The morning times., 1896-08-08

John L. Ford, nineteen years old, who
lives with his parents at No. 1896 Jeffer-
son street, George town, was shot by
Columbus Pearson, a rigger, familiarly
known as "Lum" Pearson, at tie rear
OF the iatter's home, in Cissell alley north
west, shortly before O'Clock last eyens
ing, and received what the hospital ply
siciaDs believe to be fatal wound.
Pearson is an old man, sixty four years
or age. aud lives in one OF the row OF
houses In the alley, two doors. from water
street. With him, as EoUsekeeper, lives
Mrs. Lille NJ. Cooper, whose husband Is
an engineer on the United States warship
Maine, and 1t vas because Of the attention
Ford was pa ayiDg the woman. that Pearson
shot him when he caIkd last night 10 see
her. Ford had been repeatedly warned to
keep away from the house, not only By
Pearson, but by others who knew OF the
relations which existed between him and
Fcarson's holisekeeper.
Last Sunday night the boy was warned
by Pearson to keep away or he would get
hurt and at that time the old man poked a
remark. The old man and the boy had a
lively row at that time hut fortunately
there were no blows struck and the scene
ended without bloodshed Thursday night
the boy went to the house again and after
a stormy scene with the old man left with
the statement that Inc would call and see
the woman just when he pleased, and, ac-
cordrng TO the neighbors, dared [ he old man
to do his worst.
FIRED FROM A WINDOW
Young Ford left his sisters home on
Thirty first street at $50 yesterday aftes-
noon with the inoen,ion OF visiting Mrs.
Cooper, and SO far as is known was with
her unti\fter 6 O'Clock Shortly before
O'Clock Ford went back to Fearson's house.
and standing on the high eniba nkment back
of the house he tegan TO whistle for Mrs.
Cooper. He had been there but a minute
when Pearson raised window in the back
room and fired two shots al Ford as he
stood on the embaBkment, less tain a
dozen feet away.
The first shot did rot take effect, but the
second did. for immediately there was
cry from Ford. who exclaimed:
20 Lord, I'm shot" He Immediately
sank down in the bushes near by. but
picked himself up again and walked aro'nd
to the front of the house, where he fell to
the sidewalk UNCONSCIOUS.
The report of the revolver was heard by
nearly everybody in the nelghborhool and
in n few seconds there was a crowd of
fully five hundred people in the little
alley anxiously fnquiing about the shoot
Ii
traoted by the report and was quickly on
the scene. He placed Pearson under ar
rest and called the police wagon from the
Seventh princinct to convey the injured
man TO the hospital
Pearson did not deny the shooting when
the question was put TO him by the officer.
He did say, however, that he hadrepeatedly
warned Ford to keep away from the house.
He was taken to the Seventh precinct sta
tion house and locked up. He refused
to talk when spoken to by Sergt- Haney.
WOUND PROBABLY FATAL.
Tie Injured boy resafDed Consciousness
on the way to the hospital. He said Doth
ing. however, but was extremely anxious
about the wound which he had sustained.
The hospital physicians upon examination
found that the ball had entered the back
on The left side under the ribs, and lay
under the skin q few inches below and to
the right of the navel. The bali, a bullet
of ~ caliber. plowed its way through the
intcstines. causing an internal henorrhage.
which the ph ysicians regard as extreDe y
serious.
Ford was anxious to have the operation
take place Immediately, and said he could
stand the cutting out Of the bail. He bore
UP brayeiy while being examined and
showed no apparent signs OF fear when
told that the wound " as perhaps fatal
one.
When the shooting took place the Cssopcr
woman was aot in thehouse and had not been
there since $50 in the afternoon This
is the statement made by the neighbors In
the vicinity. No one had seen her since she
went out in the afternoon. The police
made dihgent search for the woman but
nothing could be learned of her whereabouts.
Columbus Pearson, Familiarity known as
HLum." who did the shooting, Is a man
well know to the police. and to a good
many other people in Georgetowa- Many
years ago he was regarded as q very bad
man. During the last few years he has
str;ughteBed up and has made hIs living
by following his trade. He has lived in the
bouse on Cissell alley for number OF years.
and Mrs. Cooper has been his house keeper
for nearly two years.
FoRD's GOOD REPUTATION.
John L. Ford is the Oldest son of John
Ford, black smith, who lives on Jefferson
street, and heretofore has been regarded
as Straightforward young man. He has
worked for several people and was thought
to be honest and truthful. His relations
with the Cooper woman have been known
by several for some time and particularly
by his sister, Mrs. Harry Bradley. He has
been warned time and again to keep away
from the woman or that trouble would bc
the result. but he has persisted in going to
the house, knowing that it was very dis
tasteful Pearson, who also had warned
him to keep away.
Mrs. Lille N. Cooper is the wife of
William Cooper, man wcll-kBCwn about
Georgetown. She is a sister of Policeman
Charles Bradley, a me mEer of the Seventh
precinct force, and Of Harry Bradley, the
husband of the injured boys sister. She
was married to Cooper several years ago,
but he left her to 90 cut cs the warship
Maine. She does not lear sood rcputa-
tioB and has been disowned by her two
brothers. She is about thiItyfive years
old, and has been in Fearson's house living
with him as his wife for two years OF more.
Mrs Ford. the mother OF the injured
bny, and Mrs Bradley. the boys sister.
when seen by The Times reporter, said
the shooting was entirely the fault OF