Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-01
ON CHARGE OF MURDER
WIN. SNOwDEN, COLORED, PLACED
BEHIND THE BARS.
Admits Having Caused Death Of q
Child, but Declares 1t Was
Accidental.

w lll1aH SUOWueU, SOlOEcu, Hits sediS Oio,
who returned from the Trenton, N. J..
penitentiary in October, 1899, after serving
a sentence of two years for attempted muir
der, was locked up at an early hour this
morning on a charge of murder. He shot
and killed Florence Marshall, colored nine
years old, in O'Brien's court northwest,
about o o'clock last night. The bullet. the
police allege, was intended for Mamie
Davis, while the prisoner claims he made
no effort to shoot the woman. He says he
fired the shot for the purpose of frightening
her and to make her keep quiet.
O'Brien's court, the scene of the fatal
shooting, is between Goth and 21st and E
and streets northwest. Most Of the
houses in the court are occupied by colored
people. Part Of house No. was occupied
by Snowden. and relatives of his also occu-
pied rooms In the structure. A half -broth-
er, Charles Mackall, was one Of the rela-
tives, and Mamie Davis, it is stated, was
In the house as his guest. Sunday was evil
IDENTIFY not much in reverence. as the occu-
pants had not refrained from indulging in
tntoXicants. Snowden had imbibed freely
at Jackson City during the day, and he may
have repeated his libations later in the
day when he went fishing with Stewart
Marshall, brother Of the child whom he
killed after his return from the fishing trip
Mamie Davis, it is alleged, was boisterous
and profane. and Snowden, who was tired
dltcT HIS Udy outing, ADVISED nor TO Keep
quiet. His advice was repeated a number
OF times, and then he drew his revolver to
hre. Several persons were standing in the
alley at the time, expecting a fight, among
them being the little girl. Snowden drew
the weapon from his hip pocket and it was
discharged from behind him. The little girl
received the bullet in her abdomen and at
once relapsed into Inconsistencies.
Makes His Escape.
The colored man who had fired the shot
walked quietly away, being followed. 1t Is
stated. by Stewart Marshall, but no one
made outcry. A message was sent to
the house Of detention notifying Policeman
Houghlan of the affair, and he transmitted
the Information to headquarters and the
third precinct.
The fatally injured girl was hurried to the
Emergency Hospital, where she died while
undergoing an operation. Meanwhile the
police and detectives were securing the city
and country for Snowden. kilograms were
sent to different cities and a reward of 500
was offered for his apprehension. Lieut..
Boyle took charge Of the investigation so
far as the precinct was concerned, while
Maj Sylvester and Capt. Boardman directed
the movements of the detectives. Several
members of the force were summoned from
their homes and sent out to assist in the
search.
1t was ascertained that the mans mother
was employed near Langdon, where a
brother of his also worked. Many officers
were soon on their way to Langdon and
the county was thoroughly searched. Ser
geants Kraemer and Hartman and Police
men Morris, Knupfer, Foley, QUAIL ana
Mansfield We're among those who reached
Langdon about 30 o'clock. Policeman Nor
rs found a colored man asleep on a bench
in the rear of brick yard. He aroused
the sleeper and inquired Of him what was
his name. The colored man gave fic-
titious name and added: IF m hobo from
Baltimore
HE aynlanat ion was not the kind Cf a
one to satisfy the officer, for his descrip-
ton was that of the man who was so badly
wanted.
YOU may be from Baltimore" the officer
said to him, but you'll have to come with
me-"
Confesses His Identity.
Sergeants Hartman and Kraemer looked
the prisoner over and the latter soon after
ward admitted his identity
Il didn't intend to shoot anybody"
Snowden said. He explained that he had
made an effort to quiet the woman, and
when he failed he thought he would dis
charge his weapon and brighten her. After
firing the shot, Snowden told the officers,
he went in the house, and the first he
knew of having shot anybody was when he
heard some one say:
My God, he's shot girl
Snowden said he left the weapon
table in the house and then went out, max
Ing early start for Langdon. He was
returned to the city and locked up at the
ninth precinct. Coroner hewitt Investigate
ed the case and decided he would hold
inquest at IL o'clock tomorrow morning at
the sixth precinct station.
William Snowden is we'll known in police
circles, having been arrested a number Of
times. He has served two terms in states
prison. the police say, for alleged murder
Gus assaults. and has been arrested on
minor charges The records of the police
department show that William Snowden
left here the 18th of October, 1893, to serve
five years at Albany for assault on Single
ton l.. Cooper, now a member of the police
force. who at the time the assault was
committed in charge Of herdic. He
had not been home very long before re-
volver got him into trouble again His
two experiences in states prison did not
cure him of the habit of carrying a pistol.
for he was arrested only a few weeks ago
on the charge of having weapon conceal
ed upon his person. The charge was dis
missed when he was tried in the Police
Court. and his personal bonds We're taken
on a charge Of reckless shooting. Snow
denis picture is already in the gallery at
police headquarters. Tomorrow he will be
present at the inquest.