Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-24
ATTORNEYS TRAGIC DEATH
Randall Hagner Killed by Accidental Dis.
charge of Gun.
DeplOrable Affair Which Occurred
Nephew of Justice Hngner.

known members of the lot al bar, was sud
denly terminated. For the amusement of
his son. Robert, fourteen years of age, Mr..
Hagner had taken apart the weapon and
then put it together. Replacing the cart
ridges in the breech he moved in the direc-
ton of closet just as his son left the
room. moment later a loud report sound
ed. Mrs. Hasner, who was in an adjoining
room at the time, FASTENED to her husband
and found him practically lifeless, lying on
the floor with one side of his head almost
torn away.
During the morning Mr. Hagner had been
driving, returning to his home, 112J De
Sales street, about 12:3U o'clock. He found
his son greatly depressed because of the
loss of Il favorite hunting dog, which had
died few days previously. They began
talking about hunting trips, and in order to
restore the boys spirits Mr.. Hagner, as
stated. brought forth the shot gun. AS the
parts were assembled Robert remarked
that he supposed. because of the death of
the dog, they would have to give up their
trips. but the father treasured him by say
ing that another dog would be procured
and the outings would be continued. Those
were his last words.
His Relatives Summoned.
AS soon as Mrs. Hagner realized what
had happened she sent for DIR. Francis E.
lives, near the De Sales street home. DR..
Charles E. Hagner, a brother of the de-
ceased, was also summoned, but when the
was dead The supposition is that in NOV
ing toward the closet the triggers of the
gun struck one of the posts of bedstead
and the weapon was discharged.
Randall Hagner of the late
John Randall Hagner, paymaster. L. S. A
When but two years old his parents died
and he was taken in charge by Judge Hag-
ner now of the District Supreme Court,
but ut that time young practitioner living
at Annapolis, Md. After graduating from
st. Johns College, Annapolis. Randall Hag-
ner began the study of law in the office Of
his uncle, and was admitted to the bar
upon reaching his majority. He made a
speciality of admiralty law, and only last
week figured prominently in Judge Cox 3
court in the case growing out of the dam
age caused other vessels by the Steamer
George Leary, which broke loose from her
mornings during storm i'll the fall of
1896
Prominent In Bar Association.
The deceased was member of the board
of directors of the Bar Association of the
District, and was also a member of the
board of trade, the Aztec Association and
the Pawtuxent Gun Club. lie was forty
eight years of age.
iic iaihiiy VI MT faSner consists OF the
wife and son. His wife was Miss Carrie
Dodge. daughter of Col Robert z. Dodge
of West Washington who was assessor of
the District
Coroner Carr, who was notified of the sad
occurrence, called at the residence ycster-
uay ana gave certificate, setting forth
tiidt oeatn was que to an accident. The
news OF the occurrence caused genuine sor-
row on al sides, as Mr. Hagner was I'M
usually popular A constant stream of per-
:o5is visited the residence yesterday and
To-Day TO express regret and offer SYM
pathy. -
Announced at City Hall,
Inc effect of the death Of Mr. Hacner
was strlki1gly noticeable this morning at
the city hall buildirg, where he was so often
seen and was SO well known Members of
,he par assembled in groups in the corri-
dors and court rooms and discussed the
shocking occurrence that robbed the legal
profession of one of its abIest and most re
Spected members
Judge HagEer, uncle and foster father of
the deceased. of course, did not put in an
appediahce' ana consequently no session of
Equity Court No. =, in which Judge Hagner
presIdes, was held. The death of Mr. Uay-
her was announced with appropriate re-
marks In all the ether branches of the Dis
trict supreme Court. In respect of the
memory CT the deceased the courts with
the exception of Criminal Court No. > i'm
modiately adjourned. The latter court
would have done likewise, Judge Bradley
explained, were 1t not for the fact that a
case had been specially set for hearing to-
dc y, ana, furthermore, that both parties
10 the cause had summoned a large num-
Der Oh witnesses. one of them having trav-
eied great distance. Judge Bradley di-
rected, however, that when his court ad-
Journ 1t do SO in respect to the memory of
Mr.. Hagner- The clerk was instructed to
ms ke a statement to that feet on the
minutes of the court.
1t is worthy of mention that the de-
ceased was counsel in the first case set for
hearing today in Circuit Court No p and
that Judge Cox, in Equity Court No. l. had
arranged to announce the first thing this
morning his decision in an admiralty case
IN which Mr. Hagner figured prominently
as Counsel and in connection with which
he was very recently engaged before the
court for nearly a week. reading testimony
and delivering arguments.
Mr. Samuel Maddox. president of the
Bar Association. of which Mr. Hagner was
director, was at the city hall and ar
ranged for the proper proceedings in .he
several courts. To a Star reporter Mr..
Maddox stated that the Bar Association
will take suitable action in connec ton with
the demise of Mr.. Hagner at the proper
time.
The Several Courts Adjourn.
In Equity Court No. 1 the death of Mr..
1dthci was inHOuHCeu ny MI. A. >.
Worthington, who spoke very briefly, say
ing tfat more extended remarks would be
made at some future time. After saying
that he had arranged to deliver an opinion
this morning in a case in which Mr. Hag-
ner appeared as counsel, Judge Cox ad-
journed his court.
Mr. Walter d. Davidge In Circuit Court
No. /, called the attention of Judge Cole
to the death of Mr.. Hagner Mr.. Davidge
stated that the deceased was so we'll
known 1t was not necessary at this time
to do more than to formally mention the
deplorable incident and suggest that the
court. in view thereof, adjourn
Judge Cole spoke of the high esteem and
affection In which Mr.. Hagner was held
not only by the members of the bar, but
by the community at large. The court
warmly approved the motion to adjourn
and such action was thereupon taken
The high character of Mr.. Hagner as an
Individual. his ability as a lawyer and the
fact that he was foster son of one of the
respected judges of the court were mention
ed by Mr.. Henry f. Davis in notifying
Judge McComas in Circuit Court No. 9, Of
the death of Mr. Hagner.
Judge McCOmas announced that he
thought 1t eminently fitting that the court
adjourn without delay. not only for the
reason that Mr.. HaSner was counsel in the
case set for hearing today, but because of
the high eli aracter of the deceased because
he was an officer Of the bar association
and because he was SO closely related to
one OF the judges of the court.