The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-16
SHROUDED IN MYSTERY
Albert johnson Fatally Assaulted
at Cabin John Bridge.
Leaves Il Friend for Moment and
Is Carried Hack in Dying Condi-
tion-A Terrible Blow Supposed TO
Have Been Dealt with u Black
iacls-NO CIew to the Guilty Party.

Albert johnson, twenty-nine years of
age, plumber in the employ of the Dis
trict government. is dying at the George
town University Hospital as the result
of an assault committed at Cabin John
Bridge last night about O'Clock. Mys-
terry surrounds the probable murder. and
details Of the crime are missing. johnson )
assailant is unknown, and made good his
escape The dying man was struck with
blackjack, or similar weapon.
Accompanied by James L. Greer. a life
long friend, johnson went to the bridge
shortly after 4 o'clock yesterday after
noon. He met a number of friends on the
way, and, after a chat with several parties,
entered the hotel at the bridge, with
Greer. More than an hour was spent by
the two men about the building. as was
considerable time out on the grounds.
For brief period Johnson and Greer
were separated, but shortly before 9
o'clock they met near the hotel and agreed
to return to the city. The men walked
across the bridge and started to meet
car which was about to leave for the city.
AS Johnson boarded the car he said he
wanted some peanuts, and shouting to
Greer to remain on the car he retraced
his steps some distance toward a stand
at the end of the bridge Near the stand
planned manner trouble arose between
Johnson and several young men, none of
whom is known Accounts of a scuflle
which followed differ widely, but John
son received n blow at the base of the
skull, which was fractured for some dis
tance toward the vault of the head He
was picked up unconscious by bystanders
and placed upon the car on which Greer
was passenger. Greer saw Johnson be-
Il
friends face had undergone such a change
that he did not recognize him.
AS the car on the Great Falls Railway
reached Georgetown, the police patrol drew
up at the platform and the injured man
was hurried to the Georgetown University
Hospital. Greer, in leaving the car, says
he recognized his. friends clothing and he
went TO tie hospital with the patrol wagon.
1t was seen that johnson had received
a fatal blow and he was placed in ward
to await the inevitable. DR.. Vaughn, Chief
of Staff Of the hospital, and DR.. McNamee.
the resident physician, examined the pa
tinet. but little could be done for him
News of the affair was taken by the police
to the family of the dying man at 1l2 f
street northwest. and Sergeant sullivan.
of the Third precinct station, a brother-in-
law of johnson, went to the hospital to
remain throughout the night.
prominent officer OF the District Ma
tional Guard, who witnessed part of the
trouble was seen by reporter for The
Times. In a statement he said: Il was
at Cabin John Bridge last evening with
several ladies, including my wife. 1t was
about O'Clock when We started home,
and shortly before that hour we reached
the east end OF the bridge. 4 crowd of
dozen young men had collected near the
bridge. and | noticed commotion among
them. II appeared that several OF the men
were attacking 4 young man rather un-
dersized. and demonstrated with one OF
them. Scarcely had | finished speaking
when blows passed freely between two OF
the men, and Johnson turned. ran several
yards toward the bridge and fell, appar-
emily unconscious. In the commotion 1t
was impossible to locate the assailaAt.
who. l think. boarded a car and came
to the city. ] am convinced the man re-
sponsibie for the blow was rather short,
but cannot give a satisfactory descrip-
ton
A reporter saw James Z. Greer at the
Georgetown Hospital. He said: Il did
not see the blow struck and did not Know
johnson was injured until reaching George
town. Then ! accompanied him to the hos
pital. We went to the bridge together"
Mr. Greer lives at 1909 l. Street northwest
Another friend of the injured man wit
messed the tight. Johnson, he said, was
struck by a large man.
The utmost efforts OF the police last
night to identity Johnson's assailant. or
secure a satisfactory description of him
resulted in failure. II Is expected the
Montgomery County authorities Will today
take up the matter with the local po'ice.