Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-06-12
PREVENTED 4 MURDER
Important Arrests Made by the Police Last
Night
Two Suspicious Men Armed With
Dendfy WeapOns-NO Adequate
Punishment Possible.

good work done this morning by Sergts.
Montgomery and Kenny and Private Hill
in arresting two colored men. whose names
are given as George Cole. alias John john
son, and Monroe Tolliver, alias Enoch
Baker. in whose possession they found
murderous weapons. The weapons were
made of stores Weighing nearly two
pounds each. and these. were sewed IN
pieces Of pair of blue overalls, and Judge
Miller realized what deadly work could be
done by them in the hands of such pow
erful men as these prisoners. The arrest
OF these men probably prevented a repeti-
ton of the Buxton tragedy or saved the
life OF q pedestrian.
1t was between 1 and o'clock this morn
ing when the officers mentioned met the
two men going north on 14th street above
Florida avenue. AS they came in sight of
the officers the colored men drew their
hats down over their eyes, evidently to
prevent identification by the officers in
event of their perpetrating some serious
crime during the early hours of the morn
ing.
why did you pull your hats down."
Sergt. Montgomery asked them. when he
concluded to investigate their conduct
Why do you want to hide your faces?'
Don't nobody want to hide their faces"
was the surly response of one of the col
ored men.
What's your business out on the streets
at this early hour?'
we are going out In the country to look
for work. was the answer.
Where have you been stopping?" asked
the officer, when he realized that they were
tramps.
AT the Union Mission"
The officers considered the matter for a
moment and then decided that the early
morning providers would stand a closer in
Nestigatio1. With this purpose tn view the
officers escorted them to the nearest patrol
box. and in a few minutes they were in
the wagon on their way to the police sta
ton. Policeman Doyle had charge of them
and he kept close watch on them until
the station was reached and there they
were searched. These murderous instru-
ments were found in their hip pockets and
the only excuse they gave was that they
had them for the purpose of defending
themselves; They were placed behind the
bars. and later on they were sent in the
slack Maria to the Police Court. When
the officers returned to the station and
learned of the murderous weapons that had
than satisfied with their nights work
There had been a society gathering at
the Barber residence, and the police think
IL probable that the men had been lettering
about the grounds hoping to get an oppor-
tunty to waylay some one and commit
murder as well robbery. But the OBJ
portunity to do this had not presented it
self, because Of the large number of people
VINO ieft the grounds at intervals, and then
they started out toward Mount Pleasant
and were probably going to some house in
the county where they could do their dead
~ WORK without the fear Of attracting at
tent1on OF neighbors. In event of operating
IN this way they could have secured their
booty and have departed for parts I'M
known before the crime could have been
discovered. The prisoner Cole alias John
son. was identified having been locked
up only about week ago for intoxica ton
III soon became known that the men be-
nnSed nero months ago. but had been liv-
ing from place to place instead of having
ha6
OF the past winter in the Central Union
Mission Cole had lived at the mission
nearly all the winter. and had only left
there about week ago, at the time he
was locked up for drunkenness
When the case vas called before Judge
Miller, and Policeman Doyle exhibited the
weapons. the court at once realized the
st robustness of the offense and admitted
tfat tn" law was Inadequate to infiict the
proper punishment for the offense The
policemen told the court the circumstances
explained how the weapons had been con-
structed.
From the prisoners the court learned of
their conduct here and of the making of
the weapons They had dined at the Cen
trail Union Mission yesterday afternoon,
end from there they went across the Long
bridge hil 70 Jackson City. where they
cling not On fhe way arrest oter for ffe ns
they probably discussed their inten-
ton to do something serious for over there
they selected from near the river shore
the stones which they used in making the
deadly weapons Sitting on the railroad
ties near tie Georgetown channel, they
tore strips from the overalls and when
they had finished their preparations for
committing som. crime more serious than
robbery, they recrossed the bridge and
returned to the city Just what time they
passed through the city Is not known. but
it was some time after dark. although no
one seems to have seen them until the time
or their arrest 14th street
During their examination by Judge Miller
Policeman Sullivan of the first precinct rec
osntzed Baker as having served time in Jail
for similar ofense. He was arrested near
the Center Market in January and Police
man Herndon, who arrested him, found on
him a weapon similar to the one found on
him this morning. For that offense he sery-
ed six months. and was relea sed only about
ten days ago. The officer thinks he was
afCut the market on that occasion sporting
some countryman, whom he intended to
waylay en- the road, and that his timely
arrest at that time prevented a proba BILE
murder and robbery.
In consideration of this statement Judge
Miller directed the officer to file charge
OF second effense against Baker, and he was
held in S1.Wn bond fer the grand Jury
Mr.. McMichael Of the Central Union Mis-
sion was sent for. and he said that Cole,
alias Johnson, had stopped there nearly ali
the winter and had worked for his meals
and lodging. A week ago, he said. the man
disappeared
That was the time he was locked up for
being drunk, remarked the court
Just what should be done with the pris-
oner puzzled the court.
They had undoubtedly planned murder"
said the judge. land the police deserve the
congratulations of the community for ap-
pretending them when they did"
To send him to Jail to live IN idleness, the
court thought would have the effect of put
ting premium on the mans conduct In
5ail he would have no work to do, and
would only fatten. 1t was the courts idea
that he be sent to the workhouse first
"Oh. no." said Mr.. MulIowney; send him
to jail first and after enjoying life there so
long, hard work on the farm will torture
him.
Perhaps it will fatten him and get him
In condition to do some hard work.
Judge Miller, IN conclusion said he was
only sorry that such man could not be
more severely dealt with than the law
would allow.
For having the weapon in his possession.
the prisoner was given six months in iajl
ard as suspicious person he was given
Six months on the farm