The evening times., 1896-02-25
STORY OF THE OCCURRENCE.
Ernest Green Shot While Taking
Pears From a Tree

| "eSe oreeH Shot w nile III ukfng
| Pears From u Tree.
| Ernest Green. the fourteen-year-old son
| OF Richard Green, a colored messenger in
the Pension Office, was shot by Miss Flag ler
| at about 11:30 O'Clock on the morning
| ofAu2ust 81 last. The occurrenccaro he
| utmost excitement in colored circles at the
time and it was only the influence of cool
| heads that prevented race riot.
On the morning in question young Green,
with a number of companions of about
his own age, started out to play ball at
kaiorama. On the way they had to pass
| the residence of Gen. Flag at No. 1874
| California avenue. A large pear tree, the
| fruit of which was just then in its prime,
stood in one corner of the yard and so
| near the fence that some OF the branches
| extended over the pavement. The BOYS
were attracted By the pears and all made
toward the tree.
Miss Flagler was the only member of the
iafniiy at home at the time. Her room was
In one corner of the house, and the pear
tree was easily visible from the window.
Immediately adjoining her own room was
Mr.. Clem's' room, as it was known and
Miss Flagler was seated In there, while
the chamberrnaid was cleaning her own
room, when the boys approached.
SHE FIRED THE FATAL SHOT.
When the young woman heard the youth
ful marauders she Immediately ran into her
own room and. taking n loaded 32raliber
revolver from the bureau dra wcr, went to
the window and fired. Then she went
back 10 the window in Mr.. Clem's room
and fired Il second shot. it is said.
With the firing OF the first shot ali the
boys ran. Two were on the fence when
the shot was fired. o others were on the pave.
ncnt under the tree and stiII Others were
yet In the street. When young Green had
he reclcd and fell. He halfway staggered
to his feet and then fell again. The re-
maindcr of the boys Kept on running and did
not return to his assist snce.
When the housemaid saw the boy under
the tree she called Miss FlagIer's attention
to the fact. and the latter immedia tely sent
Gen. Fiagler's coachman to pick him up
1t was then discovered that Green had been
shot. The bullet had entered his back,
about seven inches below the shoulder
blade, and one and one-quarter inches TO the
right of the spinal column.
The BAN went entirely through the body
and came out about an inch higher up, thus
showing that the victim must have been
leaning forward when shot, and was prob
ably running at the time.
BOY CARRIED INTO THE HOUSE.
The coachman, with the assistance OF a
Deighbor, carried the boy, who still showed
signs of life, into the hallway of Gen.
Ia nj I,. Il
Here Miss Flagler did everything possi-
BILE for the comfort of the wounded boy,
but he died in less than three minutes with
out regaiDing consciousness.
The Eighth precinct patrol wagon ar
rived a few minutes later and the dead
boys remains were taken TO his home
and then to the morgue at the Sixth
precinct station
Gen. and Mrs. Flagler were away on
Northern tour at the time OF the shooting,
and as soon as Miss Flagler realized the |
extent of the wound she had inflicted |
she telephoned to Capt. Shaler II the ord |
nance department., and the two 4 few
minutes later drove to police headquarters.
Miss Flagler surrendered herself TO Maior
Moore.
Arrangements were Immediately begun |
for the holding of a n inquest. and a trxactly |
5 O'Clock on the same afternoon that event |
began at the Sixth precinct sta ton, whittier |
Miss Flagler went, accompanied ny three |
friends and her attorney, R. Ross Perry.
Coroner Hammett's Jury consisted of the |
following members: Messrs. George NJ. |
Dorsey, Payton D. Vincent, JOhu W. Tav- |
enner, John Schlotterbeck, G. c. Langley, |
and Harry T. Smith. The testimony offered |
before the jury wove the story as substan |
Tally told above. Testimony showed that |
he first shot fired was the one that took /
fleet. Miss Flagler herself took the stand |
md said that the family had been greatly
roubled by boys in the pear tree. She had |
ired at them once before. She said she was
learsightei and did not realize what had
,een done until the others told her.
VERDICT OF THE CORoNER'S JURY.
The jury retired and were out a little
,ver one hour. The members then returned
he following verdict: THAT the said Ernest
ireen came to his death August 2, 1895, |
t about 1 O'Clock a. m. in the street ad- |
dining Gen. Flagler's house, by a bullet
rom a pistol held in the hands of Miss
elizabeth Flagler, and We do not believe |
hat she did it with murderous intent; yet
ve believe that the shots were firde care
essly and indifferently. and upon the evil
ence we cannot hold her,"
In view OF the excitement prevailing
mong the coiored people, crowds OF whom
the station-house, Miss Flag
,r did not return home that night.
Young Green's funeral was held the fol-
,wing Sunday, and was attended by an
immense throng, but there were few ususual
Shortly after this Miss Flagier went to
Ialtimore, and remained until she recuper-
ted from the shock, from which she suf-
cred severely. On her return to Washing
IN she appeared before Judge McCopas in
ne OF the criminal courts, and gave hail in
he sum of $4,000, to answer any charges
lat might be lodged against her by the
rand jury.
Almost two months later .he indictIng
ody found a true bill for nlanslaughter
gainst Miss F!agier and the bail She had
reviously given was permitted to con-
inuc.
The time evidently passed as quickly to
Iiss Fiagler a. 1t did to the newspaper
len below. At 12 O'Clock q lunch, con-
isting of tea and toast, was prepared In
he Jail kitchen and served to the prisoner
Gen. Flagler arrived at the jail about