Evening star., 1901-10-04
York Nelson Charged With Killing
Charles Washington.
RESULT OF CORONER'S INVESTIGATION
Evidence Given by Witnesses of
the Fatal Affray.
WOMAN IN TIL e CA E

Ork NSiSOU, COiOTet, "HO StdDpco
Charles ;, ashington also colored. In front
OF John Adams oyster saloon, No. 910 26th
street northwest, Wednesday night, from
the effects of which he died about thirty
minutes later. as published In yesterdays
Star, appeared before jury Of inquest at
the sixth precinct station this afternoon.
nelson has been employed as a stereo-
typers helper in local establishment and
those who knew him expressed surprise
when they heard he lad figured in fatal
conflict. The prisoner was represented by
Attorney Laskey. while Assistant District
Attorney Semmes was present for the gov
eminent.
Several witnesses were examined and the
jury returned a verdict holding Nelson for
the action of the grand jury.
The First Witness.
The first witness examined was Charles
Slaughter, a young colored man who lives
at DOS I street northwest. He testified
that he waited on Nelson in John Adams
oyster saloon Wednesday night, and then
Went to the front door, where he met
Charles Washington. They talked of the
rain and witness then went to the kitchen
and resumed his duties A short time
afterward he was called from the kitchen
and Charles Washington said to him. "Im
shot" Witness told him he was not shot
and laughed at him.
Presently" he said, II heard Washing
ton fall
Where is the place referred to-" the
witness was asked.
'tAt 80 26th street. he answered. John
Adams is proprietor. Mr.. Adams went to
the theater that night"
Witness said he heard no words be-
tween Washington and Nelson, but another
man told him they had had a quarrel.
Slaughter said he returned to the dining
room when Washington fell and somebody
said he had been cut
"A woman, Annie the witness said,
late a plate of oysters with Nelson. I
thought she was his wife until this trouble
happened"
said, at the time Washington fell.
Did you know Washington" asked
juror.
Yes indeed" the witness responded
What kind of man he?"
The coroner objected to the last question,
saying he thought it was unnecessary to
show the character of Washington.
Heard Talk of Fighting.
Robert Ellis, colored, oslo H street north
west, testified that when he entered the
dining room Wednesday night several per-
sons, males and females, were seated at
the tables. Nelson was standing at the
door. Washington was talking to Nelson
about fighting. The woman who was with
Nelson tried to get Washington to go back.
The men walked two doors from the dining
room and Washington struck Nelson,
knocking him against a picket fence. He
saw Nelson strike at Washington, but he
had no idea the latter had been cut until he
entered the dining ROOM Washington then
exclaimed, witness said, that he had been
shot. Rain was falling and the night was
SO dark that he could not tell if Nelson
had weapon in his hand.
What did the woman do?" the coroner
asked
She tried to get Washington to come
back the witness answered, but he kept
going and was talking about fighting"
Questioned by Mr.. Laskey the witness said
he heard Nelson say nothing about lighting.
He was certain Washington struck the first
blow
Nelson was going on up the street at
tending to his own business, the witness
stated, and Washington, who was angry,
followed him.
Heard a Threat.
Edward Bonner. colored. living in Sumner
court, testified that he was in John Adams
place Wednesday night waiting for the rain
to cease Nelson and his female compan-
ion were in the restaurant eating oysters.
When they got up to leave witness heard
the face" Washington followed Nelson
from the place and witness saw him knock
Nelson against fence. He did not see
Nelson strike Washington. Witness heard
Washington speak to the woman while she
was in the oyster saloon.
Bonner said he had known Washington
since he boy, but he never kept COM
pany with him. When the wounded man
returned to the dining room he said he
had been shot.
Annie Green. colored, 1918 Kings court
northwest, testified that she went to Ad-
ans dining room with Nelson Wednesday
night and had oysters. While they were
in there there was conversation about
the rain, and one man remarked: Its
hard enough to sink cork" No angry
words were spoken, and witness antci-
pated no trouble. She was first to leave
the place and Nelson followed in short
time. Witness said that Washington was
always known a "teaser." She knew OF
no trouble between the men since last
summer when Nelson loaned Washington
some money and did not get 1t back. Mel
son, she said, lives in the house where she
lives. She denied that she said anything
to Washington.
Witness said she saw no blows pass be-
tween the men, When Nelson overlook her
he had his hat in his hand She did not see
him put anything in his pocket. Nelson
said nothing to her about the trouble while
on their way home.
Indication of Strength and Activity.
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook said the body
of the deceased indicated that he had been
a strong and active young man. Witness
said when he examined the body he found
surgeons wound in the left breast, and
DR.. Vaughan, who had performed the op-
Grafton, explained to him the location of the
Il
rib was cut He found a wound two and
| one-half inches In the covering of the heart
and this wound had been sewed up by the
surgeon.
| Witness further described the injury to
| the heart and told the jury that the wound
was necessarily fatal unless an operation
had been performed before much blood had
been lost. Death resulted from the loss of
blood.
| Particulars Of the Arrest.
| Bicycle Policeman Cover OF the third
precinct testified that when the case was
| reported to him he telephoned for the am
bulance. Upon reaching the oyster saloon
he found the wounded man lying on the
| floor with his parents standing over him.
| Witness tore off the mans shirt and was
told that '.Yorky" had done the cutting.
He then informed headquarters of the ar
| fair and went in search OF Nelson, finding
him at 101S Kings court. Nelson was nut
| ting on his coat.
When 1 entered / said. I want York
| ey. the officer told the jury. land Mel
son said He amt here.'"
Witness related to the jury the state
ment made by the prisoner in which he
claimed that Washington said something
about Annie Green. This. he said. WASH
| fpp nvad hy