Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-01
GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER
Verdict in the Case If Charles Kuhnert,
Charged With Murder.



The trial Of Charles Kuhnert, charged
with the murder Of Thomas J. Coyle, the
cigar dealer and substitutes letter carrier,
March IS last was resumed in Criminal
Court No. this morning before Judge
Bradley. The morning was consumed in
examining additional witnesses for the
government. but very little new light was
thrown on the rather mysterious killing
The witnesses were questioned by Prose-
cutting Attorney Shillington and cross-ex-
amined by Mr.. Sillers, attorney for the de-
PENDANT.
At o'clock this afternoon Justice Brad
ley instructed the jury to return a verdict
of guilty of manslaughter. The defendant
was then sentenced to eight months in Jail
and fined $40. This action was taken with
| the consent of the defense, who offered no
testimony. The termination of the case
was abrupt.
Coyle and Kuhnert were drinking in
Geary's saloon on I street southeast, when
the former was struck. Coyle walked out
or the saloon, complaining of a pain in
his head. He grew worse that night, and
died early the following morning. A post
mortem examination disclosed the fact
that Coyle's skull had been fractured. and.
hemorrhage following, resulted in his
death.
The ARRAY In the Saloon.
James A. Geary, proprietor of the saloon
| at 9O2 LIST street southeast, told of the
drinking by Coyle and the accused, Kuhn
ert, in his place March IS, the evening of
the fatal assault. Neither was intoxicated.
Kuhnert said he was going home. Coyle
asked the accused If he wanted him to go
by New Jersey avenue and L street. Kuhn
ert not answering, Coyle repeated the Ques-
ton, when Kuhnert was seen to turn and
fsll Coyle with a fist blow. Geary was
lad TO K,1Ir arf Ne t1a
to avoid further trouble When he had
gone Coyle wanted to follow his assailant,
but was detained fully five minutes. Coyle
left the place about 1920 o'clock, returning
shortly before midnight with his brother
in-law, James Hart, and ordering drinks.
After CoyIe had swallowed a little he be-
gan vomiting. Geary heard nothing pass
between Coyle and Kuhnert to justify the
blow.
Mrs. Mary A. Coyle told of finding her
husband about midnight in the lower hall,
unable to speak, but pointing to the bruises
on his nose and head. She did her best
for him, but he died early the next morn
ing She did not hear her husband fall and
she did not think he fell off the sofa, al
though he must have been sitting on it
before she found him.
The defense claims that Kuhnert is ig-
norant Of how Coyle received the fatal frac-
ture and that the case is lacking in every
essential Of murder surroundings.
Blow Struck by Kuhnert.
Witnesses this morning told of the blow
struck by Kuhnert in Geary's saloon the
night of the ARRAY. when Coyle was
knocked down and cut on the nose.
The first witness called was John Brack-
enborough. a colored man. who was in the
saloon, and witnessed the difficulty. There
was no i'll feeling apparent between the
two men when the blow was struck. He
saw nothing in Kuhnert's hand, but after
he had struck the first blow with his fist
the defendant grabbed for bottle and
glass on the bar, but the witness caught
him and helped to prevent any further
trouble.
George Chapman, colored, who works in
Gcary's saloon, gave practically the same
version of the difficulty, saying that when
kuhnert struck CCyle the latters nose bled
a little kuhnert was showed out of the
place and Coyle was restrained from fol-
lowing by Geary.
street. a watchamn at the railroad cross
ing at New Jersey avenue, near Geary's
saloon, saw the two men together about
1870 o'clock the night of March Is. Just
after the saloon trouble Coyle said TO
Kuhnert: Charley, you treated me dirty.
Kuhnert replied. That's all right; you had
no right to sur me-" Coyle replied that
he would meet his assallant again face to
face, but would not do him as he mad
done.
Coyle showed witness the cut on his nose
and a blue bruise on the left temple Wit
ness felt the bruise and found it was soft.
Coyle complained Of his head.
On cross-examination. Archer said he
was not sure, but thought Coyle had on
derby hat at the time. Coyle was his
friend. Heard Kuhnert say something
about seeking police protection.
VIM ]. Bolger Of Coz l street southeast.
young white man, who knew the dead
n an and the defendant, stated on the wit
less stand that he was near Waterman
Archer's box the night OF the tragedy. He
corroborated Archer's testimony regarding
the cut on Coyles nose and the bruise on
his left temple. Coyle did not appear to be
drinking that night, and he did not know
him as a drinking man. He did not hear
KLhnert say anything about police pro-
lection. He saw Archer place his hand on
Coyle's bruise. r't
At the Watch Box.
James B. Gallagher of sO4 9Th street
southwest, clerk at the Baltimore and
Potomac railroad freight office, was next
sworn. He was in Waterman Archer's box
at New Jersey avenue when Coyle and
Kuhnert came from GearyS saloon. Coyle
told kuhnert he would meet him again.
The latter, walking away, muttered some
thing about police protection. Coyle, speak,
ing of the bruise on his temple and cut on
his nose, said that in Geary's he had treat
ed Kuhnert several times. kuhnert said:
Tommy, owe you so cents
That's all right: I'll meet you at River
View some time Coyle said he replied.
What do you mean by that?" Kuhnert
demanded.
Coyle replied that he meant no harm.
Then Coyle declared that Kuhnert asked
him to go home with him. that Kuhnert
had been drinking several days and want
ed Coyle to fix things for him. The latter
said he would go only as far as New Jersey
avenue and L street He refused again to
walk home with Kuhnert, when the latter
struck him. Coyle said to witness that he
did not know how many times he was
struck.
Gallagher said he felt Coyle's bruise and
found it to be soft. Coyle shook his head
constantly and said
"Oh, how my head hurts"
The injured man seemed miserable. He
talked all right, but appeared to be
stunned.
Vomiting Caused by Injury.
Deputy Coroner GlaFebropk was recalled.
and stated that cayle's vomiting after
Kuhnert's blow was. evidently due to the
brain injury: The fracture itself did little
immediate damage, the ensuing hemor-
rhage gradually overcc mfag the victim.
He might have walked around for two
GsvS that depaudfpa anon the n0U of ho