Evening star., 1901-05-06
FOR ACTION OF GRAND JURY
WALTER 4. BARFxLEY HELD RY Or
DER OF CORONER.
Admits Having Struck Charles j.
kuhnert. Whose Death Followed
John E. ROby Released.

Kuhnert. Whose Death Followed
john E. Roby Released.
Charles J. kuhnert the brass worker
who was so seriously injured a week ago
Saturday night while engaged in row in
front of George w Linkins' saloon, corner
of 1st and G streets southeast, as published
in The Star at the time. died at Providence
Hospital about 3:i5 o'clock Saturday after
noon. The body was removed from the
hospital to the undertaking establishment
of Joseph A. Repetti, No. 81 Pennsylvania
avenue southeast, where autopsy was
performed yesterday morning. Walter A.
Barkley of 1113 Georgia avenue and John
f. Robey of 526 Sth street southeast, who
were arrested and charged with the as
sault have been in jail awaiting the result
of the injuries received by Kuhnert. This
morning they were released from jail on
order from the court and were permit
ted to be present and make statements at
an inquest which was held at the sixth
precinct station over kuhnert's remains
1t developed that the deceased had killed
Thomas j. Coyle in 1885, and the jury also
heard the statements Of several witnesses
concerning the last row in which he partic1-
pated. There was no evidence to show
that Robey had struck Kuhnert and he
was exonerated Barkley admitted he had
struck the victim and the jury held him
for action of the grand jury.
Kuhnerts funeral will take place from
his late home. No 124 North Carolina ave-
nue. southeast, tomorrow morning. His
wife and two children survive him:
Assistant District Attorney Bingham ap-
pcared at the inquest on behalf of the gov
ernment and the men under arrest were
represented by Attorney T. Edward Mitch
ell
Examination of Witnesses.
William I. Lloyd, 40 9Th street south
east was the first witness examined by
the coroner. He said he was at 1st and G
streets southeast the night the trouble oc-
Cured. While witness was in Linkns sa-
loon a man knocked kshnert down and
then put him out, Kuhnert went into an
alley and returned a few minutes later.
He asked the prisoner, Barkley. for a Gig
arctic paper. The latter gave him the pa
per, but said he had no tobacco. Because
he had no tobacco to give kuhnert the
latter assaulted him. The trouble occurred
on the sidewalk When kuhnert returned
Mr.. Linkns advised him to go over in the
park and sleep off his drunk. kuhnert in
formed the saloonkeeper he had come for
trouble. and he was going to have it.
kuhnert made use of an oath and put his
hand behind him as if to get something
from his hip pocket, when a man. whom he
(witnessD could not recognize. slapped him.
kuhnert stumbled and fell, his head strik-
ing against the curbstone.
Witness said the prisoners We're standing
on the sidewalk cOnverSing when kuhnert
interfered with them The men under ar
rest had nothing to do with any trouble in
the bar room. kuhnert, he said, struck
Mr.. Barkley while the latter had his hands
in his pockets searching for tobacco. Bark
ley returned the blow and knocked kuh-
nert against a tree. After kuhnert was
hurt Mr.. Barkley remained and assisted in
caring for him.
Says kuhncrt Was intoxicated.
John II. Burkolder. 206 New Jersey ave-
hue southeast, testified that he was on the
corner of 1st and streets in front of Lin
kins saloon about o clock Saturday night
week ago, when the trouble occurred.
Witness was conversing with Mr. Lloyd
when kuhnert, who was intoxicated, came
up and asked for cigarette paper. Mr..
Barkley gave him the paper and he then
asked for tobacco. While Barkley was
searching his pockets for tobacco the in
toxicated man struck him. Barkley retail
lated and kuhnert fell against tree.
s when k4hnert went out in the street he
used insulting language. Some young man
went out and struck or slapped him. The
blow was not delivered with force enough
to knock him down, but shortly after he
was struck he staggered and fell, his head
striking against the tagging. Witness said
he could not identify the man who struck
kuhnert.
Previous to the trouble on the street he
saloon and a man struck him. Witness
identified August Held as the man who
Knocked kuhnert down in the saloon.
While l-inkins was advising Kuhnert to go
away the latter made use Of threat ening
language and said:
Every time | come around here I have
somebody to kill
kuhnert's nose was bleeding when he
left the saloon. When Mr. Held dealt the
blow in the saloon kuhnert's head did not
strike against anything.
In Row With Colored Man,
August Held, 176 North Carolina avenue
southeast, told the jury Of the trouble he
had with kuhnert. The latter was in a
row with colored man on the street. and
witness heard him call the colored man a
vile name and threaten to kill him. Wit
ness afterward heard Kuhnert threaten the
life of another colOred man and a few min
utes later he heard Kuhnert ask Linkins
for drink. The latter refused him, and
kuhnert followed him in the saloon. Kuh-
nert dropped his pipe in a cuspidor and
wiped it on witness coat. Witness knock
ed the pipe out of his hand When Kuhnert
threatened and abused him he (witness)
struck him on the nose. The bartender
then put him out of the saloon. Witness
said the mans head did not strike the floor
Was Refused Admission.
Fifteen minutes later Kuhnert returned to
the saloon and the proprietor refused to let
him in or furnish him liquor. About the
time the trouble started on the outside
witness left the saloon. Witness said he
had not taken a drink before he had the
trouble.
John Bradshaw. s12 Cd street southeast,
bartender at Iinkins' saloon, testified that
he was on duty in the saloon when Kuh-
nert dropped his pipe and wiped it on Held S
coat. Witness was waiting on a customer
when Held knocked Kuhnert down. kuh-
merit was Intoxicated when he came to the
saloon.
Did he have anything to drink there?"
the coroner asked.
Not thing" answered witness HE
tried to stand Mr.. Linkins off for a drink
but Mr.. Linkins told him he had plenty"
George E. Linkins, proprietor of the sa-
loon mentioned by the witness, testified
that he met Kuhnert in front of his sa-
loon the night in question after the trouble
had occurred in the saloon and he refused
to allow him to enter. Witness said he
of KnhD 'u,ifb