Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-09
CAUSE OF JOHNSON'S DEATH
Richard Smith Held Responsible by the
Coroners Jury.
Result of a Row Over Two Cents,
Worth Of Characteristic
Evidence Adduced.

Coroner Hammett held an inquest at the
sixth police station this morning in the
case of the colored man. Edward johnson,
who died at the Emergency Hospital yes
terday morning from the effects Of a blow
inflicted more than a week previous. as
published in yesterdays Star. JOS. Smith,
the colored boy who threw the stone, was
not present. as he was committed to Jail
several days since. Friends of the dead
man were present to hear what was said
about the fatal row in Shows court.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook told the jury
of the autopsy, and said the wound was
what is called a puncture fracture. 1t was
a triangular-shaped one. and the instru-
ment must have been pointed for hole
had been bored through the skull. Several
hours after death, he said, the temperature
of the body was about 1913. Menengitis.
the result of the injury to the brain,
caused death A remarkable feature of the
case, he said. was the fact that the man
walked to the hospital after he received
the fatal blow. The wound, he admitted
might have been inflicted with stone or
a brick.
Grace Tyler's Testimony.
A colored woman named Grace Tyler,
gho lives near where the fatal row occur
red, was next examined.
Ibid you know Edward Johnson the
coroner asked.
"Yes, SIR" was her answer.
"Were you related to him in any way?"
Il don't know" she responded, but
sometimes people say we is cousins
Grace told the jury that the day of the
trouble she was in charge of Maria Jones
eating house. Smith came in and said
he wanted something to eat. Witness
told him that Mrs. Jones was out and he
would have to wait until she returned.
He insisted that he must have his dinner,
and she told him he might eat the stew
that was in the pot. When ne mad nm
ished eating he sent for cents worth
of cigarettes, so he said. and then he
accused Johnson or another man of having
taken them.
Smith became profane. she said. and
Johnson declared he would not permit
boy to call him names. Then the trouble
seemed to be over, but Smith returned
with a number of stones, and struck john
son with one Of them.
Are you married "oudh' wi oh1A
Hammond asked.
Il have been married. she answered.
81 was married in 1853
'Then you are widow!
"a grass widow, yes, SIR I've been
away from my ole man for eighteen
years.
Witness said that Sandy Taylor took
charge of the injured man. and she thought
went with him to the hospital
Knew Both Parties.
AIelcina Peyton, another coiored resident
Of SHOWS court, said she knew the de-
ceased, who was clam man, and she also
knew Smith. Questioned by the coroner,
| the witness said she had never heard of
any difficulty between them previous to the
| fatal row last week. At the time OF the
| trouble she was in the house. and while she
saw the injured mans head bleeding she
| did not see the blow inflic ted.
Edward johnson, colored. who was not
related to the dead man, testified that he
| was in the eating house with several men
| and women. Smith. he said. bought a
| cents worth Of cigarettes. He put them on
! the counter and walked out. When he re-
| turned to the store. the cigarettes were
| gone and Smith asked witness II he had
| taken them. He afterward spoke to the
| deceased. The latter said he was tired OF
| having boys bother him. Smith went over
| on a lot and filed his pockets with stones
| He also had several stones in his hands.
| There was some profanity INDUCED IN. and
| Johnson went out the back door to avoid
trouble. Smith was in front Of the house