The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-07
FATAL END OFAQUARREL
A Tragedy Results From Trouble
Of Long Standing.
Rezin Champion Shot Down by Harry
Gray on the Old Foundry Road
KiiIinE-A Plea of SeIf-Defence-
Mrs. Champion Reid as Witness.

A charge of murder is registered against
Harry Clinton Gray. a canal boatman,
twenty-five years of age, now detained at
the Seventh precinct station. His arrest
was effected yesterday afternoon. about .
O'Clock, by Policeman Samuel Burrows, at
Seven Locks, Nd. on the line Of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal, near Cabin
John Bridge. The remains Of Rein Oliver
Champion, forty-five years of age, are now
at the morgue, and Gray is held response
viewed the body. and will hold an inquest
tomorrow morning at IL O'Clock, at the
Sixth precinct station.
The killing OF Champion occurred shortly
after noon yesterday. on the Old Foundry
Road, above Georgetown, and adjacent to
q building belonging to the Independent
Ice Company. The spot where the crime
was committed is a secluded one. 1t is
about a quarter of mile west of the Aque-
duct Bridge. between the towpath of the
canal and river. The Foundry Road is
blind at its western terminus, a point
just beyond the ice company's building.
There is little travel along this road, which
is used principally for hauling freight
from the ice house and -four mills adjacent
into Georgetown. Yesterday Gray and
Champion. the latter insanely jealous over
alleged undue intimacy between Gray and
his wife met the one armed with re
voIver and the other with stones picked up
from the roadway. In the fight which fol-
lowed Champion was shot three times and
almost instantly killed while his wife,
Mamie. a woman about thirty years of age,
fe. homeward unaware of the fatal end OF
the quarrel.
Rein Champion had known Gray for
years. The two had grown up together in
the village of Antietam, Nd, and Mrs.
Champion. nee Bush, halls from the same
town Twelve years ago Champion married
Mamie Bush in this city. The husband
was employed on boat of the canal COM
paDy- Two years ago Champion took pos
session of small home in the outskirts
of GeoT getown, known as Fowler's Hill.
The house was that in which Policeman
Passau, formerly of the Seventh precinct
station, was shot and killed by Maryland
negro As time went on several boardeTs
came to the Champion home. These in
cluded Clinton Gray and Thomas and John
William Champion, brothers of the de-
ceased. A year ago last June Mrs. Cramp-
ton became Ill, as did her eldest son,
Johnnie. then a lad of ten years, and Gray,
vino worked but a portion of each day.
.olESteered TO assist in doing chores about
the house. 1t was at this time that jeal-
ousy appears to have taken root in the
mind OF Champion DiphtheTia seized an
other child, the boarde.s left the house.
and Cianptor's jealousy apparently died
out.
TIE First Hot Words.
Gray retuE ned and took up quarters at the
Champion home. He remained four months
and but oree during that time did he have
trouble with Champion. On that occasion
Mrs. CTampton was H. She was reclining
on e s5ia and after doing various chores
Gray went to her and began to fan her
Cramptons came in at the tine and hot
words are said TO have been exchanged be-
tween the men, Not long afterward Gray
found it best to quit the house. and again
took up his employment as canal boatraan
At frequent intervals. however, ne visited
Washington, stopping occasionally at the
Champion home on Fowler Hill. His well
come on such occasions was apparently
cordial, although Champion, it is said
made threats on more than one occasion
against the visitor.
Within a few weeks past Champion
had obtained employment on the new
pier being constructed at the Aqueduct
Bridge He was away from home the
greater part OF the day. leaving his wife
alone to care for his FIVE children This
employment did not last, however. and
for several days Champion had had lit Ie
10 do.
Early yesterday morning Mrs. Cramp-
ton left home and came to Georgetown
She made several small purchases, prin-
cipally of dry goods, and returned home
shortly after breakfast Her eldest boy,
Johnnie. looked over the goods bought
and begged for a jacket of material
similar to some already purchased. Ac-
cordingly, about O'Clock he was started
out for town to buy another piece CT the
goods An hour passed and Johnnie
failed to return Mrs. Crampton started
out to search for him. She walked
along the towpath. which is easily ac-
cessibie from her home by means OF
cuivert under the canal near the ice
companys plant She went as far as
the Aqueduct Bridge, then retraced hsr
steps. and a short distance frcm the
mouth of q culvert met Clinton Cray
He stopped to talk to her and the two
spent several minutes in conversation.
Gray told Mrs. Champion that he
thought Johnnie had gone swimming
with other boys, and the couple parted
Gray going in the direction Of Ge9rge-
town.
The Fatal Encounter.
After searching for the boy some tine
Mrs. Champion started up The Foundry
Road toward the ice house. She was but
a short distance from the ice house when
she again met Gray, who came down from
the toTpath Of the canal and joined her.
Gray and the woman stood in the middle
Of the Foundry Road talking. when
Champion emerged from the mouth Of the
culvert and came toward them. He was
angry, and stopped once before reaching
them to pick up stones from the roadway
As he neared the couple he hurled two
of the rocks at Gray. one of which struck
the latter on the back of the head. Gray
was stunned CHAMPION then tcgan a
TRADE of abuse, it is said. while his wife
endeayored to get him away from further
trouble.
Il may as well kill him right now"
Crasnpton is reported to have said. as
he hurled stone at Gray. The stone
barely missed Gray, who suddenly drew a
revolver from his pocket. pointed IL at
Champion and fired six shot is quick sue
cession. Just before the shots were fired
Mrs Champion turned and started rapiiIy
for home. and did not see the shooting
but heard the firing. Champion did not
fall, but started to walk along the Foun-
dry Road toward the ice house. about
three hundred yards away. Mrs. Cramp-
ten claims she did not know that her hus-
band was shot at this time She went
home. after calling to him to follow her,
and there learned. an hour later, OF his
death from the police.
The reports Of Gray's pistol were heard
across the river and John Heath, who
lives on the Virginia shore got in boat
and rowed across the stream. He found
CHAMPION lying in the road with but a
Disfigured Skin,