Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-08-05
THAT FATAL SHOT.
More In Detail Of the Shooting by Miss
Fiagler Of the Colored Boy.


Fiagler Of the Colored Boy.
The Washington Evening Star of
Friday contains the facts in detail
surrounding the shooting in that
city by Miss Elizabeth Flagler that
afternoon of the little colored boy.
Ernest Green, who was on the fence
stealing apples The Star went to
press before the inquest which COM
pletely exonerated Miss Flagler,
whose parents. Gen. and Mrs. ID. w.
Flagler, we're in Canada at the time
on their summer outing.
The Details.
The Star says of the tragedy:
Miss Elizabeth Flagler, daughter
OF Gen. Daniel w. Flagler, chief of
ordnance of the army, used a revol-
yer with fatal effect about noon to-
day at her home, No. 2l44 California
avenue, only two squares west of the
Chevy Chase electric railroad. The
victim was l4-year-old colored boy
named Ernest Green, who lived at
1888 Pierce street. Ernest was on
the fence stealing fruit when he re-
ceived the fatal wound. For several
weeks Gen. Flagler's family. as well
as other families in that section of
the county, have been troubled by
boys. both white and colored, who
not only steal the fruit, but who also
break large branches from the trees
and break down plants. From time
to time policemen have watched for
the boys, but the vandals seem to
have kept away while the officers
were on the lookout for them. The
little boy whose dead body is now in
his parents house, sauntered out in
the country from his home, and the
pears in Gen. Flagler's large garden
proved especially attractive to him.
and he concluded to go to the fence
and help himself.
Upon reaching the fence he
climbed high enough to enable him
to reach the branches laden with
fruit, and he was preparing to get in
a good supply, when suddenly bull
let entered his right breast and
passed through his body. Down
from the fence he fell. and with him
went some of the choice fruit.
Fired From the Window.
Miss Flagler had fired the shot
from the second story window of the
house, and, although she could not
see through the foliage. she imagined
that her shot had probably taken
effect. 1t required but slight in
vestigation to prove what had really
occurred. The boy was on the
ground beneath the tree and very
near the fence, with hole through
his body. Blood was flowing freely
from the wound and before he could
be carried into Gen. Flagler's house
by neighbors there was large pool
of the fluid on the ground near
where he had fallen. The boy, how
ever, never spoke after he was shot.
A telephone message sent to the DO
lice station brought the patrol wagon
to Gen. Flagler's house. Police Sur
geon Cannon was in the wagon and
quick trip was made to the house, but
me wounded boy had passed to the
life beyond and the doctors services
were of no use.
Miss Flsgler at Headquarters.
immediately after the shooting
word was received by telephone at
police headquarters that Miss Flagler
was on her way to give herself into
custody. Shortly after that she ap-
peared at Mai. Moore's office, and
was at once ushered into his private
room. She was accompanied by
Capt. Shamer of the ordnance de-
partment, U. S. A., her father being
out of town. She remained in the
office Of the superintendent of police
for couple of hours. and all others
but those who had business in coz
nection with the case we're rigidly ex-
cluded. Newspaper reporters were
also kept out at Maj. Moore's orders.
and later he said that she declined to
say any thing with reference to the
affair. Miss Flagler gave her age to
the police as %. She is very at
tractive-looking woman, and. of
course moved in the highest society
at the cspital, both on account of her
official position and her own
Maj. Moore stated to a |
Star reporter that Miss Flagler had
not made any detailed statement
and that he had not urged her to |
do so.
"After the shooting the body of the
dead boy was taken to the home of |
his parents, 1888 Pierce street. The
inquest. however, was held at the
sixth precinct station house, on New
Jersey avenue.
The people who live in the neigh
)rhood where the shooting occurred
have long complained of gangs of
hoodlums who trepass on private
property and make the growing of
plants and flowers almost an impos-
'ibility. A number of people who
i've on Connecticut avenue bevond
he boundary have been threatening
% shoot unless the nuisance was
stopped.
What Miss Flagler Claims.
Facts in connectionwith the shoot.
ng are very meagre and by no means
Easy to get at. The young lady her.
;alf hos norsisfon<lv Jo.1:S