Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-01
A SHOOTING AFT RAY
E. L. springman Fires Three Shots and
Wounds Two Persons.
One Was q COlored Neusboy, and
the Other a White
Boy.

Edward L. Springman, the expressulan
| having an office on d street near 10Th
street northwest, shot pistol recklessly
into q crowd of Times newsboys who were
congregated in front of his office at $40
| o'clock this afternoon. wounding Charles
Brooks, colored, the proprietor of the news
stand in the pension Office, in the hip, and
also wounding James Hardy, a white lad
fourteen years old. of 664 Massachusetts,
avenue northeast, in the hip. According TO
impartial Witness Springmann fired five
shots from a revolver intending them for
Brooks, with whom he had some words re-
garding the latter and other boys blocking
up his office door.
Brooks replied that he was waiting TO
get his papers, when Springmann, it is al
legged, went into his office took a revolver
out of his desk, placed it under his coat
and, returning to the door, opened fire on
Brooks. One bullet struck Brooks and an
other struck Hardy.
Conflicting Stories.
There were several conflicting stories
told about the shooting, but the most re-
liable was given by small boy, whose
rame was not ascertained. He stated that
Springman, who has always been on I'M
pleasant terms with the newsboys, who
congregate around his place had some
words with the big colored boy on ID
street, and then went back into his office
and got pistol, which he put under his
coat and came back to the door. When he
produced the pistol and began shooting at
the big colored boy Charles Brooks)
The little fellow was in the way and it
looked If he got all the shots. Spring
man fired five shots.
Sprinsman's Statement.
Policeman Hartman took the prisoner to
the station house. He gave his name as
Edward l.. Springman, and his age as
twenty-nine. He said that he was ex
pressman by occupation. He was accom-
panied by several friends. who cheered
him up much possible. but Spring
man seemed worried over the affair.
Before he gave his name TO the station
keeper he wanted to get some word to
the Emergency Hospital, to see If the
boy was fatally injured. He showed bad
cut in the back of the neck, just 10 the
rear of the right ear. which he said was
3abbed into him by the colored man.
While he was at work in his Office he
said, the man stuck him with the knife
He grabbed for his pistol, and shot at tie
man. He did not know that he had shot
the colored man. but he saw the boy fall
According to the story of Lieutenant
Amiss, who came In shortly afterward
Springman was crazy to fire into a crowd
ness rooms upstairs in the station and
locked up.
What Springmnn's Friends Say.
At the first precinct station it was stated
by the friends of young Springman that
Chas. Brooks, the young colored boy who
keeps a news stand in pension Office had
caused the trouble by hitting Springman,
and then coming back at him again with a
knife.
In order to protect himself Springman
pulled his pistol and fired. One shot hit
Brooks on the right hip. but some bicycle
instruments in his hip pocket prevented
serious wound. Brooks was hit only
once.
Upon this statement of facts Brooks,
who had In the meantime been sent to the
hospital, was ordered to be held and
an order to this effect was telephoned to
the Emergency.
Inquiries about bail were made at the
first precinct station. but nothing could be
decided In the matter owing to the uncer-
tain condition Of the boy Hardy.