Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-16
THE COROkER'S INQUEST
Testimony in Regard to the Stabbing Of
Howard Smith.
John Morgan Held by the Coroner for
the Action of the Grand
Jury.

II want to give myself up" said John
Morgan. respectable looking young COL
ored man, when he entered Lieut. Kelly's
police station about 10 o'clock Saturday
night.
For what% inquired the station clerk.
II had some trouble with Howard Smith,"
he replied. land cut him In self defense"
The fatal tragedy occurred in the Harri-
son fiat, corner Of Sd and G streets north
west the building lately occupied by the
superintendent Of the census
Howard Smith was employed as cook in
the cafe in the fiat several months ago, but
at the time of his death he. was employed
In the Belvedere Hotel.
John Morgan had charge of the elevator
In the hats He had worked there last win
ter. at which time he met Smith.
Morgan and Scott Smith, brother Of de-
ceased, were friends, and some weeks ago,
when Morgan wanted to get his laundry
nifty cents from Scott Smith, giving him a
gold ring to hold security. They made
q bargain that Scott should pay 50 in event
OF his losing the ring.
He seemed to have lost the piece of lew
eiry. but did not pay the money. The men
had several interviews about the ring and
money, but failed to reach a settlement,
and one day when Scott called on Morgan
and left his guitar in the room Morgan
hid 1t and was holding 1t to secure the s..
The Fatal Stab.
Howard Smith interested himself in his
brothers behalf and Saturday night he
called at the nat to have 1t out or settle
the affair. he said. The men then dis
cussed the matter, quarreled and the knife
was used. After receiving the fatal cut
Smith ran across the street to the drug
store, and then he returned to the street
There he fell from exhaustion and died in
q few minutes
The affair attracted a large crowd Of per-
sons, among them being several physi-
clans, but they were Unable to do anything
Tor the wounded man. He died In a few
minutes, and his body was taken to the
Torgue In patrol wagon. Morgan went
street, told her what he had done, and then
gave himself up.
The Inquest Today.
This morning Coroner Woodward investi-
gated the affair, holding the inquest at the
sixth precinct station.
James H. Ellsworth, a resident of the
flats. was first called and he drew a diagram
of the portion Of the flats in which the fatal
meeting occurred. Then he described the
position Of the men when he entered. Wit
ness stopped and left some packages on the
table. Smith and Morgan were engaged in
discussion and witness heard Morgan pro-
testing against being accused Of theft, but
what the alleged theft was he did not know
at that time.
Just as he was leaving the fiat he heard
Morgan say: Il can get just as good let
ters Of Recommendation from people in
Washington as you can"
Witness then went to a barber shop and
got shaved He returned in twenty-five
minutes and Smiths dead body had then
been taken away.
Did the men seem to have been drink
mgr ask the coroner.
"No. sir" replied witness. II think they
la .tx-rf
"Did you ever hear Of any previous trou-
BILE between them?"
None whatever"
Witness said that when he isst Smith had
on his overcoat and hat, and when he re-
turned the coat and hat were found in the
corner OF the corridor. where he had thrown
them. e.r~s
when the coat was picked up" said wit
| ness. some fish fell from the pockets"
Earl GoOdmnn's Story.
Earl Goodman. a nine-year-old boy, was
| next called. and DR.. Woodward questioned
his as to his competency as witness. He
had scarcely recovered from his fright oc-
| casioned by the affair. but he knew what it
was to tell the truth.
Earl then related the story of the fatal
| meeting as he saw 1t. The colored men, he
said. were talking about a guitar He heard
upg'
Howard Smith then rammed him In the
corner said witness, "and kicked Johnny
filst"
Did you see any pistols therer" the coro-
| ner asked.
NO, sir" replied witness. "If there had
been any pistols could have heard them
go on"
the prisoner. He had fully recovered from
his embarrassment, but the coroner told
him he only wanted him to tell what he
saw.
Earl did not see the knife.
Frank A. Milligan, an invalid, who lives
| In the fiat, was In the elevator at the time
the tragedy was committed He TESTIFIED
that he left his room and went in the cor
rfdor to smoke a cigar about O'clock Sat-
urady night. John Morgan. who was In
charge of the elevator, said he wanted to
go on an errand for lady, and witness
ran the elevator for him.
Witness was enjoying his cigar in the
elevator when Howard Smith came in and
got into discussion about a guitar. At
first they did not seem angry, and, indeed
witness paid no attention to them until
they INDUCED In personalities. He remain
ed In the elevator, and when the bell rang
ne pulled the rope and went up, leaving
the negroes in the corridor discussing their
difference. Earl Goodman went across the
street for some ice cream, and when he
came back the negroes engaged in the
fatal encounter.
Il thought at first that they were only
foolfng, said the witness. but when
lowered the elevator l saw Smith crowding
separated and Smith went out the door
Morgan followed him, and then, when
saw blood on the floor, 1 became fright
ened."
Witness had known the colored men a
short while but was not well acquainted
with either of them.
Did either Of them appear to have been
drinking?"
II think not"
Witness did not remember whether Nor
gan was wearing his overcoat or not He
saw the hat and coat in the corner some
time after the trouble was over
DIR. Schaeffer's Testimony.
DR.. E. NJ SchaeTer, who is the assistant
coroner, described the dead man as a very
athletic young man. The fatal wound, he
said. was knife cut of the left thigh The
direction was inward and upward and wit
ness probed the wound three inches. The
artery and veins were severed and there
was also a slight cut in the back Hem
orrhage of the wound in the thigh caused
death and the wound was necessarily fatal
Witness also found scars on the face and
knee, which were perhaps made by the
fall In the clothing of deceased witness
found cuts corresponding with those in
the mans body.
Cornelius Robinson, colored, said that
Howard Smith had called at his house
several times to see Morgan. To witness
he said he did not want to see Morgan at
his home, but he wanted to see him some
where else on important business. Smith
called to see Morgan about o'clock Sat
urday evening and witness told him he