Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-02
F O U N D A M A R X
Constable Holmes Bullet Kills Young
Robert Blue.
Race Track Tragedy Ends in Death
No COroncr's Inquest Here
An Accident Claimed.

Several persons who went over to the
Alexander Island race track Wednesday
succeeded in getting relieved of money or
valuables. and yesterday one man who
went over there succeeded In getting killed
and his life was taken by enc of the men
employed at the race track to protect life
and property. Robert Blue, a young col
ofed man. driver OF a public vehicle, was
the victim, and Constable Holmes is the
man who fired the fatal shot. The shoot
ing, il Is said, was the result of the care
less and reckless handling OF the weapon
and the witnesses to the affair say It was
accidental.
1t was about 5 o'clock last night when
a two-seated vehicle stopped at the door
Of the Emergency Hospital The driver
was a colored man and he had in the We
hicle the man who had been mortally
wounded across the river where there is
but little law for those engaged in certain
classes OF offenses.
Hes dead" remarked the colored porter
at the hospital, as he lifted Blue from the
vehicle.
is he. sure 'nough?" asked the frighten-
ed driver.
1t was with some reluctance that the
frightened driver assisted the porter in re-
moving the wounded man from the vehicle
and as soon as Blue was placed on the
table adjoining the sick room, the unknown
driver got in the vehicle and left the hos
pital.
Blue was unconscious all this time and
could not speak, but under treatment in the
hospital consciousness was restored, and
even then the victim had such an indis-
tinct recollection of what had transpired,
that he could not give an intelligent ac-
count of the affair.
Prosecuting Attorney Mullowny called at
the hospital TO take his anti-mortem state
mcnt, but he did not succeed. The patient
was too weak to undergo an examination.
| He did manage to say, however, that no
| one had a grudge against him and that
the shooting was accidental.
He died between 3 and o'clock this
morning. and before expiring he said: THE
sheriff was fooling with the pistol"
The affair happened just outside the main
gate. Blue was seated on his vehicle wait
/ ing TO get passenger. Inside the gate
was the constable and party of his fellow
citizens. They wanted TO see his weapon
| and he had no hesitation in showing il to
them. The weapon. an old-fsshioned one
carried powder and ball, and while ex-
| hibiting it to his friends he raised the ham
mer and an instant later a large ball en-
| tered the neck Of the disinterested bystand-
er.
Blue was twenty-one years old and was in
the employ of livery stable keeper named
! Chisley. His employer was the only one
| who called TO See him before he died
Coroner Woodward was notified of the
mans death, and after consulting the dis.
| trict attorney about the matter he deter.
mined not to hold an inquest here. as the
affair happened in Virginia, and the case
II tried at all would have to be tried in
! that state. the Dolice notified the Alex
andria county authorities Of the decision
! of the coroner. county constable came
over here this morning. and when he re-
turns this evening Holmes may possibly
be arrested. The body of the dead man
Will probably be removed across the river
in order TO have the jury of inquest sworn
in the regular manner.