Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-07
P. J. BYR@ ARRESTED
Charged With the Death of Little Eddie
Russell.
Sevcn-Y Shot While on a
Fence-Sash Feature of GOnzaga
Lawn Party.

John Russell, cab driver. out of en-
ployment, has reason to believe that fate is
against him. He lives at 81 X street north
west and in addition to being out of en-
ployment, his wife, who is an invalid, has
been almost at the point of death for some
weeks. and last night his seven-year-old
sen, Edward Russell, was shot and killed
His killing, 1t is thought, was purely an ac-
cident, and just who killed him may. per-
hsps never be known. He was shot by
some one who attended the garden party at
Gonzaga College. The affair opened last
night and there was a good attendance.
Lanterns were hung from one end of the
lawn to the other. and the bright lights to-
gether with the colored bunting made the
place attractive, and many boys as well
as some older persons. who probably could
not get in the garden, contented themselves
on the outside by looking through the
cracks In the fence. There were others.
however. who could not see well enough
from the ground, and so they mounted the
fence. Several small boys who were In the
alley near the north front of the lot en-
joyed the festivities, and little Eddie Rus
sell climbed to the top of the fence. While
there he received the fatal shot. a small
bullet from a target rifle. There was col
ored man in the alley at the time, ana WIN
his assistance the boy finally reached ms
fathers house. Later he was taken 10 the
Emergency Hospital, where he died about
80 o'clock this morning.
Persons attending the lawn party knew
nothing of the sad affair, so quietly was the
In jured boy taken away after the shootlhg'
The boy himself made no loud outcry nor
did any of the witnesses say anything
about it. Even Officer kimmell, who was
detailed there at the time, knew hothihe VI
what had taken place.
Some one at the rifle range OF course
cid the shooting, and it is claimed by the
police that p. J. Byrne, who Is known as
doc" Byrne. did 1t. Tne Emin S,,
and Sergt Thomas F. McAnally and Pri-
vate Byrne were detailed in charge OF the
rifle range. Not until last night at a iate
hour did the sergeant know OF the anaIr
and 1t was about 5 o'clock this morning
when Policeman McNamee called at the
house of Mr.. Byrne and escorted him TO
the sixth police station. The omcer nao
made an Investigation OF the anair aurins
the night According to the investigation
the boy was on the fence when MIR. Byrne
who had rifle in his hand, called: Get
off that fence" He had the rifle in his
hand at the time. so one OF the boys t0id
the policeman, and he thought that the
weapon was accidentally discharged.
When the wounded boy got down from
the fence he remarked: I'm shot
You're all right" said a colored man
who was there at the time.
With little assistance the wounded boy
walked across the street to the alley on
the other side. and when match was light
ed there was a hole found in his clothing
The bullet which was a small one, had
entered his stomach. Then the boy was
assisted to the home of his parents and DR..
Lochboehler was soon at his side. He dis
covered that the wound was of a serious
nature and had the patient taken to the
Emergency Hospital where an operation
was performed.
At the sixth precinct station this morning
pressed regret at the unfortunate occur
renee but he felt certain that he did not
fire the fatal shot. In the first place, he
said. he did not speak to the boys on the