Evening star., 1900-12-24

know that while Mcdonald was disbursing
clerk Mr. Morris had told the witness about
Mcdonald being intoxicated and about the
way In which he left his business. AS he
recollected Morris had told the witness
that he would recommend his dismissal So
far as the witness could see, Mcdonald
showed no signs of having been drinking
when he arrived at the Winder building
Saturday afternoon. He had seen him wlel
he could detect the effects of drinking in
his yoice.
had talked to the witness about the condi
ton of his affairs. Mr.. Morris had told
him that Mcdonald had come in the office
intoxicated and then went away. A COM
mittee from the Treasury Department au-
thorized to examine any disbursing officer S
accounts had come to that office and Me
Donald not being there, they sealed re
safe up and told the watchman to let no one
go near it. The result was that Mr.. NC
Donald was dismissed after the eXanlnI-
ton was made.
Statement of Clerk.
Mr. Lurtin r. McGinn, clerk in the au-
ditor's office. told of hearing scuftling
nose in the auditors room, which adJoned
he room in which his desk was located
He heard the scuffiing and the firing OF a
shot. When he heard the commotion he
iumped and started toward the auditors
room hut before he reached the door two
men the auditor and Mcdonald, appeared
one shot was fred while they struggled in
the doorway. The auditor had come INTO
his room backward. Mcdonald dragged the
auditor back into his room and another shot
was fired. When the witness reached the
doorway Mcdonald had Mr.. Morris PACK 10
his desk. He could see the pistol pelns
held to the auditors breast by McDonaiu'
and when that shot was fired Morris sank
down on his desk. At once Mcdonald
turned the pistol toward himself and fired'
The witness lifted the body OF Mr.. MOTIFS,
but the only sound he could distinguish was
a gurgling in his throat. The room theh
became filled with people.
Policemen Testify.
Sergeant Daniel Sullivan and Officer Chas.
A Evans, who took charge OF Mcdonald
after the tragedy. both testlned. Ihes
were both walking up 17th street and hau
reached Pennsylvania avenue man
came up the street. screaming Muroer.
They went back toward the Winder puiid-
ing where there was great crowd. MY
Donald was sitting at the curb near the
entrance to the Winder building. piston
in his right hand and knife in MS ielt'
officer Evans took the pistol and the ser
geant took the knife: AS tney Ieeen' .,a eu
these weapons from him Mcdonald saiu'
II will go. | did it. l am done 1or.
Dover Davis. an aged colored messenger
in the auditors Office gave his evidence III
q few words. He had seen nothing, out
heard the scuffiing and the pistol shots
from the adjoining room. and candldly au-
mitted that he made no attempt 10 get 'n
the auditors room, as the shot were nylhs
too thickIy. He didn't get out OF the room
he was in but that was only because he
could not do it.
Hanson E. Weaver, an employe of the
auditors office. testified to nearing tne
shots fired, and he went toward the audi
tors room. AS he entered bullet struck
the jamb of the door and at first he
thought he himself had been shot.
He was satisfied that it was not fired at
him. But he had a narrow escape.
The jury was not out over ten minutes
iefore they rendered the following verdict:
Frank H. Morris came to his death at
the Winder building, December %. 1900, be-
tween the hours of and 3 pm. from
gunshot wound of the aorta. the gun being
held in the hand of Samuel Mcdonald. We,
the jury hold said Mcdonald for the grand
jury.
Mcdonald Anxious to Die.
After the tragedy Saturday afternoon
Mcdonald was taken to the Emergency
Hospital, where his wounds were attended
to. He objected to the efforts of the ply
sicians to revive him, saying he wanted
and expected to die. A watch was set over
him. and since his wounds were dressed an
officer of the police force has been con-
stantly at his side. There has been a strong
feeling that Mcdonald would attempt to
kill himself by tearing his wounds open. so
that the least move he has made has been
taken alarm by the officer al his side.
After his wounds were dressed last even
ing he was given some wine, and after five
or ten minutes he vonlited. He was anx-
ious to know whether he had vomited
blood, and when told that it only the
wine he had taken he seemed depressed
and disappointed.
Later, he vomited again and then he spoke
up uwh animation, saying he knew that
was blood he could taste 1t. The officer
told him he right.
Mcdonald seemed to be confident that
he fact that he had vomited blood indicated
wound that would result fatally. He said
he 1jcrbt EHa ,,r1a of l,,, -
satisfied 1t would be no longer, and he ex-
pressed the hope that he would not be mis-
taken. The officer on watch asked him IL
he wanted a priest or a preacher called to
him. Mcdonald said he did not. and
added that he was materiaist and didn't
believe In any hereafter. He said min
lister would only bore him, and that he was
ready to go at once.
Damn that DOCTOR" he said once when
he began to fear that he was improving
He said If the doctors had left him alone
he would have gotten along all right and
would have died in half an hour.
Suffers Extreme Pain.
Later in the evening he suffered severe
pain and would cry out. as if in extreme
agony: MY God! My God"' He told the
officer that he hoped he would hear that
he (McDonald) was dead when he arose the
succeeding morning.
Il have one request to make Of you," he
said to one of the officers. II want my
body taken to Lees undertaking establish
ment and cremated." He was told that
that would be attended to.
AT one time last night the physicians
thought Mcdonald might die before morn
.ng. but this morning his condition was
such that they considered there was hope.
though slight, of his recovery. At 2:3O
o'clock this afternoon his condition was un-
changed. While there is a chance for life,
it is entirely probable that he will not live
more than twentyfour hours.
There is one phase of McDonald's rela-
tons with the office of auditor for the War
Department that is not generally known.
At the time he had his accounts examined
oy comrnittee from the Treasury Depart
nent he was, it Is understood, found to be
short in his accounts to the extent of
81 ,otO
some or the money was accounted for by
slips showing that advances had been made
to employees In the office, but the absence
If about 5000 could be explained in no way
No one suspected Mcdonald of any dis
honesty. They regarded the irregularity in
his accounts as the result of carelessress
The shortage was made good and McDon-
aid was dismissed.
Some time after that, when the new dis
bursting officer had taken charge of the
books and the safe in which the casl was