Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-07-05
TRAGEDY IN GEORGETOWN
Patsy Harriss Shoots and Kills Matthew
speuelL
Short Quarrel and & Fatal Chase
Claims His Victim Had q
Rnz0r.

Shortly after o'clock yesterday there
was tragedy here, at the corner OF 33d
and NJ streets, IN which Join, alias Patsy,
Harriss killed Matthew Speuell. Both par
tclpants in the excitement were colored.
Death was dealt through the bullets from
a revolver-three being fired at the victim
one taking effect. 1t struck Speuell In
the apex of the heart, and produced
death within an hour. The affair occurred
while the streets Of the vicinity were
crowded with the holiday celebrants.
Speuell was shot down in the vestibule of
Quackenbushs house, on the corner, where
he fled, hoping to escape Harriss, who had
chased him from his home. 1895 32d street.
Witnesses say the killing was intensely
dramatic. The victim rushed with all his
might toward the spot where death was
met Harriss following closely with pointed
revolver At the doorway Speuell turned
and attempted to pass through the Quack-
enbush entrance. Harriss was upon him
In an instant. Speuell, it Is said. turned
his tactics and attempted to defend him
self. A short struggle ensued and the
shots rang out.
The victim was taken Immediately to the
Emergency Hospital. where he died lit
tie later. When the deed was done Har-
riss ran. He was followed closely ana
finally captured by eX-Policeman Ben Har-
per, who turned him over to officer Har-
rison.
The Prisoner.
The prisoner was seen in his cell at the
seventh precinct today by Star reporter.
He was smoking a cigarette, while book
was lying beside him. He is an intelligent
appearing fellow-neat. light in color, and
twenty-three years of age. He has wife
and two children. The man had no in
clination at first to speak about the crime,
saying he was tired and sick, but persist
ency on the part of the caller induced MIN
to talk some.
He said he had resided for some time
in the same house with his victim, who
Kept a barber shop. Yesterday, he claims,
Speuell insulted his wife. When he asked
for retraction of his remarks and an apol-
ogy a razor was drawn and high words
were used. When Speuel was about to
attack him he whipped out his revolver
and chased him to his death. In the Quack-
enbush doorway, Harriss said. he would have
been sashed with the razor IL he had not
fired as his man, seeing that he could not
readily pass through the doorway, turned
with murderous intent.
The Revolver.
Harriss claimed that he never carried 4
revolver except on certain nights when he
acted waiter at Jack Heal tbs gambling
den on the Virginia side of the river. 1t
being a holiday, he was to start earlier.
While Harriss claimed that he had not been
drinking at all, it was acknowledged by
him that his wife had taken the revolver
from him once in the afternoon and thrown
it out a window for fear it would get him
into trouble. Later he found the weapon.
When not at Heaths Harrss worked at
RoTzee's boarding house, Potomac avenue
ana NJ street The prisoner has served two
years in the penitentiary for shooting a
man named Carter. in the rear Of the NJ
street market house, in 1891. Previous to
the shooting victim and prisoner were the
best of friends.
The Victim.
The murdered man was thirty-five years
of age. and leaves wife and child. Har-
riss claims that he fired but one shot at
Speull. but bystanders say three rang out.
The story of the razor attack is not cred
tied by those who Witnessed the chief Incl