The evening times., 1900-10-08
GRAY TO BE HELD.
Verdict of the Coroner's Jury in tn,
Champion Murder Case.

Champion Murder Case.
Harry G. Gray, who was arrested charg-
ed with the murder of Rasen Oliver
Champion, better known as "Dec'' Cramp-
ton, in Georgetown. last Saturday, will be
held for the grand jury on the same charge
That was the recommendation made in the
verdict of the Coroner's jury at the close
of the inquest held this morning. al II
o'clock at the Sixth precinct stationhouse.
A number Of witnesses were examined
before a jury consisting of the following
persons: James NJ. Walsh, j. H. Justice
]. T. Garner. George Jefferson, w. B.
Moore. and James Mckee. The following
verdict was returned shortly after the jury
had retired:
r. O.. Champion came to his death about
1890 or L o'clock o. M, October 6. 1860,
on or near the River Road. above George
town. D. c., from bullet wound caused
by the discharge of a pistol In the hands
OF Harry c. Gray. We recommend there
for, that he be held for the grand jury. -
The inquest began promptly at IL O'Clock
and those who had been summoned to ap-
pear as jurors were sworn over the body
The prisoner, young man with darE hair
and eyes, was brought into the room and
listened unmoyed to the testimony Mrs.
Crampton, widow of the murdered man.
was the chief witness called and was ex-
amined at length
Evidence somewhat at variance with
hers was given by witnesses that followed
her She appeared reluctant to acknowI-
edge that her husband was jealous and
that the jealousy was caused by gossip
connecting her name with that of Gray.
She said that though her husband
had spoken to her in anger about
1t but once she knew that he was Jealous
Assistant Coroner Glazebrook made the
report OF the autopsy that had been held
on the body of Champion which showed
that a bullet had entered the body below
the right breast, passed through the liver
and right kidney, badly Iacerating the lat
ter, and lodged in the spinal canal Hem
orrhage, the result of this wound caused
death. There were two other light wounds
one OF which was caused by something
other than bullet
Mrs. Champion, who has been held since
the murder at the House of Detention. was
released. The body Will be taken care OF
by friends.
Mrs. Champion testified that her full
name was Mamie Dora Crampton and
that she had been married to Rasen Oil
ycr Champion for over twelve wears ami
that she lad known the prisoner (G-avl
Tor nearly as long. She said that on Ia st
Saturday she left her home, On Fowler s
Hill. to look for her CHI who had
stFayed away from home said she
went down TO the River Road ard there
met Cray, with whom she stoned and
talked for about five minutes. Then
according to her statement, she left him
and went down the read returning a
snort time later. when she again st-poed
TO talk. During this latter eonve-gst on
she said, her husband approached them
and began to curse Gray, who retreatcd
and then Champion threw missiles at
him. one of which knocked of his hat.
She said that she had started up the
hilI by this time, and heard pistol st ts.
but did not turn back nor G.. she know
that her husband was injured till an of
ncer told her at her home an hour later.
She said that her husband had spoken
angriiy to- her about Gray cnca while
drunk. and that ne was Jealous OF her.
but for what reason she did not know.
she further said that Gray had been al
her home number Of times.
Lucy Rivers. colored woman who
lives in Georgetown, testified that she
had seen Mrs. Champion Saturday morn
ing, but did not speak TO her. She sa d.
however, that she was On the River Road
ABOUT an hour later, when she saw Mrs
Champion come down the hillside out
OF the bushes putting on her hat A
man was sitting there
Coroner Nevitt at this juncture asked
her to look around the room and see if
she could recognize the man amcng those
present She looked at all including
Gray, but indicated none as the man
she had seen on Saturday. She SAID thai
after this she started toward George
town, and while on the way there heard
two pistol shots, but did not turn ba ck
because she was afraid
John Heath. of 500 Seventh Street south
| west, testified that between the hours OF
u: SO and I O'Clock p. N, Saturday he was
walking up the River Road when he heard
noise at the side OF the road that sound
ed like man snoring. He investigated
and there found CHAMPION whom ne had
formerly employed and whom he knew only
| by the name of Doe He sent two small
| boys and 4 negro in search of a policeman
/ and said that when he found the man he
/ was alive, but that he was dead when the
| ambulance arrived.
| Policeman Samuel Burroughs, OF the
! Seventh Precinct Station, testified that ht
| had arrested Gray at Seven Locks ant
| had taken him to the stationhouse
| IN Georgetown. He testified that GRAY
| had admitted he had had trouble
/ with CHAMPION and had had his fin.
ger injured while attempting 10 defend
| himself Policeman Edwards said that
| when he arrived on the scene of the shoot
! ing he found upon examination a place OIL
| the hillside where the bushes had beer
| beaten down and where the footprints Of Z
man and a woman were plainly visible il
| This concluded the testimony and the jur.
|