Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-15
Murder and Suicide on Dairy Farm
Near Hyattsv lie.
OVERSEER KILLED BY A WORKMAN
The Latter Then Sends Bullet
Through His Own Head.
OF THE JURY


HYATTSVILLE, Mo, December ia
murder and suicide occurred this morning
about $50 o'clock On the dairy farm of
Mrs. L. I. Cartwright, about three miles
north of this vilaGe, in which a colored
man. James H. far!liarly known as But
to1') johnson, shot and instantly killed
a white man named Florin Crew. and then
shot himself from the effects of which he
died almost Immediately. Crew was en-
gagged about seven months ago an over.
scel, and had entire charge of the farm,
including the dairy business. About six
months ago johnson was employed to do
general farm work and to drive to Wash
ington with milk, this latter duty being
performed about every other morning.
Friday, as was his general custom, he lett
kOme with his supply of milk for Washing
ton and did not return until late in the
evering.
When he reached the farm he was in an
intoxicated condition. Mrs; CartWflsht
asked if he had brought the things she sent
for, and he replied that he had forgotten
them. The lady then demonstrated with
him for being so forgetful. This seemed to
incense the negro, who replied that some
one was always accusing him of forgetting
something, that ne was tired of 1t and 1t
had to be stopped He left the room NUT
tering a threat, to which no attention was
paid.
Early this morning Jesse Cartwright,
about nineteen years of age, a son of Mrs.
Cartwright, left the house with his milk
wagon for the purpose of serving custom
ers in this village. He had not been absent
very long when Crew went into the dining
room. whRre Mrs. Cartwright was prepar-
ing breakfast.
The First Shot Fired.
Crew walked about the room a few min
utes, talking to Mrs. Cartwright, and had
gone to one side Of the room and was stand
ing near the cupboard, just opposite a WIN
dow facing the west, when johnson APP
peared a the window with a double-bar-
relied shotgun. He leyeled the gun and shot
through the window, some of the shot
striking Grew in the head. Crew staggered
a few steps and exclaimed "On, my head!
and walked across she room toward the
door leasing out toetIie summer kitchen.
MIS-. Cartwright Wer.l to his ala. Sne sup
posed he had hit his head against the cup
board door, and was III the act of approach
ing him for the pur pose 0 washing The blood
from his head, when j.. lson burst into the
room, gun IN hand, ard saying, Il won
miss you this time" fred the second barrel
into the right side Of Crews head, com
pleteiy tearing off side of the head and
neck. Death was instantaneous.
Mrs. CartWrignls escape from the shot is
considered miraculous, as she was but d
few feet away.
johnson sprang upon Mrs Cartwright and
en- 'keu n'T severely, Dul tHc IdtS HidIidSSi
90 break the hold of the apparently fren-
BE, be- where lighted lamp was
resting, and picking 1t up Went
pool of blood on the dining room floor.
Mrs. Cartwright asked him what he was
dong and he replied he wanted to see IL the
man was dead.
johnson then placed the lamp on the
table and turning asked Mrs. Cartwright
if she didn't think he had better kill HIM
self, as he guessed he would swing for
what he had done. The lady told him to
get out of the room. johnson went out.
and proceeding to Crews room, secured the
dead mans revolver. 1t Is supposed that
his intentions were to come back and kill
Mrs. Cartwright but he changed his mind
and Went out into The yard
Dies Instantly.
After walking about thirty feet from the
house he placed the revolver against his
right ear and pulled the trigger, killing
himself instantly, before stated.
Word was sent over to the Maryland Ag-
ricultural College and several members of
the faculty went to the scene of the TRACE
Gy. and seeing johnson lying in the yard
in a drunken stup0r, as they supposed
approached him, but upon investigation
they found him to be dead When
they reached the house they discover
ed Mrs. Cartwright lying on the floor
this village to States Attorney William
Nj. Levin. and together with Constable X.
H. Vincent, he went to the farm "A jury
OF inquest was empaneled, and after an in
vestigation a verdict was rendered to the
effect that Florin Crew came to his death
from a gunshot wound IN the hahds OF
Button Johnson and that johnson came
to his death from a pistol shot wound in
fcted by his own hands.
Crews Good Record.
Crew was we'll known and highly respected
In this community. He was employed at
the experiment station at College Park for
a number of years. and was considered to
be a trustworthy and good workman.
Johnsons record in this community was
exceptionally bad He was Of quarrel
some disposition and was under the inf1u-
ence of liquor most Of the time ABOUT one
year ago he nearly killed another colored
man named Grigsby on the farm of F. E.
Baukhages, near this village, and served
eighteen months in the house of correction.
NEW CONNPTTEE ROOMS