Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-03-28


oersy occurred ln this city about seven
o'clock last night during which Thomas
Rrvant was s1ot and killed by Frank
pine. bst,er known as "NOoks. I"
pine and Bryant it seems bad been
engaged in II game of cards 10 Wade's
ssioon. corner of Columbus and Wolfe
sIreets. previously. when Payne hap
neoed TO make q misdeal. Bryant at.
TAINTED to reach for the money at
sfake. 6 cents, but Payne anticipated
tbe move, and secured the psnnies.
Brysnt demanded the money, but
P,ype refused to give it up, and later
left the place. About z O'Clock Bryant
met Payne at the corner OF Prince
AMI Alfred streets and again de-
handed the money but Payne still
refused when the shooting followed.
the first statement concerning the trag'
civ was made by Payne aud two other
negroes named Lewis Darlington and
Dennis Carter, and was 10 the effec.
that BRYANT had used threatening Ian
guage toward Payne and had produced
~ pjstol and fired ut him, the ball, IL be-
inr alleged, striking Payne on the right
,iie of the stomach. The three stated
thai Bryant on firing the shot started to
run u. Prince street, but had not gone
many PAGES before Payne drew his pis'
fol and fired two sbos at Bryant. fhe
later staggered and turned southwark
INTO an alley leading through to Duke
street. The shots had attracted consid-
cradle attention and persons who made
an Investigation found Bryant ly-
ing beside fence in the alley, too weak
TO speak. Drs. Delaney, Purvis and
Howard were soon on the spot, but by
tne time the physicians arrived the man
was dead. One of the balls had enter
ed the back just below the left shoulder
blade, pa; sing through the region OF the
heart. Bryant's body was removed to
the undertaking establishment OF Will
liam Domaine by order of Coroner Pur-
gis. Payne, who was soon arrested,
together with Darlington and Carter,
moved the officers a bullet which he
alleged had been fired at him by Bry-
ant and hole iG the band OF his trOus.
ers which be said it had cut in it's course
and some slight abrasions of the skin.
A, 1890 o'clock this morning, when
the CoroDer's inquest began, 1t was be-
heyed there was another eide to the
story, and from the evidence produced
the Jury was disposed to accept the
statements of Payne, Carter and Car
rington cum granO sails.
George Meade was the first witness
called, and he testified that he heard
three shots and then saw large negro
running after some one, and saw him
IRE pistol. He could not positively
Identify the prisoner. :,
DR.. NJ. d. Delaney, who conducted
the autopsy, was then called. He said
that the ball had entered the left side
inst below the eleventh rib, passed
backward and downward, and shstter-
ed the left kidney, cutting its artery.
The ball was found lying free in the
abdop:inal cavity. He had seen the
abrasons on Payne which the latter
claim. ID wefs made by shot fired by
BRYANT. but witDess did not think his
story probable. The scratches looked
Ike those made by small knife. and
he did not think q bullet could have
inf cited them.
Mr.. W. A. Brawner testified that the
pistol which Bryant had yesterday
evening was unloaded and out OF order.
He did not think 1t could have been
fred.
The !mprobability of finding the bull
let which bad been fred at close range
10 the lining of Payne's trousers wss
brought to the attention of the jury by
Common wealth's Attorney Msrbury.
Edward Ware, colored, also testihed,
but his deposition brought out nothing
new.
Darlington and CArter's testimony
was in substance as given by them last
night.
The other testimony was immateriai.
The Jury, composed of Mr.. George
Bryan. foreman, and Messrs. Wm. l..
Allen, II. d. Ashton, Edgar Warheldi'
jr., {. J. w. Summers and J. +. Bifreil'
Drought in the following verdict
1--WE, the jury, find from the evil
denoe that Thomas Bryant came to
hsossth by q bullet wound 10 b body
made by q bullet fred from pistol
while in the hands of Frank Payne
with malicious and mu'derOus intent
We recommend that the said Payne DC
held for the grand jury
After the coroner's inquest FRANK
Payne, Dennis Carter. Lewis Carrint
Ton and Edward Ware were brought
before the Mayor. Ware was recol
nized TO appear as a witness before the
grand Jury. Payne, Carter and Car
iington, principal and accessories, were
sent to isil to arswer before the Cor
poration Court. The Mayor only ex
amined three witnesses. Ohioer Sher
wood said Payne Acknowledged shoot
Jog Bryant, but the prisoner bad sale
that Bryant lad shot at him first. :.
VIM. Brawner said Bryant got an ole
pistol from him. 1t bad not been free
for years and it could not be discharged
Tie pistol found was not tho one an'
not at all like it.
Ed. Ware was with Bryant and let
him few seconds before the shooting
BRYANT was then with Carter ant
Payne. Ware heard shots, ran oac'
and saw Payne following aud shoo'lol
at Bryan. =.
The witnesses were ell recognized u
appear before the grand jury.
This is the second tragedy which hs
occurred in this city Dung the pas
few months. On the 10th OF last sep
TENDER negro named Finknty wa
shot and killed by another OF his rae
named Elzey on upper Duke street.
ROYAL ARCANUM.-At the meet'n
last night of Alexandria Council Koya
Arcsnum Vice Regent henry Hunter
who expects TO leave the city, resigne'