The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-01-23

fourth hangs by = slender thread. while
two other miraculoUSIy escaped with pain
fgl injuries, occurred here al ] O'Clock to-
Cdy.
The principals IN the tragedy were ex-
Congressman David G. ColsOn, Of Aiidd.cs-
h,ro and Lieut. EthelDert Scott, o. Som
ersct. Scott was shot six times b. Colson
and almost Instantly billed
Luther ". Demarres, assistant post
master at Sheibyviiie. an innocent by
staEder was shot three times. and died
Instantly. ChaII.s Julian. another by
staudcr, Was shot and died a half hour
later, and capt y. y. Golden. OF Bac-
louisville Commonwealth attorney OF
the twenty-seveush judicial district. was
shot IN the back. and is not expected 10
survive the night. Col Colso1 himself
was shot twice I'm the arm. Harry Nc
Ewing, Of louisville, was shot in the foot
and IS. o. Ridpatch. q Csicago. sustained
q broken leg By the lneless form Of Scott
falling against him as II rolled down the
stairway.
Met in Hotel Lobby.
The tragedy Is one of the most sensa-
tioual in the history OF THE dark and
bloody ground" The killing occurred in
the lobby Of the Capitol Hotel. the prin-
cipal hosiery OF the State capital. the
room being well filled at the time with
politicians and others. who are here at
tending the contests for State offices be-
fore the legislature. Col Colson is In Jail
tonight charged with murder. but he
claims self-defense. The witnesses Of the |
affair were taken so much by surprise
when the shooting began that most OF
them were almost paric-stricken, and
there are many conflicting stories as to
how the fight began.
Col. Colson and a party OF friends.
among whom was DemaI,ree. were sitting
in The lobby engaged I'm conversation as
Scout and Capt. Golden came I'D the
stairs from the baTroom. When they had
advanced about half way across the
room. walking In the direction Of Colson,
The latter, Il is said. half rising from his
chair. fired at Scott who instantly re-
turned the fire The shooting then be
came general and tgstanders are at
variance as 10 the number engaged in it,
Demarree was standing slightly in front
Of COlsOn. and young Scott IS said to have
crOuched behind him 10 escape bullets
from ColsOn's revolver. In an instant
Demarree fell dead, pierced by three bull
lets. Capt Golden, who accompanied
Scott, reeled TO one side. falling into the |
arms of eX-Gov. James Il. McCreary, ex-
claiming, Il am shot"
scott Falls Dead.
The smoke in the locality Of the an
tagonists became dense but COlsOn con-
tinued to press Scott who retreated back |
ward shooting as he moved ColsOn emp
tied the chambers of a .3S-caliber revolver
and quickly brought "A into action.
Scott by this time had been shot several
times and as he staggered back and fell |
down the stairway, COlsOn, who was
within a few feet of him. continued TO
fire till the form of Scott rolled over and
showed life extinct.
The battle was terrific and bullets fair
~ rained through the lobby of the hotel |
several Of which went wild piercing win |
dow glass or unfolding themselves in the |
walls and furniture of the hotel. Ii was |
not discovered for several minutes after |
ward that Julian. who died later. had !
been shot, and at first mis- wound was |
though, TO be only trififng.
After the killing Col. Colson ran out
of the hotel. and hurried to the residence |
of Chief of Police Williams, where he sur |
rendered. He was almost exhausted, and
as he entered. the house. gasped: Il am
sorry he would not let me alone. There
were three of them shooting at me-
Meantime the widest excitement pre-
vailed in the hotel lobby where the kill
ing occurred and in the dinng-room near
by. where about 800 guests had been seat
Cd at dinner when the fuSillade began |
Men fell over each other in frantic eff
forts TO get TO places of safety, women
tainted, and il was several minutes be-
fore the awful scope of the tragedy was
fully known The dead We're left lying IN |
pools of blood and messengers were dis |
patched in every direction for physicians
and nurses 10 care for the wounded.
Charles II. Julian, who was shot in he |
leg, died shortly after reaching a room. |
death being due 10 loss of blood and the |
shock TO his nervous system. Capt Gold |
en- was removed To a room, and made a |
statement that Coson was the aggressur
Described by Eyewitness
II L. Ofutt. travelling man. was Just |
coming down the stairway from the bal |
cony above where the shooting began. |
and he tells the most coherent story OF |
any of the excited throng.
Il saw Scott and Golden walking across
the lobby toward the basement stairway. |
and saw them pass Colson who was
standing near the right center of the lob !
by alone. Colson appeared 10 make a re- |
mark OF some kind as Scott stopped and !
turned 10 face him. At the same time
Scott reached for his pistol, and Colson !
did the same. Colson stepping a little 10
w.
marree) sitting in = chair.
The pistols snapped simultaneously, and
and they continued 10 crack like a pack
OF giant irecrackers. The man in the
chair clutched at his left side, rose TO his |
feet, and then collapsed. Julian, who v As |
little TO the left, but between Scott and
Colson, screamed and hobbled away a |
short distance. then fell TO the floor. Col |
den, still al the side Of Scott. started for i
the stairway, then threw his hands back |
and staggered toward the dining-room.
Scott raised his right arm above his head !
ana Win "A LOOK cI PAIN ana fury on his |
face, threw his empty revolver al COIson
and ran for the basement stairway Col /
son followed having meantime. pulled a !
second revolver from his pocket His left !
arm dauglcd limp and bleeding AT lis size
At the head of the stairway he fired TWO
more shots. then turned and walked as
last as ne was able 10 The side entrance
of the hotel, going out the door TO the
street.
So Tar as can be figured out now. Scott
killed Demarree, while Colson was behind |
Three bullets passed through or near
ICmarrse's head CClson killed Scott bur |
Juliaus death may be credited 10 the TWO. |
GoIden's Dying Statement.
Golden tonight made has WILL and saws
he believes he will die He made this |
statement. Il saw Colson pull big PTS |
tot from his pocket and point in our d. !
rection. / turned 10 get away. knowing |
the feeling between the men. As III
turned both began firing. / think the |
first bullet from ColsOB's pistol struck |
me"
Col. Colson, who killed Scott and who I
s. charged wlth the killing OF both De- /
Wa-vee and Julian, and with shooting /
Golden, has long been a prominent figure |
H. kentucky politics. He served two |
terms m Congress. and I'm 1855 accepted .
the cOionelcy 81 the Fourth Kentucky |
Regiment iu the Spanish war. Scott was /
q lieutenant and Golden Was captain OF /
% company iu Coisons regiment, ana /
the trouble which led To the tragedy to- /
day began then
feed spFaHg up between ColsOn and I
scott while the troops We're In camp al 4
AEulst0H. Ala. and "a ls said by Colson /
friends thar Capt. Golden was "A warm I
paTr .sau 81 Scott The trouble between |
Them IA fIsf time ,ttE.r{r.r.F Id. = met J