Evening star., 1898-08-27
PETER H0L MES HELD
Coroner's Jury Believes BE Caused
Margaret Scott's Death.
An INVESTIGATION MADE TODAY
"Bootsey' Ross Will Not Have to
Answer to the Charge.
THE EVID ENCE TAKEN

N y L
"Bootsey'' Ross, the young colored man
| who is serving a year in Jail for cutting
Margaret Scott will not have to answer for
her death. Margaret participated in sew
eral rows between the time she was cut by
Ross and the time of her death. 1t is al
legged that on one of these occasions, Sun
day before last, she was struck on the head
with chair by Charles, alias Bull Will
iiams, while on a former occasion she was
assaulted with a stone or brick by Peter
Holmes. This affair happened in front of a
vacant house in Phillips court. Several
other persons, the police learned, had also
struck the unfortunate woman, but these
blows We're inflicted in play.
When the result of the autopsy was made
known yesterday Lieut.. Boyle started an
other investigation of the case. Sergt. Nc
Neeley and Policeman Patrick OBrien con-
Quoted the investigation, which resulted in
several arrests. AT the inquest today the
jury heard number of witnesses, and re-
turned a verdict holding Holmes for the
action of the grand jury. He was there
upon committed to Jail.
DIR. Ruffin's Statement.
DR.. Ruffin testified that he found the
dead woman's stomach in a chronic ca
tarrhal condition, which WAS nothing un-
common Her death, ne had no doubt, re-
suited from a hemorrnase of the brain.
Beneath the blood cIot there was a soften
ing of the brain. There We're three small
bruises on the outer part of the head
which were due to blows more recent than
the blow or trouble lid. caused the hem
orrhage. Witness found no fracture of the
skull. 1t was possible said witness, for
out fracturing the skull. The stomach was
congested and there was evidence of the
woman having vomited blood.
Dr.. Collins Cruiser, who attended the wo-
man before her Heath, WIS also examined.
He told the jury that he had treated Mar
garet Scott. He last saw her alive Sat
urday evening before ner death. She was
then very low. Witness id not remain
with her until she died He first saw the
patient early Friday morning. Witness
went to her house. at No 50S 18th street.
She was then perfectly conscious, although
she was splitting blood. The woman told
him she had been splitting blood for four
or five days, and the character of the blood
indicated that it was from her lungs. Be
cause of what witness heard of her lie
though she had been dissipating. They
were too poor to buy medicine, they said
and witness wanted her to go to the hos
pital, but she refused. At that time he
did not consider her in critical condition.
That evening when he called he found the
ton. Both pupils were dilated.
The hemorrhage had ceased
Change for the Worse.
Saturday morning witness was again sent
for and he found a decided change in her
condition for the worse. She had been un-
conscious all night.
did you inquire into her previous his
tory?" the coroner asked
u did" was his response. 81 was told
that she had been cut two months prevf-
ously but this wound, 1 found, had
healed"
when did you last see her?'
Saturday evening" Q
Witness gave a certificate of death, CIV
ing the immediate cause as suffocation
Peter Holmes Called.
Call in Peter Holmes" said the coroner
to his assistant.
Peter is a colored boy, living In Phillips
court. He was brought in. He said he is
employed as a driver by Mr.. Shea
'D-d you know woman named Margaret
Scott?" he was asked
Yes, sir" he answered. 81 have known
her for about four months"
Witness said he last saw her on the Ist
of August.
Tell the jury" said Dr. Glazehrook,
what trouble you had with her"
Il never had any trouble with her. | had
trouble with Mag Dorsey"
Witness said that on one occasion, several
weeks ago, he was fooling with Margaret
Scott and he tossed pebble at her The
pebble struck her on the head but did not
hurt her He knew of no trouble Margaret
Scott had had except the time "Bootsey''
Ross cut her
Policeman OBrien told the jury that he
brought Holmes from the jail this morn
ing. He told witness that he and Margaret
Scott had been playing and he struck her
with small stone, just as Holmes had
told the jury.
Witness also arrested Charles Williams
and he said he hit her while they We're
playing. Annie Coagley made a similar
statement concerning Margaret Scott and
herself
Describes a Row.
Maria Hughes, colored testified that she
met Margaret Scott at her Cousins house
nearly two weeks ago. It was a Sunday
morning. Bert Beckett, Mary Snowfall"
Lottie Dorsey and a man named Ginger
were also there.
WAS Charlie Williams also there?'
Yes, SIR
Witness said there was a row in the
house and Charlie Williams picked I'D a
chair to hit Margaret Scott, but witness
grabbed it.
What became of the chair?'
ut fell over in the corner"
Ibid it touch Margaret Scott?"
TT only struck her on the head"
did Williams appear as If he was
angry?"
HE looked like he was mad"
Witness said he also tried to kick Mar
gaIet in the face, but she thought he
kicked her in the region Of her stomach.
What did he do then?"
HE went and sat on the bed, and Mar
garet sat there with him.
Witness said that Margaret laughed at
Williams just before he threw the chair,
When the trouble was over Margaret did
not seem to be hurt.
"She always would laugh at anything
funny said witness
In whose house did this happen?"
In my cousins house, Lottie Hughes,
2490 Phillips court
Alberta Beckett's Story.
Alberta Beckett, also colored, explained
to the jury what she saw in the house. She
did not know how the trouble started Soon
after she got in the kouse she heard Chas
Williams curse at Margaret Scott, and saw
him throw a chair at her.
did the chair strike herf'
mo, sir. Margaret Hughes caught the
chair"
Witness said she saw Margaret several
days afterward, and she seemed perfectly
well.
Enters a Denial.