Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-30
KILLED WITH A STONE
Charles Sargent, the Bootblack Held for
John Williams Death.
Result of Street FiSht-TestimOny
Developed at the COroner's
Inquest Yesterday.

Coroner Hammett and jury of six clt1-
zens heard the evidence yesterday afternoon
in the case of the colored messenger, John
Williams, who died at Freedman's Hospital
from the effects of blow on the head in
fiicted by Charles, alias Buck" Sargent,
colored bootblack. Precinct Detective Harti-
gan, who made the investigation, was pres
ent at the inquest with witnesses whom he
had secured. The prisoner, who has been
, under arrest for several days, was brought
up from Jail, and was present at the inquest
to hear what was said for and against him.
He is only sixteen years old.
Messrs. o. d. Barrett and Edward G. Niles
We're present as counsel for the prisoner.
Frank B. Williams, a colored boy, testified
that on the day of the occurrence he saw the
prisoner and deceased near I'd and streets
engaged in a quarrel He saw no blows
passed.
John Bell, coored, who said he lived near
Manassas. Virginia, testified that he knew
John Williams, the deceased, at his home in
Virginia. He came here less than two
months ago and met Sargent. On the day
the affair happened, he said. number of
them were standing on the sidewalk talking.
Williams left and went on up the street, ana
then girl named Becky Tolliver appeared
and asked what was the trouble. Frank VIII
liams had said that he (wtness) had been
talking about hir, behind his back, and they
gathered there, one side to prove the asser-
ton ana the Otner TO QlSDTOVe IL. w men lile
discussion ended John Williams said: Its
all ended" and walked away. Witness did
not see any blows pass between them.
Frank Williams, brother of the dead man,
he said. had told him that John had at
tributed to him (witness) the statement that
Frank had been going to work ragged and
dirty.
A Little Mixed.
Rebecca Tolliver, colored girl, testified
that she saw the party standing on the cor
ncr and she asked what the trouble was
about. She then went in the store, and when
she came out she saw John Williams run
ming down the alley. While he was running
she saw Sargent throw a stone and strike
him on the head.
Did he fall when he was struck" asked
a juror.
mo, SIR" answered witness, ''but he stag
gered.''
with what did Sargent hit him."
did you know Williams?
Yes, sir, he was my brothers sisters
child, my niece
Nephew. you mean?" queried juror.
yes, l guess so. 1 know I'm some kin to
him."
Later she concluded that he was her aunt's
son, and she reasoned that he must have
been her cousin.
What part of the head was struck?'
THE back of his head
She then said that Sargent struck her
couSlH Will d piece OIL DFlck, ana she saw
him putting the pieces of brick in his pock-
ct Witness was half square from them
when the trouble happened. The affair, she
thought, took place about 80 o'clock in the
afternoon, and when she first saw the boys
they were standing at the corner of Sd and
3 streets.
The Cause of Death.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook testified that
he performed an autopsy on Williams body
yesterday. The deceased was deformed and
had but one eye. He found several scars
on the forehead which were from skin
bruises. On the back of his head witness
found a cut about an inch long, and be-
meath this there had been a considerable
hemorrhage. There was a slight fracture
OF the skull Hemorrhage, clot and ccnses-
ton OF the brain were found. Death he
SAID, had resulted from the blow, which
must have been a severe one
Precinct Detective Hartigan gave evidence
concerning the arrest and statement If the
prisoner, and Sargent, in his own behalf,
claimed that he acted in self-defense He
asserted that Williams drew a razor on hin,
before ne threw piece of coal or stone
The jury returned a verdict holding Sar-
gent responsible for Williams death, and
he was committed to jail