Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-09-16

COLORED Man KILLED. Wllllam
pDkney. colored, well-known color
ed man, cripple, was shot and almost
instantly killed aboui ten o'clock last
night at the intersection of Duke and
Peyton streets, by John Thomas Eizey,
slso colored. The motive for the shoot
ing is not manifest, as no one near the
scene at the time seems to know OF any
previous trouble between the two men.
Some Of the witnesses say Pinkney and
Ezsy were together at the head CT
Duke street about ten o'clock last night;
that Ezey drew q pistol and taking de-
HberaJe aim fred at Plnkney, sending q
ball entirely through his heart; that az
ter being shot Plnkney ran to the north
west coruer of Duke and Peyton streets,
where be fell, dying about FIVE minutes
later; that after the shooting Ezey ran
north On Pcyton street and escaped be-
fore the arrival Of the police.
The news OF the tragedy spread rapid
", aud caused considerable excitement
in the western portion of the city, and
tae affair having been reported to
police headquarters Officers Knight and
Ferguson went to the scene, and order.
ed Plukney's body removed to Mr.. De-
names undertaking establishment,
where post mortem examination was
held this morning Later Lieutenant
Smith and Officers Belts, Beach and
Knight, who were searching for the
man, discovered him at his home on
north Pitt street, near the Portner
Brewery. He had barricaded the door
but made no effort TO repulse the Of
tcers, VINO placed him under arrest and
carried him to the station house. Wal.
ter E.zey, brother of the prisoner, had
previously been arrested by mistake,
but be WAS soon liberated. The muir
dereT, who alleged that the
shooting was accidental, told the
officers hat the pistol could be found
near Beaeh's pond, in the petersburg"
nelghboThood, as after the shooting he
had gone to that locality and secreted
tne weapon under piece OF tin. Search
was made, but the pistol was not
found. After telling other stories con-
corning Its whereabouts he said he had
buried the weapon near the pond, and
lnat piece OF tin was over the spot.
Inc officers made subsequent search,
found q sheet of tin where indicated
aud saw the earth had been dug up at
mat spot. Upon removing the earth a
Jew inches the pistol, from which one
cartridge had been discharged, was
found.
E.zey was arlaigned in the Police
Court this morning. William Dade,
coiored, was the only material witness
examined. He saw the two men to.
seiner last night few minutes before
tne shooting. He knew of no previous
aihculty between Pinkney anu E q
ne saw the latter produce q pistol al d
n'e at the former; saw Pinkney run to
yae house or the northwest corner o.
i DaSe and Peyton streets, where he fell
Witness stated that after shooting
r'nSney Elzey ran out Peyton street
and disappeared.
as stated above, Ezey claims that
5ne shooting was accidental. He says
ne nad the pistol in his breast pocket
mat ne and PlnkDey, who is his cousin
usd been wrestling, and that while sc
engaged Pinkney had felt the pistol il
MS Nh'ley's) pocket; that Pinkney had
called attention to the weapon, wheI
zsy put his hand into his pocket, pro
auGed the;weapon in order to show i
% FInkney, when, by some accident, i
was discharged.
The Mayor concluded to continue tn
examination until Monday. There ar
evidently some particulars concerning
Yue case which have not so far beer
brought out, but which may beoow
more clear st the next hearing. Sew
1'aI coIored people were nearby ct tn
Ume the shot was fred, but the bull
Oi them pretended they knew nothing
So1at the tragedy nor the cause of it
Aisey is we'll known in this city, h
.SVlng for some time been 10 the ser
wee Of the Watkins Brothers, mea
V3vsIers, 10 the market. He was sol
uler during the war with Spain and
aooU' ~ years old. Pinkney was We.
Saown, especially around the railroa
tepots His living has been gained as
ooot9ack most OF the time. His HON
Vas on Park row, near the Fayett
S''ee' depot. he WAS married aud ha
we Child Ea ypos 81 raors old