Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-08
A SERIOUS SHOOTING AFFAIR
Columbus Pearson Dangerously Wounds
Young John Ford.
A Georgetown Tragedy Caused by
Men to One Woman.

Columbus Pearson, white man sixty
four years Of age, shot and perhaps fatally
wounded John L. Ford, nineteen-year-old
white boy, about o'clock last evening, in
Cissel's alley, between 32d, Potomac, Water
and Grace streets. The affair grew out of
the young man paying attention to a wo-
man with whom Pearson was living. Two
shots were fired, only one taking effect,
striking the right side of the abdomen,
passing through the bladder and lodging in
the inteSttnes, not far from the skin. Fear
son did not attempt to escape after COM
hitting the crime, and few minutes after
ward was placed under arrest by Police
man Seymour.
Lum, has a wife and three children living,
residing on list street near l. street, but
ne has not lived at home for several years.
For the past two months he has been liv
Ing in Cissel's alley with Mrs. Lille M.
Cooper, the wife Of an engineer on the U.
s. S. Maine. woman well known in that
locality.
Ford and Mrs. Cooper have been quite in
innate. 1t Is alleged, and the frequent calls
of the young man at the house were object
ed to by Pearson. On more than one occa-
sion he had warned the young man to
cease paying visits but the warnings were
unheeded. Only last Saturday the two had
an alteration, in which, it is claimed by
Pearson, Ford struck him with, stone.
Sunday another warning was given, and
by way of emphasis Pearson drew a pistol
and threatened to shoot the boy If he show
ed up again. The young man stated that
he would visit the house as often as he
pleased, and he was carrying out this in
tention when shot.
The Fatal Visit.
The visit which eliminated yesterday in
the shooting began as early as o'clock in
the afternoon. Ford called at the house,
and Is said to have remained with the wo-
man until after o'clock. He went home,
and returned shortly before O'clock Hav-
ing some hesitation about entering the
place. fearing that Pearson was around, he
stood on the outside of the house and
Whfstled for the woman. Instead Of seeing
her, he saw her irate paramour, who raised
a window, and drawing a revolver fired
two shots in rapid succession. Ford inn
mediately sank to the ground, but partially
recovering his strength, managed to drag
himself to the front of the house, where he
fell on the sidewalk unconscious. He was
picked up few minutes later by the police
and was hurriedly driven to the Emer-
gency Hospital The sounds of the shots at
tracted quite a crowd to the scene, and
many people present solemnly remarked
that something had occurred which they
had expected to see long before.
Mrs Cooper, the woman over whom the
shooting was caused, Is about thirty years
of age, and has an attractive face She
left her husband about a year ago, having
been living with Pearson nearly half Ct
that time. She met Ford about three
r1onths ago. After the shooting she disap-
peared, and has not since been SEEN
The Injured Man.
John Ford, the injured man, is a black
smith by trade, and lives at 1896 Jefferson
street. He bears a good reputation He
lived at the home of his sister, who was
aware of his association with the Cooper
woman, and repeatedly urged and begged
MIN to cease visiting her, but to no avail.
AT the hospital he did not express any, fear
when told that his wound was very dam
gerous. and would perhaps result fatally.
Lum Pearson is well-known man and
Eas lVed In Georgetown all his life At
present he Is employed as rigger, but in
years past had a rather shady occupation.
During the robbery of the paymaster's boat
on the canal In 1873 he was one of the
main witnesses who sent the principals to
the penitentiary for long time They
threatened to. kill him when their term ex-
pired, but nothing was ever done. He was
also connected. so it is claimed, with the
stealing CT the books and other papers Of
the old board of public works, before the
present form of government in the District
and placing them under the door of Mr.
Columbus Alexander, well-known resident
of this section Of the city. He was employ
son had reputation in other ways, but Of
late has kept himself straight.
Fearson Committed to Jail,
Today Columbus Pearson was taken to
the Police Court on charge of attempted
murder. Because Of the condition of young
Ford the case was continued and the de-
PENDANT was committed to Jail to await the
result Of his injuries, without bond.