Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-12
THE CAUSE OF DEATH
An Inquest Today Over Thomas Patterson,
the Horse Owner
Trying to Find Who Struck the Fatal
Blow - Conflicting Testimony
Several Men Implicated.

After a week of intense suffering Thomas
Paterson, the negro horse owner of Ben
ming, died at the Emergency Hospital YES
terday about 10 am as the result of an
assault committed upon him On the right
OF March 3. Coroner Woodward held an
autopsy in the afternoon and concluded
that death was due to peritonitis. caused
by kicks in the abdomen, indicted, 1t is
thought, by two negroes, Henry Dasher
and Casey Brooks
Paterson, with a party OF fri lends, on the
night in question, started to enter a sa-
loon kept by a man named CollIns on 18th
L. street Several negroes were INDUCING
In game of crap at the time, and in
opening the door Paterson stumbled against
the party. That caused a quarrel but no
blows We're struck until the horse owner
left the establishment when the gang Of
crap shooters attacked him with bricks
During the fray Paterson was felled and
then Dasher and Brooks kicked him I'M
mercifully. Although the entire attacking
party ran away, every member of 1t was
arrested during the night. The men were
driver west, Charles Armstaai, Charles
11llman, Arthur Clayton md Albert Cole
man, and they all stated that Dasher and
Brooks were alone guilty of the assault
The latter, however, asserted that every
the affair.
Coroner Woodward conducted an inquest
shortly after II O'Clock this morning at the
Emergency Hospital. Assistant District
Attorney Armes and Stenographer O. p
Derby Of the district attorneys office were
present.
The first witness called was DR.. Pyle OF
the hospital stan, who described Patterson's
condition when he was brought there on the
night OF the row. Georgianna Smalwood
and Nettie jackson, both colored testified
that they saw Brooks waiting outside the
saloon with bricks In his hand; then a crowd
rushed out Of Collins restaurant but they
couldn't see whether or not he was hit or
kicked. They heard a man cry What have
l done to you? For Gods sake don't kill
me-"
Kate Patton saw Brooks strike a man
several times but she knew nothing of the
disturbance inside. When he fell she
thought he was dead. Two Of his friends
tried to raise him.
Charles Armistad was in the crowd at the
time of the assault. He saw Casey Brooks
leaning against a whisky barrel inside the
saloon with brick In his hand, but did not
see blow struck. Later Henry Dasher
dropped a bottle in the gutter. This wit
ness is one OF the men suspected of having
participated in the ARRAY, and he under
went spirited cross-examination at the
hands of Mr. Armes.
Other Witnesses.
Walter Mattress, James Robinson, IIge
Whitehead, TomCotman and Will Knauaer,
all of whom work at Benning. were with
Patterson on the evening Of March 3. Their
testimony was to the effect that the de-
ceased visited Collins saloon, engaged In
an argument with some unknown persons
was struck In the face by Brooks and
few minutes later received a blow from a
brick thrown by another man. The wit
nesses, fearing injury. ran down the street.
The Autopsy.
Deputy Coroner Schaeffer. who performed
the autopsy yesterday, stated that he dis
covered peritonitis of several days stand
ing. The body also bore q bruise on the
left eyebrow and cheek, a scalp wound
three inches back Of the left ear and cut
on the lip. There was no fracture or the
skull. the brain was normal. the heart
lungs and abdominal organs appeared SUBJ
stantially healthy and there was no evil
dence OF typhoid fever. Two teeth had been
knocked out
Contradictory Testimony.
Oliver West, a bootblack, who suffered
badly, was standing outside the saloon Just
before the assault. He overheard Patterson
say that a man inside had cursed him and
that he was waiting to see the person. A
moment later Patterson emerged WAS
struck by Brooks. and a few steps farther
down the street a man named George
Jones hit him In the head with a brick
ne statements or this witness cOntradiStad
the others to very great extent.
Dasher then testified in his own behalf
he stated that on the night of The assault
he was in Collins saloon. Patterson en-
tered and stumbled against some men who
were shooting crap the floor. With an
oath he ordered them to get out of the way.
That started row, which the witness tried
to stop by saying, Let the old man alone;
he is drunk" The deceased was incensed
by the remark. Later he went outside was
struck by Brooks and then by George Jones
Casey Brooks closed the proceedings by
taxing the stand During the row ne told
the crowd in the saloon not to trouble
Pat rson. as he was drunk. In reply the
dead man applied a vile epithet to witness
In order to avoid trouble he went outside
and waited for his friends. Patterson came
out and witness struck him with his fist
A moment later, George Jones felled the
deceased with a brick
The jury then retired to discuss the
matter
Three Men Held.
The jury late this afternoon returned a
verdict holding that the deceased came to
his death by reason of injuries inflicted by
Henry Dasher, and holding Casey Brooks
and George Jones accessories
Brooks and Dasher were thereupon re-
moved to Jail. Jones has fled from the city,
and as yet 1t has been impossible to locate
him.