Evening star., 1896-10-21
RESULT OF INQUEST
James Browns Death is Still a Mys-
tery.
Sonmern, Who Wns Held, Released by
the. COrOner-The Evidence
Submitted Today.

An inquest was held by Coroner Ham
NETT at the sixth precinct station this af-
| ternoon on the body of James Brown, The
| young colored man who, as stated in YES
| terday's Star. died Monday evening at his
home, 10Th and h streets southeast under
| suspicious circumstances
The jury was composed of Geo. r. Hen
derson. James w. Ford, Peter p. Smith.
| Donald McCathran, David Garrett and
Robt w. Dutton. and the first witness was
| Deputy Coroner Glazebrook, who made the
| autopsy. He said there was a bruise on
| the left shoulder, the effect of some blow.
| and a scar above the left eye, a week old.
Examining the skull, he found a six-inch
fractl re and extensive hemorrhage. Death
| was due to concGssion of the brain, caused
| by blow on the head probably.
| DIR. Chas. NJ. Emmons testified that he
| was called to attend Brown Monday after
| noon. The man was then in comatose
state, 1t being possible to arouse him only
| slightly.
| Kate Fraser. colored, of Loudoun place
| southeast said it was impossible to get
| Brown. who was her brother-in-law. 10
| say anything about his injury. Oliver Will
Saturday evening. He was then intoXi-
| Gated.
Geo. w. Hatton. colored, said tina,
about midnight Saturday Brown met
1
| Sth street between G and l southe Asst. md,
cursing Sommers, said he could whip him.
| Brown became very offensive, when Som
| mers pushed him away from him.
| The effect of the push was simply TO
| seat Brown on the pavement. Sommers
| then drove of, and Brown, after buying
| some oysters, walked OFF down 9Th street.
| The witness said he was positive Sommers
| simply pushed Brown, and was also posi-
| tive that tn. man was not then hurt in the
| slightest manner.
| Other Testimony.
| Fredk. Hall, colored. Browns brother-in.
| law, testified that he talked with Browns
| wife Sunday morning. and she told him
that Brown had fallen down the high en-
| bankment in the neighborhOod of 14th and
| * streets. Hall said he could get nothing
from Brown. who appeared to be i'll, but
the witness said that Sunday morning SON.
mers told him in Stagler's cigar store. in
Iwlning City, that he, Sommers. knocked
or showed Brown down Saturday night.
JOS. w. Alder. young white man of 2e2
| Washington street. Anacostia. said that
| brown was standing by Sommers' horse
Saturday night. Brown Threw his arms
around Sommers and asked MIN to loan
| MN some money, when Sommers pushed
| hlm away from him. Brown reached
the ground in sitting position. and wit
ness and Sommers then drove home, leav-
| Ing Brown sitting On the curb. Brown
| was very drunk, but witness and Som
| iners, while they had had three whistles
| We're not intoxicated. The witness said h,
was positive Brown was not hurs ty SOM
merS.
After Browns father had stated tha. his
| son was unable TO account for mis- injury
| Scmmers, VINO was held under arrest IL
await the action of the coroners JURY
| stated that he found Brown standing by
| his tSommer - horse Saturday nIgnt: thai
| the man became very offensive. demanding
| money and hugsing him. He sInply push.
| ed him away from hIrn, and Brown stag.
| gered to the pavement in a sitting posiuon
| SomrlerS said that he and Alder then Urov,
| home, and he admitted seeing Browns
| brother-in-law, Hall, next day, when h,
| told him what had occurred.
| The Verdict.
That concluded the testimony, and afteI
] few minutes consultation the jury re-
| turned the following verdict:
| We, the jury, find that James Brown
| died about pan, Monday, October IL
| 1886, from the effects of conclusion of th.
| brain, but We are unable, from the tesu.
| mony adduced before US, TO determine IA
| what manner the Injury was recen cd
Coroner Hamnett tnereupon reIvaSro
| Sommers from custody.