Evening star., 1901-12-18
Admits He Was Responsible for the
Death of James Haskins.
BE DECLARES II WAS ACCIDENTAL
corone''s Jury SAoIds Him for
Action Of Grand Jury.
THE EVIDENCE SUBMITTED

Thomas Morse colored, who was today
held for the murder of James Haskins, also
colored, at the barn of Edward WISE near
Chevy Chase, Md, on the morning Of De-
cember 13, broke down and made confess
sion Immediately after the conclusion of the
inquest which was held on the body of his
victim at the sixth precinct police station
this morning.
Morse made his, statement to Detective
Mullen. who brought him from Glen Rock.
Pa, where he was arrested yesterday, and
to which place he fled Immediately after
the tragedy, e.
Morse said: II killed Jim Haskins, but
it. was all an accident. I was shooting at
rats in the barn and Jim got in the way
of the bullet. I did not mean to kill him,
and only ran away because was scared
that his brother might kill me-
The coroners jury, after hearing the evil
dence in the case. returned the following
verdict: 1--WE. the jury, find that James
Haskins came to his death about 1880 I'm.
on December 13. 1901, at or near the farm
house of Edward Wise, District of Column
bia, as a result of a gunshet wound on the
left side of the head, the said wound being
inflicted by pistol held in the hand of
Thomas Morse. We therefore hold him for
by William Wills, ]. F. F1eshhauer, Frank
J. Donnelly. Edward Robinson, William
Wolf and James Crawford.
Mr. Wise Testiffes.
Edward M. Wise, who lives at Chevy
Chase, was the first witness He testified
as to the character and general sobriety of
Haskins. whom he had employed as day
laborer on his farm for about eight months.
Witness also said hes employed Thomas
Morse as a co-laborer with Haskins, and
that the former was a good worker and
not inclined to make trouble
Witness said that on the morning of the
shooting Morse came to his house very
much excited and told him that Haskns
was in the barn. where he had shot him
self. Witness accompanied Morse to the
barn, and on the way he asked Morse why
Haskins had shot himself. and he failed to
make satisfactory answer to the ques-
ton. Mr.. Wise identified the revolver
found near Haskins bodyFas weapon that
he had frequently seeH in Morse's posses
witness said that he sund Haskins, as
reported by Morse. lyingSin the barn, with
bullet wound in his head and a revolver
patched Morse for a doctor, who arrived a
short time later. Morse, however, did not
again put in an appearance.
Physicians' statements
DIR. William Jr Callahan Of Chevy Chase
next testified that Friday morning, Decem-
ber~13, about $50 o'clock, Mr. Wise came
to his house and told him that Tommy
had shot Jim Hasihs.,f.H He accompanied
Wise to the latter barn, where he found
Haskins with bullet MOUND in his head.
which he treated, but that Haskins condi-
ton was such that he knew that nothing
could be done to SAW the wounded mans
life. Haskins was unconscious and died
about an hour after witness arrived upon
the scene. ftz ~
DR.. Callahan stated that in his opinion
Haskins' death was directly attributable to
cerebral hemorrhage, causing a blood
clot on the brain. The witness said the
position, and he never heard him make
threats to end his life. He also testified
that Morse bore a good reputation in the
| community and that he had never known
OF any trouble between the prisoner and
Haskins.
DR.. John w. Chappelle of Tenleytown
next testified that he was summoned by
| colored man to go to Mr. Wise's house to
see another colored man who had shot him
self in the barn with pistol that had been
used with which to kill rats. DR.. Chap
who gave him the Information concerning
the shooting. owing to the fact that he only
had very casual look at him. He stated,
however! that the man whom he saw asked
him II he must get an officer, saying at
the time that Mr.. Wise had told him to do
SO. The witness then said: well. you had
better follow Mr. Wise'S Instructions" and
told the man that he would find an officer a
instructions the man disappeared.
DR.. Chappelle told of his visit to Wises
farm and the condition In which he found
Haskins. He said he knew from the first
that the mans death was inevitable.
Saw Morse iWth Revolver.
Frank Davis, colored man who Is en-
ployed as laborer on Wise's dairy farm
at Chevy Chase, swore that last Friday
morning he saw Morse with revolver,
with which he was firing at the rats in the
barn. Haskins was in the barn at the time,
but he heard no alteration between the
men.
Both Haskins and Morse, the witness
said were perfectly sober. Davis said that
about ten minutes after he left the barn he
heard another report from the revolver,
but paid no attention to it, as he thought
that Tom was at his rat-shooting tricks
again. Davis said that on one occasion
about year ago he had trouble with
Tom." who had severely beaten his the
witnessD son. He had Morse arrested at
the time. and he was later fined for as
sault. Witness swore that Morse was
good worker. but had quick, disagreeable
temper. The morning of the shooting wit
ness went to telephone for a doctor. and on
his way to Tenleytown he met Tom" who
was returning from the Doctors tom"
asked him If Haskins was dead. and said
that the man had shot himself while he
was trying to kill rats with revolver.
Witness advised Morse to go back home
ana go to work. Davis told of Haslkins'
condition when he saw him in the barn.
Detective on the Stand.
The next witnesses Charles Davis and
Mary Pierson, gave unimportant testimony,
and Detective Mullertold of his connection
with the case, he having been detailed by
Capt. Boardman, Immediately after the
shooting. to work 1t 'up.o II
Yesterday, the detective said he was or
dered to go to Glen Rock, Pa, headquar-
ters. having received notice that a negro
answering to Morse s. description was being
held at the place on suspicion. Witness
said Morse at first denied his identity. but
gave the name Of VIM. PATHS, and said he
had lived In Pittsburg and Philadelphia.
having recently come from the former city.
The detective said be was confident from
the description of Morse that the man held
was the one wanted f6rathe murder; he was
convinced of this fact byshis failure to sat-
isfactorily explain his presence in Glen
Rock or his inability TO Igive any definite
information as to thelocaIities in which he
said he had lived. 81
Later. aboard the train, on the way to
Washington, the prisoner admitted to the
detective that bis name was Tom" Morse
and that he had formerly worked on Mr..