Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-08
BLOODYss., AFT RAY
A Fight in an Alley Witch the Coroner Will
Investigate.
One Man Dead andhTwo Men Badly
cut-A Talk WITH the Alles-
ed Murderer.


by Gath and 25th, NJ and N streets. There
was an indiscriminate. slashing with knives
and a throwing Of stones, and naturally
the neighborhood was in a high state OF
excitement. The trouble began between
$50 and o'clock, and when the police
made an investigation shortly thereafter
they learned that Melton Phillips was a
corpse, Richard Phillips, his brother, was
badly cut, while Daniel Gray was ap-
parently more dead than alive.
There seems to be no doubt that the
latter is the murderer of Melton Phillips,
and the person who inflicted the wounds
from which Richard Phillips is suffering.
AS yet the identity of the man or men
who assaulted Daniel Gray is not deter
mined. The old story, one that holds
true In SO many murder cases, may be
repeated in the present tragedy-there was
a woman at the bottom of the affair. All
the parties concerned were colored.
Coroner Hammett will hold an inquest at
the sixth precinct station at o'clock this
afternoon, when an official investigation
of the trouble is to be made. Every one
who knows anything of the ARRAY that Is
apt to prove Of Importance is in the Gus
tody OF the police and will be produced
at the inquest.
According to the story. Richard Phillips
recently married Lavinia Gaskins. and the
couple had been residing at the residence
Of Phillips father, 2is8 Phillips court.
Melton Phillips was also married short
time ago, and he, too has been living with
his wife at the family home.
An Aroused Husband.
Daniel Gray. it seems, was a former ad-
mirer Of Richard Phillips wife, and he did
not take kindly to her marriage. Those
whn r, hot OH
week ago Gray addressed a note to Mrs.
Phillips, requesting that she arrange for
meeting with him. The wife either re-
ferred the communication. to her husband
or the latter got wind of 1t in some man
ner and his anger was aroused. Gray last
evening visited Phillips court, and as he
approached the home of the Phillips he
found there Mrs. Phillips, Lizzie Gaskins,
Rosa Williams, Pat Anderson and the
Phillips brothers.
Phillips remarked to him that he was tired
or him Gray running after his wife
Gray replied to the effect that he was not
aware that the woman was married. This
Drought on other words of an angry char
acter, and the party gradually backed to-
ward the door Just as they stepped out
SIDE OF the house some one gave a warning
cry that Gray had drawn knife At the
same instant, say the eyewitnesses, Gray
jumped toward Richard Phillips and plung-
ed knife In his back Melton Phillips. who
rushed to the aid Of his brother. received
stab wound In the right leg GRAY then
ran Off, and was followed by a crowd Of
byStanders.
Richard Phillips did not seem to be badly
wounded, but his brother had fallen to the
ground and seemed TO be in a critical con-
dltion. Some one fastened to a nearby
drug store, call was sent for the Emer-
gency Hospital ambulance and the physi
clans at Columbia Hospital were also sum
moned. BEFORE assistance could be secured,
however, Melton Phillips was dead Later
1t developed that the femoral artery had
been severed. and the physicians stated to a
star reporter that had the man merely
ciasped the limb tightly above the cut, the
TOW OF blood would have been stopped and
his life would easily have been saved When
the Emergency Hospital ambulance reached
the scene the body had been taken In
charge by the police and was removed to
Ire 1i.,,, morgue IN patrol wagon: Richard
where his injuries were dressed
A Sound Of Groans.
A few minutes thereafter Special Officer
Gordon heard groans from the direction CT
the commons at Goth and M streets. He
procured lantern and. accompanied by
several other persons. made his way to the
srot whence the sounds originated and
found Daniel Gray lying in pool of blood
apparently suffering great pain. DR.. Herbst
Oil u III. Soh 1LZOO1I were COuuucleu 10 the
sufferer, and at their direction he was car
RED to the drug store. The Emergency
Hospital ambulance was again called and
Gray was soon on the operating table at
that institution. DR.. West, DIR. Turner Dr.
Lawrence and DR.. Johnson went to work on
the patient, who presented a horrible sight
His head and face were cut and slashed al
most beyond recognition. 1t was thought
that the skull was fractured, but a careful
exploration disclosed no break Bandages
in1 md ha hnll tut,
was put to bed in ward.
The police Immediately after the trouble
made an investigation and discovered a
tloody apron, long bladed knife with blood
spots upon it, and brick, also spotted with
blood. All the parties mentioned. as stated.
ere placed In custody to await the result
of the inquest this afternoon. No further
arrests were made today, and no further in
formation in regard to the murder was OBJ
tanned by the police. 1t is expected, how
ever, that at the inquest the identity Of the
assailant or assailants of Daniel Gray will
be established beyond question.
What Gray Says.
When a Star reporter visited the bedside
of Gray at the Emergency Hospital today
the sufferer presented an extremely pitiful
His entire head, with the ex-
ception of small portion of the face, was
covered with bandages, and his eyes were
SO badly swollen that it was impossible for
him to open the lids. He groaned constant
ly, and at intervals his arms moved In
convulsive manner. Gray had fully re-
covered his mental faculties. and although
suffering intensely, understood perfectly
his position. To the reporter he gave his
age as twenty-four years, his occupation
that of huckster and his residence 1910
18th street northwest.
How did this happen?" he was asked.
II went into Phillips court last night TO
see my cousin, Jennie Magruder," said
Gray.A"A crowd Of fellows up there are
Jealous of me, and they jumped me-"
Did you cut the Phillips boys?'
mo; 1 certainly did not
did you go to see Richard Phillips
wife?"
mo; didn't. But I bought some beer,
and she was with several other women in
the crowd drinking 1t up"
do you know who assaulted you?"
mo. When they jumped on me 1 ran,
and three or four fellows took after me.
They beat me with stones and I didn't
know anything then until woke up here"
The physicians at the hospital say that
Gray will probably recover. as his Injuries
are merely scalp wounds. The patient was
visited today by members of his family.
The Vice President's Attitude.
Vice President Stevenson was closeted
with Senator Jones at democratic national