The Washington times., 1901-11-01
Boys BLOW PROVES FATAL
Perry Officer, ColOred, Dies as a
Result of His Injuries.
struck With Piece of Iron Pipe
During an Altercntfon-CharIe
Coleman, His AssaiIant, Arrested
After n Long Search by Detectives

Perry Officer, colored, died at the Emer-
gency Hospital yesterday morning from
the effect of injuries said to have been
inflicted on Wednesday night by Charles
Coleman. a colored youth fifteen years
old. Coleman was arrested late in the
afternoon by Detective Sergeants Miller
and Father and locked up at the South
Washington police station, where he made
statement, in the course of which he
admitted having struck Officer. but claim
ed that he did so in self-defence and be-
cause he thought that he was himself in
danger. An inquest VIII be held this
morning at II o'clock at the New Jersey
Avenue police station. when Coroner New
| lit will swear the jury and hear the testi-
mony.
Coleman was afterward removed to the
House Of Detention. where he spent the
night. In some quarters it is said that a
nice question is likely to arise as to the
custody into which the youth will be re-
manded should he be held by the Cor
oner's jury. A recent law is quoted for
bidding the commitment to jail or to the
workhouse of children under seventeen
years of age. The matter was discussed
at some length at Police Headquarters
last night.
The police were handicapped from the
very start in their chase for Coleman ow-
ing to the delay in receiving news of the
assault. and despite every effort on their
part Coleman managed to evade them un-
til late in the afternoon, when informa-
tion was received from coloreG man as
to where Coleman was in hiding.
The assault occurred in Fords brick
yard. near. the corner of South Capitol
and n Streets, about $50 Wednesday aft
ternoon. officer walked to his home and
to bed. and 1t was several hours later,
when he became unconscious, before he
was smoved to the Emergency Hospital
and the police We're notified. Even then
but little information could be obtained
regarding the affair and 1t is said that
Coleman was standing within ten feet of
the ambulance when his victim was plac-
ed in it,
officer was carefully examined when
he reached the hospital. and it was found
that he had suffered a fracture at the
base of the skull. He continued to sink,
and died about $50 o'clock yesterday
morning. Up to within "A few minutes of
his death. he did not show any symptoms
of cerebral hemorhage, and 1t is thought
that there must have been some injury
other than the one that was found at the
base Of the skull. The physicians in
charge of the case are awaiting the re-
suit of the autopsy before they will dis
cuss that phase Of the case.
Immediately upon the death of Officer,
Captain Boardman was notified, and he
detailed Detective Sergeants Horne.
Flather. Miller, Peck, Muller, and Baur
upon the case.
a description Of the youth was also Sc
cured, and telegraphed to all Of the ad-
jacent cities, with request that he be
arrested. But little progress was made,
however, until shortly after ! o'clock,
when Frank Thomas informed Detective
Sergeant Miller that Coleman was hiding
in the home Of Maria Buchanan, 1850
First Street southwest, only two doors
from the house where he lived. Accom-
panied by Detective Sergeant Flather,
Miller entered the house. and found the
fugitive laying on pallet on the floor of
the second story, covered up with blank
cts.
Coleman admitted that he had struck
officer, but stated that officer had inter-
fered with him and several other boys.
Officer, he said. made threats against
him. because, Officer alleged, Coleman
had been talking about him. AS officer
approached, Coleman says that the for
mer put his hand in his back pocket. as
though he was about to pull weapon,
and, picking up the piece Of pipe, Cole
man hit Officer in the head with it, Cole
man also stated that he spent last night
at the Buchanan home. and that he re-
turned to his mothers house about
o'clock in the morning for his breakfast