Evening star., 1898-06-30
RESULTS IN DEATH
James Shoemaker Dies of Injuries
Received May 80.
WIN. WEBSTER CHARGED With ASSAULT
Alleged to Have Kicked the Boy IN
the Side.
THE CORONER'S VERDICT

Coroner Carr held an inquest this after
noon. beginning at 1 o'clock. at the under
taking establishment of ]. W. Lee, In the
case OF tie small boy, James Shoemaker,
who. it is alleged, was kicked in the stom-
ach by William Webster at garden party
held in Anacostia the 30th of May. Yes
elday afternoon about $50 o'clock the boy
died. The police learned of the death soon
after it occurred, and Coroner Carr ar
ranged for the inquest. Those who were
on the jury were George o. Miller. James
Holmes. Otto Holtnorth, John Garner.
William Wolf and Albert Schlotterback.
William Webster, who has been in GUS
tody for some time, was present at the
inquest, as were his relatives. and also
several relatives of the dead boy.
Deputy Coroner GlaZeDrook made the au
topsy, and he told the jury that death was
due to rupture of the intestines, followed
by peritonitis and prostratioE- Such an
injury would likely have followed a kick
in the abdomen The boy was greatly
emaciated and the condition of his body
showed that he had been sick for several
weeks
Testimony of Witnesses.
Asbury Butler testified that the Methodist
Church of Anacostia gave garden party
at Mr. Linger's and witness was there. Mr..
Webster there waIchman, and wit
ness saw him kick Sho7miker.
Where did he kick nim?' asked the
coroner.
In the side," answered witness.
Did ne kick him hard:-'
NO, sir"
Witness explained that crowd of boys
were playing in a summer house when
Webster came in and p-tcee led TO put them
out. In putting Shoemaker out he kicked
him
Edward Johnson, anothe- boy, who was
tn, = hsa rty 81 mi teS
witnessed the entire affair, and IT was his
opinion that Mr. Webster kicked the Shoe
maker boy as hard As he could.
Shriver King. who vas also in the party
Of boys. told the Jury that MIR. Webster
''chucked" him (witness) out of the door,
end he afterward saw the Shoemaker boy
Kicked out
Mr. Webster, in his own behalf, told the
fury that the boys annoyed him. He said
he took hold of the Shoemaker boy by the
ann and said: Brother, want you to get
out of here
The boy went out crying and his father
came and asked why he had kicked him.
He denied that he had kicked the boy. and
said that whatever happened to him was
an accident.
Had ycu been drinking he was asked.
Il had been drinking some during the
day." he answered, but l hadn't taken
anything since supper.
II can say with clear conscience, sal1
Webster. that 1 did not Intentionally in
jure the boy
The Boys Accusation.
George W. Shoemaker brother Of the de-
ceased, testified that while at the garden
party his little brother came over to his
father and complained OF being hurt.
THAT Webster fellow kicked me-, he
SAID.
Witness and his father saw Webster. and
he characterized the boys complaint as
- - lie"
Was your brother taken sick inme-
afelV
Yes, sir" was his response; he was
sick all night, but he went to school after
ward. on Sunday he Went - church and
his teacher advised him TO go home, as ne
was sick. When he cam. home he drop
ped in faint.
DIR. Harrison of Anacostia testified that
he was called to attend the boy several
DAYS after he was injured He told of the
progress of the illness. His death. the
doctor thought, was due to peritonits 1o!-
lowing an injury.
The Jury returned a verdict holding Web
ster responsible for the boys death, and he
was returned to Jail to await the action OF
the grand jury
The Alleged Assault.
The lawn party at which the assault is
alleged TO have occurred was given under
the auspices of the choir of the Anacostia
NJ. E. Church, on the grounds of the Lin
ger place. 512 Harrison street, Anacosui
Webster was, 1t is said. hired to watch
that night over the grounds, as the party
Eight. He entered the grounds early and
IL is charged he was under the influence
of liquor. Some young children VINO were
playing about the music pavilion be-
gan to tease the watchman. 1t is said. and
he pursued them. II is charged he seized
young Shoemaker and kicked him twice
in the left side near the stomach. For
this act he was discharged on the spot.
The boy was compelled to take his bed
FIVE days afterward. and was since under
the constant care of physicians During
the earlier stages of the illness ii looked
as though he had some chance of recov-
cry, but blood poisoning set in, 1t is stat
ed, and medical skill was unavailing. His
sufferings are described to have been in
tense. He was delicate appearing, QUIET
child. and was general favorite with all
who knew him. He had not missed day
this year from the public school. where he
was in the third grade up to the time Of
his illness, and the interest he had in his
studies was the one thing that made him
hold out SO long before going to bed. He
would go to his class and answer to his
name. but would be unable to continue
there for the remainder OF the session
The Man Accused.
Webster, the man accused of kicking the
lad. is known to everybody in Anacostia
He is q good-natured hard-working feiIow
arm in the machinery of q bakery, about
ten years ago, he has been a hard drinker
He Is thtrty-seyen years old, and is mar
Red, being the father of two children, one
having been born since Webster was i'm
prisoned.
The Shoemaker family bear no iIl-feeling
toward Webster, and II the matter rested
with them, II Is said, he would not be prose.
cuted- Both Mr.. and Mrs. Shoemaker are
worn out to the point of illness with the