Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-24
INJURIES END in DEATH
Isaac Henderson suocumbs to the Effects
of Recent Mishap.
Alleged That He Was Pushed From
Steps of Dwelling, the Fall
Causing Paralysis.

Isaac Henderson, the colored youth who
was injured about a week ago by falling
or being pushed down flight of steps,
died this morning shortly after 10 o'clock
at the Emergency Hospital. Death was
due to paralysis of the spine. The George
town police station was notified of the
death before II O'Clock, and the mother of
the dead boy was informed later Ar
engagements were made for holding an
inquest tomorrow morning at the sixth pre-
cinct police station on New Jersey avenue.
Henderson, as published in The Star at
the time. was injured Monday afternoon.
October 49, He was found about 5 O'Clock
by Policeman McGill Grove Of the bicycle
squad lying at the bottom of a steep
flight of steps leading to the front door Of
one of the houses on Grace street between
sd and Potomac streets. He was sent to
the station and locked up on charge of
Vagrancy, 1t being aScertained he was I'M
der the influence of liquor at the time of
the arrest.
1t learned a few minutes later that
the man had fallen from the top Of tie
steps and was injured. He was taken in
the patrol wagon to the Georgetown Uni
Versity Hospital, where an examination
was made. He had been a sufferer from
eplleptic fits, and was frequently brought
to the hospital for treatment. The last
time, Monday evening, an examina ton
failed to reveal any trouble, there being
no ab"aSions of the skin, nor broken bones
Owing to the intoxicated condition of the
man 1t was matter Of difficulty to fell
whether or not he was suffering from in
jury. Upon his ietIrn 10 the station Hem
derson was locked up II A cell and a
short time later a physician made an ex-
animation, but could find nothing the mat
ter with him.
Found on the Floor.
Between 8 and 10 O'Clock of the same
owe h.
at the station and brought him something
to eat She declared her son had never
drank anything, except a glass of beer now
and then. Entering the cell the prisoner
was found to be stretched out on the con-
crete floor. He was picked up and seated
on the iron bench, and seemed to have lost
power over his lower limbs. To be on the
safe side, Lieut.. Swndells determined to
SEND the man to the Emergency Hospital
Tor examination. The physicians at that
institution did not know Henderson. ard
were not aware that he was subject to
hts: He reached the hospital about 10
o CLOCK that night and was placed in a
ward. 1t was not until the next afternoon.
according to the statement of Lieut. Sv,:r-
deHs, that the physicians reached the con-
clusion that the man was suffering with
paralysis. He was kept in a ward and re-
celved treatment ever since, until his
death this morning.
Immediately after Henderson was ar
rested and 1t was ascertained that he had
iallen down the steps the police began an
investigation. 1t was learned that Hem
dersOn was at the house of Ella Wracks
an eighteen-year-old servant who lives on
Grace street. and that the woman either
pushed him down the steps or drove him
down, causing him to fall It was further
stated that the woman had an ak in her
possession. which she threatened to use
on her visitor.
The Wracks girl was arrested at 6.3h
o clock Tuesday evening by Policeman En-
glehart, and locked up on a charge of as
sault and battery. She was taken to the
Folce court the next morning, and the
case against her was continued indef-
nltely, The woman Is still in Jail, where
she was placed to await the result of Hem
derson's injuries and tomorrow she will
be brought to testify at the inquest
Woman Denies Story.
According to the story of the woman
she had been to the store buying some
provisions Monday afternoon, and when
she returned she found Henderson and
several other negroes In her house. She
attempted to drive them out, she said, and
Henderson became rather obstreperous He
caused some damage in the house, and
finally she managed to drive him out The
woman, 1t is said, denies pushing Hender-
son down the steps, claiming that he slip
ped and fell in his haste to get away
Henderson was twenty years of age and
resided with his mother at 1O41 jefferson
street. He was a labOrer and worked at
various places in the city. The steps
where the mlShap occurred lead to the
front door of row of houses distance
or about seven feet from the ground.