Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-03
a Domestic Quarrel Among Colored
People Ends Fatally.
MRS. CLARA SLATER THE VICTIM
Her Husband and Brother-in-Law
Charged With Murder.
STATEMENTS OF THE ACCUSED

scene of a fatal shooting about noon to-
day, Mrs. Clara Slater colored being in
stantly killed. The bullet penetrated her
heart and she fell dead while trying 10
leave the house. Isaac Kenner. a colored
expressman, husband of the dead woman's
sister-in-law, is charged with the respon-
sibility for the shooting Kenner was
locked up at the eighth precinct station a
few minutes after the shooting occurred
and Benjamin Slater, husband of the dead
woman, was locked up later in the day,
having gone to the Office of Attorney Thos.
L. Jones and made known his intention
10 surrender himself as a witness against
kenner. While the evidence procured by
the police Immediately after the shooting
indicates to their minds that kenner will
nave to answer for the crime, the exact
circumstances of the shooting may not be
Known until the coroners inquest tomor-
row. Mrs. Mamie Kenner, wife of the ex-
pressman, is under arrest as a witness and
her story places the responsibility for the
woman's death on her own husband Her
brother. who surrendered at his attorneys
office, was turned over to Lieutenant Ken
ny He, too, blames Kenner for the fatal
affair.
Fell Dead at the Door.
1t was few minutes before II o'clock
when the report Of pistol shot fired in the
house was followed by the appearance on
the front doorstep of Mrs. Slater As soon
as she reached the door she fell on the
step. There was considerable excitement
In the court following the shooting and
when the woman, with a fatal wound in
her heart, had been dragged in the house
henner ran for physician. DIR. Bucling-
ham responded but the woman was Aired
dead Policeman Boswell was soon upon
the scene, and he arrested Kenner who had
made no effort to escape. Kenner took the
ha Of hi
son, who lives opposite the house in which
the shooting had occurred, and showed him
where he had hidden the pistol-a Red
JACKET IN the safe. when he was taken
10 the eighth precinct station and locked IN
Lieut. kenrey detailed Policeman John ID.
Sutton TO make full investigation of the
affair This officer and others were soon in
pursuit OF Slater, who had fled to the Of
nee OF his attorney. In the meanwhile
Policeman Sutton went to the house and
arrested Mrs Kenner as witness
kenner's Version OF the Affair,
When kenner reached the police station
he was very much excited, but he told his
version of the affair in a straightforward
way. He said nothing of his alleged cruel
treatment TO his wife, but blamed her
brother, Benjamin Slater, for the fatal
deed To Star reporter he said he and
ms wlfe were having some words because
he had objected to her going out in service
He said he told his wife that he wanted to
say nothing to her.
She said she was going out to help me
along" he said, "and 1 told her she ought
10 nave told me about it,
Then 1t was, he said, that Slater inter-
feIed and asked: why don't you all quit
Your fussirg?'
kenner said that the quarrel then ended
for a while, and he went in the kitchen.
where he had something to eat. When he
Lad finished he asked his wife If she were
ready to go out
kenner stated that this renewed the
quarrel. and that he smacked his wife,
Slater then said: IF you smack your wife
again HI Kill you" He then pointed the
pistol at kenner, SO the latter says and
Els tSlater'S wife was standing between
them.
My wife tried to take the pistol from
him." said kenner. This was after he
had fired the shot at me. He afterward
gave my wife the pistol, and I got it and
took it over to my aunt's. The pistol was
Slater's. and he brought it to the house
with him.
Mrs. Kenner's story of the Shooting.
When Mrs. Kenner reached the station
she told an entirely different story. She
told stories of cruel treatment on the part
of her husband, and said that his numer-
Gus women friends caused the trouble be-
tween them
When he was going with other women"
she said. he ill-treated me, but when he
good"
The trouble which ended in the shooting,
she said, started last night, because she re-
fused to tell him before company where
she had been working. About midnight.
she said. he put her out Of the house, and
she went to her brothers for protection.
The latter was not at home. but She left
mes sage for him. 1t was this message that
brought him TO the house today. After her
husband had threatened to kill her and put
her out of the house he struck her, and
then her brother took her part.
Struggle for the Pistol.
He got his pistol that he had kept in the
kitchen and soon the men were struggling
for possession of the weapon. 1t was dur
ing this struggle that the weapon was dis
charged This morning. she said. she
bought something for her three children to
eat and her husband ate il.
When she objected to this he threatened
to break her neck. and said: There are
other women in service besides you" In
this statement she thought he had refer
ence TO other women with whom he was On
friendly terms. Her husband. she said
wrote a letter to some woman, but all she
could see of the letter was Mrs. A c.
Slater CorrobOrates Mrs. kenncr.
Slater. when turned over to Lieut.. Kenny,
told substantially the same story as that
told by Mrs. Kenner. He has been sep
arated from his wife for year. but he had
visited her at kenner's house almost every
day. He admitted that the revolver was
his. and said he had kept 1t at his sisters
tMrs. Kenner's) house. This mornings
quarrel convinced him that Kenner and his
wife were going TO separate and he got the
revolver to take with him.
When he saw his sister being struck by
Kenner he went between them. Kenner
grabbed the pistol and during the struggle
the weapon was discharged. AT the time
IL was discharged he says Kenner's finger
was the trigger and his (Slaters) hand
was on the barrel
kenner admitted having written the let
ter mentioned by MS wife, but said he had
no idea of sending it. that he only wrote
II TO lease his wife.
Both Men Charged With Murder.
In view of ths statements made by the
several parties TO the affair, Lieut.. Kenny
directed that both men be charged with
murder. Mrs. Kenner was held as a wit
ness. 1t is likely that Coroner Carr will
have the body sent to the morgue where
the inquest in all probability will be held
tomorrow.
Slater. who is twenty-seven years old,
says he Is employed as elevator boy at
the Hotel Raleigh. The woman Is twenty
three years old.