Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-21
KUHNERT RESPONSIBLE
Ooroners Jury Says He Caused Thomas ].
Coyle's Death. :
The Evidence Shows the Death Blow
Was Indicted With o blunt
Instrument.

the case Of Thomas ]. Coyle, the substitute
letter carrier and cigar dealer, whose death
was caused by violence, resulted in the
jury returning verdict holding Charles
Kuhnert responsible for the killing. When
the verdict had been rendered Coroner
Carr filled out a commitment, and Kuhnert
was taken to Jail to await the action of the
grand jury.
The investigation of the case made by
the police failed to elicit any facts con-
corning the trouble in addition to those
published in Saturdays Star. The autopsy
showed that injuries more severe than the
witnesses had described had been inflicted
but the evidence failed to show just how
the most serious Of them had been inflicted.
huhnert was present at the inquest with
his counsel, Mr.. C. Maurice Smith, but he
did not appear as IL he was fully conscious
of the position in which he had placed him
self. As published in Saturdays Star, he
had been drinking for several days, and
his appearance indicated that he had not
yet recovered from the effects Of the liquor.
Because of his condition it was deemed
advisable to request that Warden Leonard
have him put under the Doctors care i'm
mediately upon his arrival at the Jail.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook related to the
dead mans body. He told OF the super
fetal cut in the nose, and of the bruises on
the forehead and temple. The injury which
had caused the victims death was found
severe fracture of the skull, and the de-
preston had been SO great that hemor-
rhage resulted. Such an injury, he thought,
could hardly have been done with the fist
and witness expressed the belief that some
hard weapon had been used. There was
no abrasion of the skin, and witness said
the wound had been made with q blunt
instrument.
SnloOnkeeper TcstiHes.
saloonkeeper James A. Geary. in whose
place, at No 9O2 1st street southeast, the
row took place. related the trouble as it
occurred. According to his testimony both
Kuhnert and Coyle had drank beer to-
gether, and he heard them engaged in con-
versation. He heard the friendly talk about
the fifty cents and the statement that the
men would meet at River View. Following
this. Kuhnert spoke of going home. and 1t
was when a question was repeated by
Coyle that Kuhnert struck Coyle and then
said he would allow no man to kid" him.
Geary declared that only the one blow
was struck, and he saw nothing but
Kuhnert'S bare fist used. The blow stag
gered Coyle, who caught himself against
the bar and prevented himself from falling
to the floor. That was between and 10
O'Clock, and Coyle returned to the saloon
about midnight with his brother-in-law.
He was then on his way home. He seemed
as dazed as he did just after he was In
jured, and before leaving to go home he
was seized with two vomiting spells.
Two colored men who were in the saloon
when the affair happened gave testimony
substantially the same as that given by
the saloon keeper.
Railroad Watchman ]. w. Archer, who
was on duty at the New Jersey avenue
crossing. told the jury of the visit of Coyle
and kuhnert to his watch box soon after
the trouble in the saloon. Coyle showed
witness his cut nose and bruised face and
told Kuhnert he (KuhnerD had done him
dirt" and also said he would meet Kuhn
ert face to face.
Joseph Harris Story.
Joseph Hart. brother-in-law of the de-
ceased. who had charge of Coyle's cigar
turned to the store he told him Kuhnert
hit him on the side of the head with some
thing hard. He said that Coyle seemed to
be in dazed condition. Mrs. Deborah Hart
also gave evidence as to Coyle's condition
Friday night after he had been struck by
Kuhnert
ouGh- who witnessed the trouble, said he
grabbed Kuhnert and held him after he
struck Coyle. He did so because Coyle was
a frail man and he knew Kuhnert could
whip him.
Yesterday a special meeting of the Capt.
tai Branch. National Association of Letter
Carriers, was held and resolutions were
adopted. in which were set forth the re-
grets of the members occasioned by the
death of their associate, and rendering
their heartfelt sympathy. 1t was ordered
that the charter of the association be
draped in mourning for a period of thirty
days.
The funeral of the dead man took place
from St. Peters Church this morning.