Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-08
MURDER A MYSTERY
A Crippled Shoemaker Killed and
Terribly Mutilated.
NO CLUE TO TIE ASSAILANT
Coroners Inquest Fails to Solve the
Problem.
DETECTIVES AT WORK

D CTIVES AT WORK
One of the most brutal murders in the
history of crime in the District was COM
mitted last night some time between and
o O'Clock on 9th street northwest. A most
remarkable feature of the murder was the
fact that it took place within half a block
of the eighth precinct station house. The
room in which the killing was done showed
that there had been fierce and determined
struggle, yet not sound was heard out
side the little shanty to give the alarm to
passers-by. Six policemen were held in
reserve at the station house during the
evening yet they had not the slightest sus-
plclon nor any reason to suspect that MUIR
der was being done SO near at hand.
Wesley Hall, a middle-aged colored shoe
maker, occupied the one-room house. No.
IlOl 9th street. He was a hunchback and
crippled, and unable to move about without
tne ald OF crutches. Last evening he was
hurry to get through to go to church.
Apout 1:4o O'Clock colored woman who
nves near by, Mrs. Frances Trusty. passed
nan mousse, and seeing him at work in
oPoHAS " ana asked the time.
ABOUT three hours later she again pa ssed
nan mouse on her way home from church
ons caied 70 him. but received no answer.
anu seeing the door partly open. she ven
III suieu In. Her attention was first attracted
Dy the great disorder of the room and
looking around, she saw Hall living on the
noor; He was lying in pool of blood with
MS iegs resting up against a little stove.
Inc furniture was thrown about and brok-
en-, ana on the floor. walls and ceiling were
great blotches of blood. The won,a5 h h.,r
[Ieu out and aroused a neighbor WilIia ~,
oieiiehs' VINO at once notified the police.
BADLY Mutilnted.
Sergt. Montgomery ran to the hopse and
mace thorough examination. Hall was
padly cut and beaten On the floor v.s :.
prlck, covered with blood. with which bo
mad evidently been struck again and again
IL was evident that a chair was also nsed
as a weapon, and blow from this crushed
III the mead CT the poor little shoemaker
razor was also found, covered with
pLood, and there were deep gashss about
me mead and neck of the murdered mar
From the appearance of the room - u,ns,i5
Seem as II Hairs assailant had chased him
from corner to corner, cuAting or striking
MN MIN with the club every time he came
Within reach. There were signs of dase
perate struggle showing that Han h.a
Fought vainly for his life. The surprising
feature or 1t all Is that, ipasmuch as he
was not killed by single blow, he did NOT
m, MAKE Such an outcry as would summon re-
fortunate man, and the two houses are
separated Only by thin wooden partition
IT seems Incredible that Clemens. who wa q
IN his room all the evening, heard nothing
Oh the assault Yet he claims to have
heard absolutely nothing in the wav NJ on
unusual or alarming sound
Robbery the Motive.
Thoro
lead to the discovery Of tho murderer. So
FAR as the police could learn last night, no
person was seen to en-
ter Halls house or loiter in the neighbor-
hood That robbery was the motive was
shown by the fact that small toy savings
bank, which contained about S. had been
taken out of the trunk and smashed to
pieces and the contents appropriated A
silver watch which Hall wore was also
cred with blood before he finished his
CHASTITY work, and could not have gone
the streets for any great distance
without being detected. While no theory
has yet been advanced by the police, they
are inclined to the belief that some one in
the immediate neighborhood committed
the crime, and there was talk last night of
the houses for bloody clothing
before 1t could be destroyed by the MUIR
derer.
1t is thought that the murder was COM
mitted about two hours previous to the dis
covery, as the body was cold and rigid
when discovered. Policemen Stuart and
Boswell passed the house about 10 o'clock,
and sergt Montgomery passed there few
minutes before that hour. Another officer
passed up and down 9th street past the
house several times during the evening,
but heard nothing to attract his attention
at any time.
Church Funds.
The murdered man was treasurer Of the
Colored Lutheran Church Lyceum, but had
turned over the money in his hands a few
days before. Rev. Mr.. Wiseman, pastor of
the church. was called, but he could offer no
suggestions except those that presented
themselves to other observers. He said the
dead man had been a regular attendant at
his church. and had lived a quiet orderly
life. making his living by cobbling. Hall
was a single man. A cousin, Hezekiah
Prather, occupied the room with him, Eut
he is employed at the 14th street power
house at nights and sleeps during the day.
The old man was alone at nights.
His Cousin.
Prather arrived at the house about 1
o'clock this morning. He identified the razor
as his property, and said that the last time
he saw 1t was several days ago, when he
placed it in the bureau drawer The bank
by the murderer also belonged to Prather
Prather said that he left the house to go to
work about 6:45, and had not heard Of lis
Cousins death until notified Dy telephone.
This Morning.
The further investigation of the murder
today simply served to deepen the mystery
surrounding the case. The room in which
the little hunchback met his death is per-
haps eight or ten feet square. It was de-
Gently furnished, and in one corner was a
book case filled with books. for Hall was
quite fond Of reading, and was regarded
in the neighborhood as a well-informed
man. He was laxative. and very fond Of
a good-natured disputation-like most cob
blcrs.
In the center Of the room stood the little
box-stove. In the struggle 1t was broken
and the stove pipe was pulled out of place
Hall was evidently dressing to go out when
he was attacked, for when the body was
found it was partly clothed in his Sunday
best. The interior Of the room presents a
CHASTITY appearance by daylight. There is
blood everywhere, and it seems impossible
that the assailant could have escaped with
out being drenched with it. The police are
seeking to get some trace of bloody cloth
ing somewhere in the neighborhood, but so
far without success. They also hope to get
some clue through the physicians of the
city, for 1t is thought that the murderer
must have received some sort of injuries
during the scuffle that would require med
ical treatment.
Strange Features.
Tho horrible mutilatio of the body ia ono