Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-08
THE BLOW CAUSED DEATH
Fatal Result ola Quarrel Over Cigarettes in
Shows Court.
Edward johnson, Whose Skull Was
Fractured, Passes Away-The Al
legged sAsanilant in Jail.

Edward johnson, the colored man who
was conveyed to the Emergency Hospital
tuesday OF last week, and has since been
Under treatment for fracture of the skull,
died this morning. Joseph Smith, also col
ored, sixteen years old, who is alleged to
have inflicted the fatal wound with stone,
has been In Jail for several days on
charge of assault with intent to kill, and
will now be charged with the more serious
offense of taking life. The coroner was
notified of the death of the victim, and will
probably hold inquest tomorrow.
About noon of the day the fatal wound
was inflicted the parties to the affair were
IN SHOWS court, near 18th and K streets
northwest. where they quarreled about two
cigarettes. This was what led to the
throwing OF the stone, which has resulted
SO d1sastrously. In the court named there
is usually number of men and boys to be
seen lettering on the porches or under a
shade tree, instead of being at work, and
the alley has been the scene of many a Sc
we're fight and much disorder.
Smlth and Johnson were among those
VINO were in the alley the day in question
with apparently nothing to do, and Smith
sent little girl to store in the neigh
oorhood to get him a cents worth of cigar
ettes. When the girl returned Smith was
IN Aunt Maria Jones' store, and the
cigarettes We're placed on the counter.
Inc smokers D1sappeared.
L want to get some Matches" he said
TO one of the woman's children, who had
charge of the store, and he proceeded be-
h1nd the counter to get them. johnson
was In the store at the time. When Smith
turned to pick up one of the cigarettes he
discovered that both of them had disap-
peared.
Who's got my smokers?" was his
anxious inquiry.
Ihere was no response, and Smith con-
cIlded that he would have to go on the
hant 10 get them Going out in the
pack yard he picked up a heavy stick and
returned to the store, angry enough to use
II on everybody in the place.
LOOK mere, joe" said Johnson, "who
are you going to hit with that sticko''
:, ANYBODY who's got my cigarettes" was
his response.
Do you think I've got them?' johnson
inquired. 'i'oA
Never mind what I think" answered
smith; I'm going to hit the man who
took my smokers"
Ihis conversation was continued for a
lew minutes. 1t was then evident that a
llght was bound to follow, and Johnson
who was more than twice the age of smith
also picked up stick.
Went I'm Pursuit.
just who made the first advance will be
told to the coroners jury tomorrow, but
at any rate one pursued the other through
the mouse and yard, and finally one went
out the back door while the other entered
the court from the front door, Johnson
came through thefyard and was about to
Jump the fence. to leave there as the wit
nesses thought when Smith threw the
stone and struck him on his forehead
Then the boy walked away, leaving John
son to be cared for by others in the alley.
Joe Taylor, who lives in the court, was
at home at the time, and he volunteered to
accompany the injured man to the Emer-
gency Hospital, which he did johnson
entered the hospital, and the physicians
dressed his wound, finding severe de-
preston, which was considered dangerous.
Although the pa tieT1t seemed to realize that
he was in fair way to die, he refused to
give the name of his assailant.
The. Arrest Made.
The trouble in the court had caused con-
siderable excitement, and when Policeman
Pat Q Brien of the third precinct went
there to make, an investigation he fotlnd no
difficulty in ascertaining who had thrown
the stone, and the circumstances under
search of Smith, but it was not until about
3 O'Clock Friday morning that he found
him.
Because of the serious nature of the
wound, the prisoner was committed to
Jail without bail. At the hospital the doc
tors did all in their power for the injured
man, but the wound was serious one
that to save his life was impossible. To-
day Deputy Coroner GlaZebrook made an
autopsy and tomorrow a jury will pass up
on the case.