Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-13
s1AsBED TO THE HEART
Thornton Burrel Fatally Aisaults Bryant
Hackall
Result Of an Array ON the Anacostia
Two Col0red Men.

Bryant Mackall, q young colored man,
whose home was in Hillsdale, was fatally
stabbed on the Navy Yard bridge Saturday
night, and Thornton Burrell. also colored,
of Good Hope Hill, who, it is alleged. COM
mitted the crime, Is in custody, awaiting
the action Of the coroner's jury in the mat
ter.
Messrs. James Martin and Leonard An
derson, two young white men who hap
pened to be near the scene at the time. re-
ported the matter to the authorities of the
fifth precinct almost Immediately, and the
patrol wagon of that station quickly re-
sponded. Mackall was placed in the wagon
and start made for the Emergency Hos
pital, but before reaching there the unfor-
tunate mar died, and after the body was
examined by one of the physicians at the
hospital, Who stated that life was extinct.
the corpse was taken to the morgue, to
await the action Of the coroner.
Immediately after the stabbing, Burrell
and the men who were with him at the
time-Edward Butler. William II; West.
across the bridge to Anacostia, where, be-
fore morning, all were taken into custody
by Officers Reagan and MARI. An investi-
cation by Sergeant Anderson convinced the
fight. and he was released. but the others
were locked up. West, Butler and Duckett
being held as witnesses.
When questioned after his arrest Burrell
admitted faving been in fight with Mack
all during Saturday evening and was aware
that Mackal was hurt, but he emphatically
denied that he lad cut him. and expressed
great surprise upon learning that the
wounded man had died. He also refused,
although repeatedly urged to do so, to tell
who were with him or what had caused
the trouble.
Statement nj = Ev0.W4fnAaa
Leonard Anderson. one of the two young
men who saw the whole affair, said that a
little before the stabbing-he thought about
half an hour-Burrell and Mackall were
fighting, and that his comrade, Martin,
separated them. During this fight no
weapons were lsed, and neither of the men
seemed to be much hurt. Burrell and
Mackall kept on growing, and threatening
each other, and it appeared to him as
though at the first opportunity Burrell
stabbed Mackall
Mackall staggered 1cross the car tracks
on the bridge. and Anderson and Martin,
seeing that he was about to fall tried to
prevent him, but were unable to reach him
before he did SO. Mackall struck the floor
face downward, and Anderson turned him
over and pulled from his left breast the
blade of large oyster knife, which, it was
subsequently found, had penetrated Mack
alrS heart
All the men who were held as witnesses
were very communicative concerning the
affair, and Duckett claimed that he had
separated BurreIl and Mackal several
times during the evening, and he asserted
that when the two combatants came to-
gether for the last encounter he determined
to let them fight it out.
Duckett further claimed that when Mack
all saw Burrell draw knife he started to
run, but was pursued by his assailant, who
overlook him about the center of the
bridge. and cut him, as stated. Duckett
also claimed that after cutting Mackall
Burrell went away a short distance, but
returned and asked Mackal IL he had
had enough, remarking that he could give
him more If he had not had sufficient.
1t Is said that Mackan was about to be
married to young woman in Hillsdale.