The Washington times., 1901-07-01
DEAD FROM A WILD BULLET.
A Young COlored Girl Accidentally
Shot in an Alley Fracas.
She Succumbs shortly Afterward
During Hospital Operation - A
Reward of 500 offered by the PO-
lice for the AssaiInnt's Capture.


While engaged in a fight in O'Brfen's
Court shortly after 9 o'clock last night,
William Snowden, colored. a well known
criminal who was released but a short
time ago from Moundsville penitentiary
where he served three years for assault
with intent to kill, accidentally shot in
the abdomen Florence Marshall, a nine
year-oid colored girl. The grl was re-
moved to the Emergency Hospital in the
Third precinct ambulahce, and DIR. Vaughn,
chief surgeon of that Institution, per-
formed an operation, assisted by Drs.
Bargonie and Stuart, 5utSthe patient died
while undergoing the ord4a1
The shooting created interse excitement
among the negro residents of OBriens
Snowden bore. He had been drinking
heavily during the day, lit is said, and
last night attempted to eject Mamie Da-
Wis, colored woman, from his house. 5
OBriens Court. The woman resisted,
whereupon Snowden went outside and,
standing upon the front steps, drew
revolver from his pocket. saying that
he intended to kill the Davis woman, who
was leaning out the window pareying
with him. His actions were such that
large crowd, among whom was the Mar
shall girl. gathered. She stood directly
behind the infuriated man. Slowly Snow
den pulled the revolver from his pocket
and throwing it up into the air pulled
the trigger, but the bullet, instead of strik-
ing his intended victim fatally injured
Florence Marshall. Witnesses of the af-
fair, whom Lieutenant Boyle, of the Third
precinct, has summoned to testify in
court, state that Snewden pulled the trig-
ger while the revolver was pointed toward
the crewd in his rear
Seeing the child fall and hearing her
cries for help, the crowd made a break
in her direction, whereupon Snewden is
SAID to have run down O Brien'S Court in
the direction of the White Lot grounds.
still hourishing his weapon. A relative
OF the dying girl ran to the House of
detention. on Eighteenth Street just two
blocks from where the shooting occurred.
and told Policeman Houghian, who i'm
mediately notified the Third precinct In
few minutes the patrol wagon of the
Third precinct galloped down the street
with reserves, under command of Ser
geant Judge. The injured girl was placed
IN The wagon and driven rapidly to the
Emergency Hospital. Drs. Stuart and
BarSonie, realizing that the only thing
that would prolong her life would be an
operation, at once consulted DIR. Vaughn.
the chief surgeon, and the operation was
soon under way. For time it was
thought the girl would survive, but her
pulse suddenly began to weaken and in
few minutes she died. Her body was
placed in the morgue and Coroner hewitt
notified.
Realizing the desperates character of
SnoWden, the Third precinct officials,
working under the direction Of Lieuten-
ant Boyle, of that station, together with
Sergeant Shilling and a-detail of men
from the First precinct, made a thorough
search of the Monument Grounds. think
ing that Snowden, in the condition that
IL was said he was, might possibly have
gone into the bushes aid laid dewn. But
up to an early hour this morning their
search was of no avail.
Immediately after the Marshall girls
death had been reported to the police
by DIR. Stuart, Major Sylvester who
had been informed of the mans escape
by Sergeant Carter. of Detective Head
quarters, at once notified the sergeant
to announce 500 reward for Suowden's
capture 7E
Lieutenant Boyle, acco1apanied by Ser
geant Sullivan, of the Third precinct,
last night at midnight secured a carriage
and drove out to Berwyn, Nd, where II
is said Sno~den has relatives. in hopes
Of locating him there. Every police sta
ton in the city was notified, and a
close watch was kept over all rail-
road stations by the detectives from
Headquarters while the country roads
We're closely watched sby the mounted
police in the county. Snowden was cap
tured about 2:S0 this morning by. Police
man J. A Foley, at Langdon. -
Mamie Davis, the colored woman whom
it is said Snowden tried to kill. was
locked up at the Third precinct last night
by Policeman Owens, charged with dis
orderly conduct. in order that the police
might have her at hand when the case
is brought into the courts.