Evening star., 1901-10-03
ATTEMPTED MURDER
Woman's Brother-in-LaW Charged
With Shooting Her.
VICTIM IN A SERIOUS CONDITION
The Accused Man Claims He
Was Being Pursued.
AXES A STATE M E n T
VICTIM IN A SERIOUS CONDITION
AXES A ENT

to death last night on 26th street, as re-
ported in another column in The Star,
policeman remarked that two other homi-
cides would soon follow, as such events
usually happen in threes." As though to
verify this prediction a shooting occurred
this morning about O'Clock at 431 N street,
and the victim, Mrs. Eliza Carlton, colored,
is In the Homeopathic Hospital in serf-
Gus condition David Williams, the wo-
mans brother-in-law, who Is janitor or
the National Guard Armory, is locked up
charged with the shooting. His claim Is
that he had been drinking, and when
locked up he said he did not know he had
fired the shot. The shooting was done, IL
is said, because the woman was taxing
some tin pans and dishes from the house
Mrs Carlton and her husband had occu-
pied rooms In Williams house, and yes,
terday they started to move. The nusoand
was working on the street several squares
from the scene of the shooting this morn.
ing, and his wife was transferring the lass
of her cooking utensils from the nome ot
her sister when she was fired upon, the
bullet entering her breast. Williams was
arrested and landed in the second preclnct
station by Lieutenant Byrnes and sergeant
LYDIA in less than ten minutes afterWaro
Mrs. Williams was standing near her SIS
ter when the shot was fired. Williams ana
his wife conduct an eating establishment
in the cellar of their house, and IT was
in the dining room that the shooting oc-
Cured. A colored woman was seated at
a table eating her breakfast at the Time
and she soon disappeared TWO coloreo
men and boy who were employed IN the
place were also present. They were CharleS
Brown, Richard Brooks and James Avirett
Instead of remaining to assist the wounded
woman they got out of the dining room in
rapid order. fearing Williams would hre
additional shots.
Claimed u Dishpan.
Mrs. Carlton had removed a few things
this morning and had returned to get to-
gether the remaining pieces of tinware.
washbofer filled win smaller tins had been
left on the floor of the hall and when Will
liams saw it he inquired of his wife what
was to be done wit it. She told him Eliza
would take them with her in a few min
utes, whereupon he disputed the ownership
of dishpan because he had mended 1t
upon one occasion. His wife, anticipating
no trouble, went to the cellar to superin-
tend some work and was standing in the
dining room when her husband appeared
on the steps and called to her sister-in-
law, inquiring:
How many more things are you going to
take from here?'
..All that l have" the woman answered,
land all you've been using"
You all have been worrying me long
enough Williams said, whereupon Eliza,
the witnesses declare, responded:
You're a liar
Just then Williams aimed his weapon and
fired. His sister-in-law fell to the floor and,
as stated, the men employed there and the
one guest hurried away Mrs. Williams as
sisted her sister to the rear yard and over
the fence to the yard of Mrs. Agnes Meeks
Mrs. Meeks happened to be in the yard
hanging out clothes at the time and she
caught the wounded woman in her arms.
I'm shot," Eliza Carlton told her. II
wish you would let me rest on your porch"
Mrc- 1tur, fS,l1O cd hnr ricta
fence and remained with her until she was
removed to the hospital
Mrs Meeks sent word to the police and
Lieut.. Byrnes and Sergt. LYDIA quickly re-
sponded. Williams was found in the middle
room on the first floor of his home, getting
a collar.
What do you want?" he asked the SER
geant.
Il want you," was the officers response.
"Where's the pistol?'
Williams declared he had no weapon, and
the officer took him to the station. He re-
fused to discuss the case and the officer
locked him up on the charge of ATTEMPTED
murder.
Williams Statement
When Williams was seen in his cell by
Star reporter his actions were those of an
intoxicated man, although there was no
odor of liquor noticed
Il kept it in my room," Williams said
as he left his cell.
Kept what?" he was asked
Whisky"
He said he was born in Henrico county
Va, only few miles from Richmond. and
for twelve years he has been employed as
janitor of the National Guard Armory. He
said he had been drinking since his return
from Buffalo, where he went with local
military company. The revolver he had
he said, was loaned him by local dealer
at whose place he left his weapon to be
repaired.
Il put the pistol in my pocket yester-
day. he said, but" he added, Il don't
know that it has been fred
He said that his wife and her sister re-
buked him this morning, and both pitched
on him, but did not hit him. They were
pursuing him up the steps, he declared
but about the shooting he would say moth
ing, except that if he had known he had
fired the shot he would have made an at
tempt to escape. He said he heard the
screaming after the trouble occurred in the
house.
A son of Williams, four years old Is
with relatives near Philadelphia His wife
is native of Durham. n. c. Mrs Carl
tons condition is serious. but the doctors
expressed the belief that there is no imme-
diate danger of death. They probed FOR
the bullet, but without success Late this
afternoon the X-ray instrument will h.,