Evening star., 1900-03-28
ALEXANDRIA AFFAIRS
-T
Investigation Regarding the Death Of
Thomas Bryant
FRANK PAYNE HELD RESPONSIBLE
Testimony Given Today Before the
Coroner's Jury.
GENERAL; AND PERSONAL
Evening Star Bureau.
No. To1 King Street.
Bell Telephone No. lOS.


Bell Telephone No. 1O6
ALEXANDRIA, Va, March 2S, 1900.
Circumstances attending the death of
Thomas Bryant, colored, who was shot
about o'clock last night near the intersec-
ton of Prince and Patrick streets by an
ether colored man named Frank, alias
"Nooks'' Payne. were investigated at 1880
o'clock this morning by coroner's jury,
summoned by DR.. William r. Purvis, city
coroner. The jury met at the undertaking
rooms of Messrs. Domaine & Sons on
Upper King street, where the remains OF
the unfortunate man were taken Immediate
ly after he had breathed his last. The jury
consisted of Messrs. VIM. L. Allen, H. d.
Ashton, Edgar Warfie!d, jr., George Bryan,
c. J. w. Summers and ]. Fred Birreli Mr.
George Bryan was made foreman.
DIR. Martin Delaney, who, with DR.. Pur-
Wis, conducted the post-mortem eXamina-
ton, testified to the condition of the
body. He stated that there was one bullet
wound in the left lumbar region of the alb
dominal cavity just below the last ribs.
The left kidney was punctured and death
was probably caused by rupture OF the
renal artery. DR.. Delaney also told or
having heard several shots about o'clock
last night and of finding Bryant in a dying
condition in alley bounded by Duke,
Prince, Alfred and Patrick streets. Efforts
were made by hypodermic injections to
save the life of the wounded man, but ne
was beyond human aid, dying in about one
half hour.
Edward Meade gave testimony relating to
the shooting. He stated that he had heard
three shots fired before he saw the parties
to the shooting. Then he saw a man, whom
he took later to be Frank Payne, pursuing
some one who ran into side alley. After
Mr.. Meade caught sight of the men ne saw
the pUrSuer fire two ShotS. The remainder
of his testimony relating to the death scene
was traversed by DR.. Delaney.
Saw the Shooting.
Edward Ware coiored, was next called.
lie testified to having been with Bryant and
Payne the afternoon before the shooting oc-
CURED. The three, he stated, with another
colored man named Rhody Arlington, were
engaged in game of cards at the saloon
of William Wade, corner of Wolf and CO.
lumbus streets. Trouble arose over the
cards. he stated, and Payne and Bryant
grabbed their money and separated. The
sum of cents was involved. Bryant, the
witness stated, then went to friend and
secured revolver. When he next saw
Bryant, Ware stated. he was running from
Payne. Witness saw Payne fire at the re-
treating form of the unfortunate man, and
heard the latter exclaim Don't shoot me-"
A newspaper man gave evidence concern
ing statements made by the prisoner after
his confinement at the station house. Wit
ness stated that Payne had admitted doing
the shooting, but said 1t was done in self
defense. Payne exhibited to the witness a
small scar in the right abdominal region
which he said had been inflicted by a ball
fired at him by Bryant. He also showed
holes in his pants and underclothing, where
according to his story the bullet had
passed. Witness said the scar was very
small, and there was only sprinkling of
blood on the clothes. sr
Several other witnesses were examined.
and the jury returned verdict that
RrVa fn 6.sot /, hSy
a bullet wound inflicted by Frank Payne
with malicious intent.
After the coroner's inquest Frank PAYNE
Dennis Carter, Louis Darlington and Ed
ward Ware were given preliminary hear
ing before Mayor Simpson. Several wit
nesses were examined. After hearing the
evidence the mayor held Payne on a
Charge Of murder and Carter and Caring
ton for the grand jury on a charge of being
accessories to the murder. Ware was re-
leased.
large crowd gathered around the
wounded man soon after the shooting last
night Officer Atkinson was the first po-
liceman to arrive. He put a colored man
named Louis Darlington, who acted suspi-
ciously. under arrest. Officer Arlington,
ascertaining that Payne was the man who
did the shooting, went after him and in a
short while had him behind the bars. Later
on Officers Roberts and Beach arrested
Dennis Carter. colored, for connection with
| the trouble between Payne and Bryant.
| Aobbc 5uTTOunuS FutsltlVes
| Morris Carroll. the negro who escaped
| yesterday from the Alexandria county jail
on Fort Myer Heights, by knocking dowr
| Jailor Fox, as reported in The Star, is be
lieved by the county officers to be hiding
| still In the recesses of an almost inacces
| sible swamp in the lower part of Arlington
| reservation. near what is known as the
| red gate"
| Constables and specially deputized officers
| are stationed at points of vantage on the
| borders of the swamp so that If the f,lgi
| tive did seek shelter where the officers o
the law have supposed he did his ultimate
capture is assured
Sheriff Palmer and the officers with hin
| declare that a better place for hiding coul(
hardly be imagined. Heavy woods ant
| thick underground cover the ground ant
the marshy nature of the soil adds great,
to the obstacles encountered by the search
ing party. Another fact which, it /
thought, has been in favor of the fugitfv
Is that the region surrounding the swami
is thickly settled with a colored population
| Queen City, a well known colored hamlet 1
not far distant.
| Carroll is supposed to have friends in thi
place who would be willing to assist hiu
in many ways. This fact has not bee
| overlooked by Sheriff Palmer. and severa
| officers are now posted about Queen City
! Any effort to reach the prisoner with food
should his Judgement in the marsh b
known to his friends outside, would be de
|
The Information which led to the belle
that Carroll had found refuge in this plac
was furnished by man at Arlington, VIII,
told the sheriff that he had seen the es
capped prisoner running toward the swamp
At one time shortly after the tract wal
surrounded it was thought that Carol
would be found WITHOUT difficulty But tn,
search progressed and night wore away
without the desired result. The poss,
which Sheriff Palmer. and Deputy Sheriff
Graham hurriedly summoned consisted o.
about forty -nen. This force was divided
into squads Of five or six. each being thu.
enabled to scoIr large extent of terri
tory. Many Of the men, however, were al.
lowed to return to their homes in the night
leaving a sufficient number to Illustrate any
attempt which the fugitive might make tc
break out Of the swamp. This morning the
sheriff's posse was increased again and the
search fo- Carroll will be pushed with
vigor. AS before stated. he has been con-
victed of highway robbery and condemned
to serve term of eight years in the state
Ipenitentiary. Ioj
The county authorities have been notified
Of the arrest Of George Riggs. the other
colored prisoner who broke Jail with Car
roll, Riggs was Capturad near his hoYne In