Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1900-08-03
KILLED BY AN OFFICER.

come Of n fistcuf
Ole man almost instantly killed,
another probably fatally wounded,
policeman beaten and terribly disfigur-
ed and another man so brutally treated
as to be almost unacceptable by his
friends were the train of evils
viii b followed some friction caus-
ed by colloquy, SO it ia
said, over woman of acquir'
ed notoriety and the late tueboat
disaster. The tragedy-and prob
| ably dual one occurred yesterday
evening about quarter to seven o'clock
on the approach TO the Norfolk steam
ers' wharf, at time when the pier was
alive with young and old people who in
summer bic themselves there and to
The neiehboring wharves to enjoy the
cool of the evening. The affair was
one OF the most exciting, the fight last
| ing at least tea minutes before it was
brought to a close by one of the partic-
pants staggering away with a bullet in
us abdomen and finally falling 10 dy'
iug condition and another rolling on
the ground with a ball in his back
which had passed through his right
lung.
The circumstances 10 connection with
| the sad affair are ira <ic in the extreme.
The trouble was of trifiing origin, but
| like 30 many other acts, presumably OF
minor nature, q terrible train of evils
was to follow
From all that can be learned it seems
mat several days ago a man named
George Beard, generally known as
Bunk" Beard, and two broth
ers, Walter aud Robert Posey,
we're together, and during their
intercourse their conversation drifted
on chivalry, and Beard, it is alleged,
| Exploited his esteem for the female sex
by saying he would resent an insult to
d certain woman, whom he named, as
quickly as one to a member of the gen
Ter sex OF blameless character. 1t
Gems that one of the Poseys, who had
| nad some trouble with the woman al
uded to by Beard, took umbrage at
| mis-, and there was an inclination to
Oring on q fight then and there, but ii
Vas frustrated by friends of both pal
leg. A divergence of opinion 10 re-
GARD to the explosion OF the tug TEN
| Jlar also caused some bad blood.
Yesterday evening the three men
net in Mr.. Jacob Brill's saloon, at the
DOT OF King street. All were drinking,
ut apparently in a friendly mood.
The sequel, however, showed they
we're not, as in a few minutes time the
Posey boys were numerically beating
Beard. Mr.. John Donnelly, who was
"A charge of the saloon at the time,
vent TO Boards assistance and eGdeav
red to stop the assault, but his efforts
we're futile, and Mr.. John Padgett, al
ne ferry wharf opposite. WAS asked to
telephone to the station house for an
otiicer. Mr.. Atkinson was the only Of
ticer at the station house at the time
.nd could not leave. He telephoned
70 Mayor Simpson for instructions and
ne latter told him to repair to the
-cene of the disorder, as he would leave
lis store and take chrrge of the station
louise himself during his absence. Mr.
Atkinson procured his baton a0d went
! on a double. quick towards the scene
# the ARRAY. Before the officer reach
d the saloon the trio had left, the
Poseys in the meantime going toward
the Norfolk steamers wharf. Mr.. A.
kinson went up TO Walter Posey, who
was in front of the Office of the steam
ers, on the approach to the wharf,
and putting his hand upon him said,
Consider yourself under arrest. E"
Posey was in an ugly humor and show
ID no inclination to go with the officer,
and his brother, Robert Posey, running
| up in the meantime attacked Mr.. At
| glnsoD in vicious manner. A sort OF
triangular conflict followed, Walter
Posey having grappled with the officer,
choking him numerically, while Rob-
ert was hitting and kicking the OIL
Ger. At this juncture Messrs. Wm.
| Wattles and VIM. Roberts endeavored
20 quiet the Poseys, and Walter, who
was still hanging to Mr.. Atkinso
signitied his desire to desist. Robert,
however, was in a more bellicose mood
and, with an imprecation, renewed the
attack on Atkinson. The would-bs
peacemakers were forced aside and
he fight was resumed with increased
ieroclty, Robert striking and kicking,
| first in front of the officer and then al
uis back. The scene then became very
exciting, the trio being at a white heat.
| Walter Posey hung with the tenacily
| Of a bulldog to the officer, using his
eeth on Mr.. Atkinson's cheek and
hands with terrible effect, while with
one of his hands be was en-
ieayorng to choke him toto insensi.
bility. Robert Posey was making equal
vicious assaults which MIR. Atkinson
vas unable to check while the other
brother was hanging to him. At this
time Mr.. Atkinson's strength was al
most spent, blood was streaming down
nis cheeks, he was nearly black 10 the
face, while the kicks he was receiving
10 the abdomen from Robert PJs,y
we're sckening. The hapless officer
cried piteously for help while engaged
10 such an unequal struggle, which had
been going on for ten minutes, but no
one responded, Notwithstanding mum
oers were witnessing the scene appar-
eotIy as unconcerned as spectators OF
tragedies 10 the Colosseum of old. Mr..
Atkinson, in his desperation, was tug
giDg at his pistol, his baton having
oeen wrenched from him, and he final
~ got it from his pocket, and managed
to bring it to bear upon Robert Posey
who was in the act of making another
plunge at him. The officer pulled the
trigger, sharp report rang out and the
elder Posey staggered away with his
hand on his abdomen and terrible
look of anguish in his face. He walk
cd about fifteen feet in sort of serpen