Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-10-11
TO DEATH
b. 10
Patrick Lee, Colcred,'V Victim of a vi
cious Knife Thrust.
EUGENE POWELL ALLEGED MURDERER
The Fatal Wound Inflicted on the
Street Without, Warning.
POWELL NOW IN CUSTODY

Patrick Lee, a young colored man, was
stabbed and killed about II o'clock last
night, 1t is charged, by Eugene Powell, also
colored, In front of Amrein's confectionery
store on It'll street northwest between o
and P streets Lee had succeeded Powell.
1t is said, in the employment of Mr..
Schleuter, who keeps a beer bottling es
adjustment at 9Th and Q streets This is
given as the only motive known for the
crime. The victim was stabbed without
word of warning. and he had no oppor
tunity to defend himself A penlnife was
the weapon used, and the blade of the
weapon severed the carotid artery. The
second precinct patrol wagon was hastily
summoned, and Lee reached Freedmens
Hospital several minutes before he died
Maj. Sylvester left home this morning at
O'Clock and went to the eighth precinct
station, where he instructed the officers to
make 4 thorough search of the country In
the vicinity of Silver Spring and along the
line OF the Metropolitan branch of the Bal
imore and Ohio railroad as far as they
oould travel today AT the SAM time he
offered reward for the apprehension of
the fugitive. His efforts were rewarded
this afternoon by the arrest of the alleged
murderer.
The Capture.
About L O'Clock he received telegram
from Policeman ]. w. Mccormack of Lieut.
henny's squad, which read:
Il have captured Eugene Powell Caught
him at FenWick, a station on the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad"
Powell was not in the woods all night, as
was supposed, but slept at the house of
some colored people in the Camp and it
was about O'Clock when he boarded car
on Br1ghtwood avenue, q short distance
above Grant avenue. A companion named
Clifford Fantroy was with him. and the
two went to the terminus of the electric
read. Policeman Mccormack who had
started out on his wheel In search of Powell
reached Silver Spring about two hours be-
hind the colored men. From Silver Spring
the officer followed the steam railroad
track on his wheel. riding over the rough
ballast When near Fcnwick station he
saw Powell seated on the top rail of
fence, while Fantroy was lying on the
ground.
Attempts to Escape.
Recognizing the officer Powell jumped
from the fence and started across the field.
The officer jumped from bis wheel and fol-
lowed. Then he drew his revolver ard
called to the fleeing man: Halt or I'll
shoot" u
These words causel the fugitive to halt,
and turning to the officer he raised his
hands and said:
MI MACK, please UOnC SnOot me.
A friend of the officer who was with him
rendered assistance and both Ruffin and
Powell were taken in custody
Denial of the Charge.
When the eighth precinct station was
reached Star reporter talked with Powell,
who stottly deniedathat he did the stab
bling. Al
Il was at the balE.last night," he admit
ted; but if I saw Zee + don't know it, for
/ did not know him..
He also denied that he5wore red sweat
er last night and said that after leaving
the ball he did not go TO his own home.
Why he did not go there he could not "x-
plain. He was asked where he was going
in the country, and his aLswer was, Il
wasn't going anywhere.'f
Besides the prisoner, Powell, the police
have several persons locked up Witness
es. They will all appear before the cor
oners jury tomorrow. Policeman McCor-
mack will receive the $40 reward offered for
Powels arrest.
History of the StabbinS.
Both the victim and his alleged slayer
attended ball given by the Union Pleas
Club at o street armory. There were
several policemen about the armory dur
ing the evening, as IS customary when there
is a gathering in the hall. Among them
were Officers Flather. Clifford and Temp
kinS. There was NJ trouble in the hall dur
ing it's progress and, as d precautionary
measure, Policeman Flather advised the
leader of the band to play Home, Sweet
Home" at ten minutes before midnight.
This was done, and at l. o'clock most of
the audience had reached the sidewalk.
On the pavement several disputes arose, and
the police had to disperse the participants.
At the corner of It'll and o streets some of
the young men came to blows, but these
incidents had nothing to do with the trou-
BILE between Lee and his victim.
The policemen mentioned were standing
near the corner of It'll and o streets, when
they saw a crowd in front of Amrein's
store Fearing there was trouble there, the
officers lost time in getting to where
the crowd was.
Lying PROSTATE.
There ON the sidewalk was the PROSTATE
form of Lee, with the blood gushing from
the fatal wound he had received. Lee was
Unconscious and could not give the officers
any information.
The colored people in the crowd would NOT
disclose anything concerning the identity
of the murderer, and their able assistance
rendered his escape from the neighborhood
d certainty. 1t was due to the Information
given by a small boy later in the night
that the police learned the name of the al
legged murderer. Before this Information
was obtained the police went to a house on
Grant avenue in search of an unknown man
whose name had been given as George
Smith. While this search was being con-
ouCleu IOWeU was across the street in his
home changing his clothes preparatory to
leaving the city. George Ruffn. who, it is
alleged, was with Powell at the time the
stabbing was done, was arrested and locked
up, but he would give no Information.
Early this morning the officers found a
young man named John Lewis. who was
able and willing to tell all he knew of the
affair. He said he and George Dean were
with Lee, and they were on their way
home, walking up 18th street, when George
Ruf1in, Eugene Powell and another young
man came along. Powell, he said, rushed
up to Lee and stabbed him without saying
a word.
Lee cried I'm cut repeating the outcry
several times before hes fell to the side
walk. Then he was, unable to speak
Mr.. Joseph S. Duffy, who keeps the Thy
son House, saw part of the affair, but he
had no idea that murder had been COM
mitted He saw the murderer run AWAY
after the stabbing had been done. Just be-
fore Lee died his brother reached the hos
pital. but the dying man was unable to rec