The times., 1897-07-27
|BADLY Cut BY A CUMRADE
William Swindells Sticks a Knife
Into James Crawford.
CLAIMS 1T WAS AN ACCIDENT
The Victim, However, Asserts That
His AssaiIant Was in earnest
Both Are Market-House Boys and
Were Thought to Have Been
Good Friends.

With an ugly wound in his breast just
was carried to the Emergency Hospital
yesterday morning. The injury was in
flcted by young William N swindells, who
claims that it was purely an accident,
while Crawford asserts that it was done
purposely, and that Swindells was angry.
Both OF the young boys Were employed a5
Center Market, Crawford working for Mr..
j. X. Maugum and Swindells for Mr.. w
A. Thompson. As far as is known the
boys have been friends and frequently
laughed, joked and played pranks upon
each other Yesterday morning they de-
c!oed to make q bucket of lemonade, and
the necessary ingredients were procured,
aud while mixing the water, lemons and
sugar some words of a pleasant nature
passed.
Swindells held knife in his hand, with
which he had been slicing lemons, and re-
marked to Thompson that he believed he
would have some fun. Crawford started
out of the door opposite Mangum's stand
and SwindelIs headed him off, holding the
knife out before him. There was move
inent on the part OF Crawford and the
next thing he knew the knife had entered
his breast, a great stream OF blood gush-
Ing out Gentlemen standing near grabbed
the wounded boy and assisted him to
seat.
SwIndelIs made no effort to escape,
but said that he had no idea that he
would cut him and that the blade OF
the knife had turned.
Officer Burlingame, who was quickly
on the scene, summoned the ambulance
and sent the wounded boy to the Emer-
gency Hospital, while Policeman Harper
escorted SwindelIs to No. ! station, where
charge OF assault and battery was
entered against him. Early last evening
he was released on bond.
10 Times man young Swindells said
that he had not the remotest idea of
st tabhing his friend and that no one
could possibly regret it more than he
We had BEEN" said Swindells, the
best of friends for years and had Just
been planning d trip to Colonial Beach
and expected to have good time Jim
and / never had the least trouble, and
that's the truth. They say Jim struck at
me before made the unintentional cut at
him; but If he did 1 dId not know it, We
were simply playing pranks, and I know
| jim, does not think l intended to cut hiin-
! 1 am as sorry as anyone can be. The
| people in the market all know we Were
the best of friends"
Young Swindels is a nephew of Lieut..
! SwlndeIls. of the Georgetown precinct, and
| ha. always been regarded as an industrious
| and straightforward boy.
james CrawfuTtl's wound was examined
and dressed by Drs Bahr and Junemann
as soon as the patient reached the hospital
| The cut was found TO be about two inches
| long, and puncturing the chest, had sever.
| ed an artery, causing great quantities Uf
| blood to flow After the veins of the
artery had been tied the flow ceased, and
| the young man rapidly regained his
| strength
The version OF tn affair given by
| Craw ford differs materially from that OF
! Swindes. He contends that the cutting
was done willfully, and that for some
| time PAST Swindells h ad not felt the kind
| liest to him. Tie trouble yesterday first
began over his tasting some sugar at tie
stand where Swindells was employed, and
| pronouncing it an inferior article At this
| Swindeiis grew angry, and. picking up a
potato knife said he would ''do h inn witt
1t. To this threat Crawford says he told
| Swindeils to go ahead, and was much
surprised when he took him at his wore
and plunged the knife into him.
| ''SwindeIs can't get out of il that way
said Crawford "He was mad, and fuIly
| intended to do me-
Last night Crawford was removed from
the hospital to his home, where, at q
late hour, he was resting quietly.