The morning times., 1896-01-28
SHOT IN StLF-DEFENsE
Abe Fitzhugh's Slayer ExOuer-
ated by the CorOner's Jury
BORE A BAD CH HARACTER
Clark Did Not Fire Until He Was
Forced Tolls Victim Had Dra WI
Razor-An the Testimony Was
for Him.

The inquest yesterday afternoon into the
killing of Abe FitZhugh by John T. Clark,
resulted IN IA verdict uf acquiltal.
The testimony brought out the story of
the tragedy. Ii established the bad repu-
tatiuu OF the dead man, and rendered to
show that Clark acted in self-defense.
The inquest convened at police station
No. g, at O'Clock, and the following
were Sworn as jurors: Richard J. Collins,
Levi W. Jackson, james Z. Crump Eugene
Fugett, Fielder W. Newman and Victor c.
Woodbridge Mr.. Clark was represented
by Mr.. Andrew Lipscomb.
The witness, David Johnson alias" Lefty"
t Johnson, testified that he was booking
through the glass door of the saloon and saw
the shooting. He heard Clark curse FitZ-
hugh; saw the latter reach over the bar;
saw the gun III Clark's hands; sd W the shot
and saw Fitzhugh fan. He did not know
whether Fitzhugh reached for Clark or
for the gun which was In Clark's hands
He did not see weapon in the hands of
FitZhugh. He had heard from "Reddy"
that FitZhugh and Clark had fused ear
lier IN tie night. Witness admitted that he
had been arrested four or five times for
lighting and playing crap and had served
one term i'll jail and several in the work
house.
OFFICER sNYDER's STATEMENT.
Policeman Snyder, ON whose beat the
shooting occurred, testified Ia the char
acter OF Fitzhush. Snyder said that Fitz-
hugh had been involved with the police on
several occasions. Once he assaulted Po-
liceman Murphy and relieved him of his
mis- He. I,.l nj hAa 4, f,r
assauitng Policeman Evans.
Policeman Henry produced the razor with
which it was alleged FitzhuGh assaulted
Clark. Mr.. McCJuiey, testified that he had
found The razor yesterday morning behind
a barrel iii the bJr-ruom where IL had lain
since the night Uf the tragedy.
Isaac no,isun. colored, testified that he
saw the shooting. He heard a noise in
the har-ropm, looked through the glass
door. saw FitZhugh reach over the counter
toward Clark He did not know whether
Fitzhugh sought To pull Clark over the
counter or get the gun from him. He saw
no weapon in the hands OF Fitzhugh.
witness said Fitzhugh was partly drunk.
Witness also admitted that he had served
several terms in the jail and workhouse
for fighting and crap playing.
Deputy Coroner Giazebrook testified TO
the injury which caused Fitzhugh's death.
A load of No. s shot had entered the right
side below the tenth rib, torn away part
of the liver and one kidney. DR.. Glaze
brook testified that FitZhugh was six feet
tail. weighed about 100 pounds, and with
one exception. was the most powerfully
built man. whose body he had ever seen.
Mary Scott and Lizzie Blackwell, coIored,
gave unimportaut testimony.
CAUSED TROUBLE BEFORE.
Joseph H. Lawrence, bartender for Clark,
told OF the trouble, which at divers times
Fitzhugh had caused. On the night OF
the shooting Clark had ordered Fitzhugh
out. He turned on Clark and sldshed at
him with something bright
Clark put the stove between bin and his
assailant nd Fitzhugh Slashed again. Clark
got behind the counter. Fitzhugh reached
over. and would have wrested the gun
from Clark had the latter no, fired. He
testified that Clark was no match physically
for the negro: that he had been i'll many
months with rheumatism, and that he
dropped the gun directly on firing it, not
being strong enough to hold il.
Charles Fontleroy. Isaac Harris and Po-
liccman Mohl gave testimony of little I'M
portdnce.
Clark told his story of the affair. He
showed tine cuts in his clothing and took
the dressing from his left hand, where
court-paster concealed the wound inflicted
by FitZhughs razor. He told his story
in straightforward manner.
At : O'Clock the jury returned verdict
generating Clark. Thestation wa crowded
with the friends of Clark and they CON
graduated him warmly on his release.
His wife and children were also in the
station and wept when the verdict was
announced.