Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-04
KILLED BY HIS FATHER.
An Inquest Held Today in the Case Of
Joseph Grinder.
Boys Skull Fractured by Being
Thrown DOwn-TestimOny Taken
by the Coroner.

by the Coroner.
Joseph c. Grinder. an eight-year-old boy
VINO lived with his parents at No 257 Sd
street southwest, died Monday afternoon,
and in yesterdays Star the death notice
gave the Information that the boys funeral
would take place this afternoon at 2:3O
o'clock. The funeral did take place. but
not until after the coroner's jury had
passed upon the facts relating to the boy
death The certificate of death gave fall
upon the head as the cause of death. and
yesterday 1t was reported about the neigh
borhood Of the Grinder residence that the
boys father had inflicted the fatal injury.
Word was sent to the police to that effect
and before shutdown the father, Joseph b.
Grinder. was arrested and held at the po-
lice station on a charge Of murder. He is
thirty-six years old and keeps a grocery
store at the number stated above.
Deputy Coroner Schaeffer made an au-
topsy this morning and found that the
boys skull was fractured At noon the
coroner held an inquest at the police sta
ton. The prisoner was present at the hear
ing.
The Physician's Statement.
DR.. Willard F. Thompson testified that he
was called upon to attend the boy Monday
morning about o'clock. The boys sister
called for him and said that her brother
was very sick. When witness arrived at the
house the boy was in a semi-conscious con-
dition. There was an injury to the head
and the facial paralysis was marked on the
right side The patient could understand
what witness said, but could not talk. Wit
ness prescribed for him and about o'clock
he was called. Then the patient had had a
0yNn CtrN nd lot In, thn aft Ia
again sent for and when he reached the
house the boy was dead. When witness was
first called he was told that the boy had run
against the father. who had a sore finger
and the latter pushed him aside and knocked
him down.
DO you remember whether or not the
father said he was Furnishing the child?"
made Wss w vha no re sISh Mv TaS
is that 1t was done as have described"
Witness said he was present at the au-
topsy. There was fracture of the skull
and he gave blood clot on the brain as the
cause of the death.
Servants Story.
A colored woman, Lucy E. Jackson, en-
ployed a domestic in the family of Mr.
Grinder, was next sworn. She testified
that Sunday she heard the children scream
ing and she started in the store There
were several persons in the store at the
time and she asked them to go out and not
create any excitement. When she entered
the dining room Mrs. Grinder had Joseph
in her lap She asked witness for some
water. saying the boy had tainted.
did you see any signs of the boy having
been hurt?" she was asked
mo. SIR was her reply.
did you hear any quarrel or disturb
ance before the boy fainted?"
None whatever"
What did Mr. Grinder say when you
met him."
Nothing at ALL"
They Were Not Friendly.
Philip A. Carr. a neighbor testified that
he heard the children screaming and saw
the crowd al the house. He thought a gas
oline stove had exploded and he went over
to help put 1t out. Mr.. and Mrs. Grinder
were in the store at the time, and seeing
no trouble he returned home.
Have you any relations with Mrs. Grim
der, friendly or otherwise?" asked the coro-
ner.
mo, SIR" answered witness; ito tell the
truth. we have been kind Of enemies"
Witness Chenny was recalled, and he
said he entered the store through the c
street side.
'That door was locked all day." inter-
rupted Mr.. Grinder.
What Caused Death.
Deputy Coroner Schaeffer gave evidence
concerning the autopsy and said that death
was due to hemorrhage of the brain and
fracture of the skull. The injury. he said
might have resulted from fall upon the
floor or a blow by some blunt instrument
Witness had seen several slmliar Injuries
received by falling.
Mr., Grinders Statement.
Mr.. Grinder testified that about O'CLOCK
Sunday morning he had occasion to go
In the store to get some change out OF the
money drawer. His wife followed MN IN
the store to prevent him from getting any
of the money and they were standing side
NV side. each showing the other.
III only wanted SO cents" said MIR. Grin
der "but my wife did not want me to take
II because she thought would go out anu
spend 1t" -, A.. III.
wife the boy and three girls were scream
ing. but he told them not to get frightened;
that ne was not going to hurt their mother
The boy was standing at the END OF the
counter and he the boy shook his INST at
81 then made a break for him." said
Grinder, land he ran. / caught him under
the arms and pulled him down on the floor
His head struck the floor harder than
intended"
A little afterwards the boy was taken
sick. He vomited. He then told of the
BOYS sickness and said he died about 6:SO
o'clock Monday.
"Nere YOU in a rage or angry when you
threw him DOWN." asked the coroner.
IT was little kind of mad" he replied,
"but / didn't mean 10 HuTl HiiIi, ocSduSc
thought more of him than 1 did Of any
child I had"
When questioned by the coroner Mr..
Grinder said that in conversation with the
coroner yesterday he said nothing of having
knocked down the boy, but he did tell him
of a colored boy having kicked him in the
stomach some days ago. He said he thought
the coroner knew what was the matter with
William j. Frazier, colored. testified that
ne went to Grinders house when he heard
the screams, but did not go In. Witness
was with Witness Cheney at the time, but
he did not go in the house with him. This
closed the testimony.
The Verdict.
The Jury returned a verdict finding that
Grinder came to his death by being thrown
down by his father, and that no justifica-
tion could be found for the young man s
death.
An Exciting Runaway.
About l O'Clock today there was an ex-
citing runaway on Pennsylvania avenue