meets Her Death.

saturday night about 1880 o'clock Mrs.
anna NJ Craigen met with a fatal accidsnt
at her home. S2S street northwest, the sc-
cloent being the result Of a scare caused nv
the appearance OF a strange young man az
the front door of the house Mrs Craiean
ana her daughters were at home at the time
and two aunts OF the young ladies. who
We're visiting them. had not returned home
Inc stranger was seen in the front yard ahd
II was thought that he was intoxicated.
Inc front door was unlocked and. fearing the
man would enter the house. Mrs. Craigen
shpped down stairs and turned the key Ar
that time the stranger was standtnp n.sr
me door picking his teeth and was appar-
entity making himself at home Then he
walked walk Out OF the yard TO the sidewalk and
soon afterward the two visitors returned 20
the house and the door was locked for the
night But Mrs. Craigen and her daughters
were still badly frightened and they WATCH
GU from tne 'front.' window the mans move
ments about the sidewalk. Finally Mrs
Craigen walked out on a porch over the
'front.' door and leaned over to see Whether
or not the man was on the porch A low
ralIing ihcioslng the porch was rotten and
one OF the young ladies warned her mother
not TO put too much weight upon IL Hardly
had the words Of warning been given when
there was crash. The rail had broka IN
ana MIS- Craigen was precipitated 70 the
sidewalk below, a distance OF fully fifteen
Feet She fell on her head and was so badly
injured that when picked up she was un-
able to speak. Neighbors answered a call
Tor assistance and Mrs. Craigen was taken
In the house. DIR. Briscoe was called 20 see
her. but her condition was so serious that
medical treatment was of no avail. Dea tn
ensued in about fifteen minutes.
Mrs. Cra.gen was the widow OF the late
d.. John s. Craigen OF Cumberland, Nd,
| and she had many friends In this city IN
Christian circles. She had lived here about
| four years. The body viii be taken to Cum
berland tomorrow.
Deceased was a member OF the First
Presbyterian Church on 4 l-2 street and yes
| terday at the church services Dr. Sundsr-
land spoke highly OF her character and of
the good work she had done In the church.
Trial of the Man.
A young man by the name of william y.
Freeman was arrested by the police and
this morning the prisoner was taken 70 the
Police Court and charged under the vaeran-
cy act with being a suspicious person.
Policeman Kimmel was the first witness
in the case. He testified that about
o'clock Sunday morning he met the de-
PENDANT, who was In company with Mr..
Van Horn, and they asked IL witness knew
anything about a woman being killed or
committing suicide on G street. Witness
said he did not. Defendant said that he
was present when the affair happened and
| that he assisted In taking the lady In the
| house.
Witness asked defendant his name and he
| said John E. Wilson and live at Fails
| Church" Later he gave his right name.
| Witness then went to Mrs. Craigen's house
and told Of the conversation that followed.
| In which the defendant admitted that he
was the man who had been at the house.
His excuse was that he had followed q
| woman along the street and had lost sis NJ
| Of her at 4 1-2 street he was looking Tor
her when he went to Mrs. Craigen's house.
| During the conversation defendant SAID
| he was employed in the mail bag repair
| shop on the next square.
| Policeman Elliott, Mr.. Chapman and Mr..
Van Horn gave corroborative testimony.
The last witness said chat when he first
met the defendant he was running farm
near Falls Church for his father.
Judge Kimball said that the AFFAIR was 9
sad one but he could not hold the defendant
on a charge OF vagrancy. He thought TIE
young mans own conscience would punish
him.
The charge was dismissed