Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-01-11
AL ExANDRlA AFFAIRS
A Distressing Tragedy Due to Handling
an Old Pistol.
COroaer's Jury Exonerated VIII
liam III. Hnrvey-Cases Tried To-
day in the Police Court.
Evening Star Bureau,
No. 1c1 n WaShinotou 81

| that has occurred in this city for a long
| time happened yesterday afternoon about
$50 O'Clock, when William H. Harvey, a
weli-known and popular steamboat en-
| gineer, accidentally shot and instantly kill
| ed his little sister-in-law. Clara Armor a
bright little lasse about twelve years old
TWO families are stricken with grief over
| the affair. 1t is the old. old story of a
loaded pistol going OFF by accident.
Harvey Is employed as engineer on the
| tug Eugenia of Georgetown, and his duties
Keep him away from home during the Sec
uiar days of the week, though he generally
manages to be with his little family at their
| home on South Lee street SUNDAYS
Mrs. Harvey had a few DAVIS ago pre-
sented her husband with little son, and
the home coming of the happy father was
looked forward to with much pleasure. He
arrived bright and joyous over the happy
event. and had been in an excellent frame
OF mind. Just before the accident in look
| ing through one of the drawers of a bu-
reau IN the room occupied by his sick wife,
| ne ran across an old :S-caliber British bull
oog revolver, which he had purchased for
| ten cents about two years ago. and which
ne nad not seen since its purchase He
picked II up to examine it, and noticed that
| -FOUR OF its chambers were empty. In trying
| 10 COCK 1t to examine the fifth chamber e
FOUND the hammer would not stay back,
| ara ne held 1t back with his thumb to ex-
|
| position his mother-in-law, Mrs Armor.
| with her little daughter Clara arrived to
call on the sick wife, and little Clara rush
ca upstairs to see the new baby" 1t is
| thought that the sudden entrance of little
| cara startled Harvey, and he let go with
his thumb unconsciously. In an instant
there was loud report, and little Clara
dropped to the floor with a bullet in her
| her left eye.
| My God. what have 1 done@' shrieke
| harvey, as he rushed to the child, crying
leuaiy Tor help, and picked up the little
! cIhu tenuerly IN his arms. Those outside
| VINO heard the shot, FASTENED to render as
| slstance, and a physician was immedIat ely
| sent Tor, but the little one was past as
! sistance, and must have been insiantl,
| killed
Harvey was almost crazed with grief
coroner Purvis, after hearing the circum-
stances and viewing the remains. deemed
an lnquest unnecessary. but at the earnest
| request or Harvey, who desired the matter
to be fully investigated, DIR. Purvis decided
to hold an inquest this morning.
| Harvey says that he had an idea that
| the NTH chamber of the revolver might be
loaded, and was especially careful in han.
| oilng 1t, but In some way the hammer
| shipped just as the child entered the room
| The bullet entered her left eye and went
| into the brain.
Harvey bears an excellent reputation and
mas always been known to be a kind and
lndulgent father and husband. He is thirty
| louT years OF age.
| Inc coroners jury was composed of Frank
Creighton: R. T. Davis. Albert Dienelt.
Henry Phillips, Charles Swain and DR.
Julius Dienelt foreman.
Inc jury, after hearing the statement of
| Harvey. brought in the following verdict :
| we, the jury, find from the evidence taken
on the premises that Clara F. Armor came
to her death by the accidental discharge of
pistoI In the hands of William Harvey
VINO. in their opinion, is exonerated from
| all blame"
| Drunk md DisOrderly.
! Mayor Thompson is determined to break
up the habit that nunber Of young
Washington toughs have gotten INFO. of
coming to this city, loading up ON liquor
and proceeding to insult ladies' on the
| street, and to this end al a session Of the
police court Saturday night fined John Nc
| shay, francis Bailey, E. l.. Nelson and W.
| 3 Humphrey 81 each for disorderly con-
! duct Policeman Knight and Constabl
webster caught these young men going
| through the streets Saturday afternoon
| speaking to young ladies whom they. did
not know, and in other ways making them
selves disagreeable
Police Court.
In the police court this morning Mayor
Thompson disposed of the following cases.
George Reed, charged with stealing an adj
from Randolph Spittle: dismissed. John
| Fox and Richard Chambers. both colored
| charged with defacing the tracks of the
electric road: fined s. each. James Davis
assault on Lettie Quill; fined $40
Notes.
The funeral of Mr.. Charles Henry Ker-
| sey took place from his late residence, No
BOB Cameron street, yesterday afternoon at
= o'clock.
Belle Haven Council, Junior Order United
American Mechanics, of which the de-
ceased was a member, attended the fune raj
| in body.
AT the annual meeting of the Fairfax
Club Mr.. George b. Cochran was elected
president; Judge J. X. NJ. Mort IN, vice
| president, and Mr.. Harry Yohe, secretary
and treasurer.
Rev. c. w. McWhite of Lewisburg, W.
Va, preached in the Second Presbyterian
Church yesterday morning and evening
Miss Jane Henderson is confined to her
| room by sickness.
The new gymnasium, under the auspices
Of the Brotherhood of st. Andrew, will be
opened in Sarepta Hall tonight.
The funeral of the late Lawrence w.
Corbett took place this morning.