Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-06-29


TRAGEDY AT CARLIN's SPRINGs.-As
stated yesterday, James A. Newsom,
for long time one of the doorkeepers
of the House of Representatives, was
fatally assaulted about IL O'clock
Thursday night at the residence of
Mrs. Margaret Rose Carter, at Carlin's
Springs, by Louis Berry, the twenty
year old son of Henry Berry, fresco
painter at the Capitol. Berry's weapon
was a baseball bat. Newsom was
struck several times on the head, fell
unconscious On his bed and died about
8 o'clock yesterday morning. Newsom
and his wife and a pretty woman
named Mrs. Marquett and her daugh-
ter had been boarding with Mrs. Car
ter during the summer. Newsom was
q heavy drinker. and soon after going
to the country became intoxicated.
When under the influence of liquor he
seem to have been troublesome in more
ways than one. Thursday he left the
ladies at Carln's Springs and went to
Washington, where he purchas-
ed quantity Of goods and
drank freely. He returned to Carlin's
Springs in the evening with large
quantity of fruit, several bottles OF soft
drinks for the ladies and four bottles of
whisky. During the evening he became
greatly intoxicated and created con-
siderable disturbance in the usually
quiet neighborhood and peaceful home
of the Carriers. After supper he abused
and assaulted his wife. and Mrs. New
som decided to leave her husband. Ac-
cordingly the trunks were packed, and
accompanied by Edward Carter, q
young son of the lsndlady, the ill-treat
ed wife, Mrs. Marquett and daughter
were driven to Washington and took
up quarters at the Enrich House.
About this time Lewis Berry called al
the Carter house to spend the evening
with Miss Emma Carter, to whom he
had been paying attention. Newsom,
in the meantime, continued to drink,
and kept the house in an uproar. Sew
eral times he is said to have left his
room, the parlor on the first floor, and.
in q half dressed state, staggered
through the house yelling and cursing.
Mrs. Carter and her daughter were bad
" frightened, and as Berry was the
ONLY other male pe,s IN in the house with
the exception of M Carte 'stw, young
sens, he was urged to remain until
q later hour than usual. 1t is under
stood that Berry conducted Newsom TO
his room twice during the evening and
endeavored to pacify the intoxicated
man, but all efforts failed. Finally, 1t
il said, Newsom broke out of his room,
and in a half nude state entered the
room in which Mrs. Carter and her
daughter were sitting. Berry then seized
the man, pushed him from the room,
and toward his own apartments. AS
he passed through the hall he picked
up baseball bat belonging to one OF
the Carter boys. Just how the murder
occurred is not known at this time. 1t
is said that while in the room Newsom
jumped on the bed, made an attempt to
seize weapon of some kind and said:
ssHere's something that will Tx you"
Berry then sttcked Newsom, dealing
him q heavy blow in the side with the
hat. The second blow was more fOrcl-
bic and landed on the left side of New
SONS head, inficting cash about four
inches long and fracturing the skull.
Newsom fell on his bed unconscious,
and although medical attendance was
promptly summoned, nothing could be
done for the injured man, and he
died, as stated above, at 9 o'clock
yesterday morning without recov-
ering consciousness. One thing that
controverts this story of the kill
ing is the fact that the door
leading into Newsom's room was bat
tered, the panels having been broken
apparently from the outside. That
, there was terrible struggle is apparent
on all sides, but just how the affair was
brought about is considerable of q
mystery. Berry left the Carter house
soon after the occurrence, and up to an
early hour this morning had not been
seem. An inquest was held at the home
of Mrs. Carter yesterday afternoon by
Coroner Birch, who lives near Rosslyn,
and the verdict rendered was that New
som came to his death from wounds in.
A;cted by q ball bat in the hands OF
Lewis Berry. Although the gossip
about the neighborhood tends TO show
!. fhat Berry acted in self-defense and was
4 justified in striking Newson, the jury
adid not exonerate him. The body Of
sNewsom was taken to Georgetown and
/ surned over to an undertaken. The de.
oaased was from Memphis and was about
59 gears of age.
Gerry some time after the shooting
ss,4ge himself up to the authorities and
sude arrangements for his defense. A
4SaIiminary examination was held at
Tarlin's Springs to. day when Col. F. L.
Smith appeared as counsel for Berry.
The examination was in progress. at
klet accounts.