The Washington times., 1901-12-14
SEEKING GHOST
HE TOOK ALIFE.
Hezekiah Coates Explains
the COrbin Shooting.
HAD THE GUN READY FOR ACTION.
Tae Boys Intended Victim Negro
Terrorizer of the NeighborhooG-
Playful Threat on Meeting the
Girl Precedes the Tragedy.

A loaded. old-fashioned, double bar
relied shotgun OF the blunderbuss type,
with which Hezekiah Coates. a lickaninny
of fourteen years, sailed fortr from his
home to run down a ghost" in the form
of negro who had terrorized his mother
and other colored women in the neighbor-
hood when they went abroad after dusk,
was used in the murder of Carrie Corbin,
the fourteen -year-old girl who was
fatally shot Thursday night at Garfield. a
small settlement near Anacostia.
Ready for the Ghost.
Young Coates had cooked the shotgun
before leaving his home, and on meeting
the Corbin girl and her ten-year-old
brother he in a spirit of fun told them to
throw up their hands. Forgetting that he
had cooked the loaded weapon. he pulled
the trigger, and the Corbin girl became
the target for its contents The shot
entered her left breast and passed through
her body.
Ran Home After Being shot.
Following the guns report the injured
girl ran TO the home Of her aunt, Agnes
Butts, while young Coates ran to the
home of neighbor, Mrs. Kate Washing
ton, where his mother was visiting. There
he deposited the fowling piece and left
the house. but returned later and took
the gun to his own home. located about
200 yards from the place where he met
the Corbn girl and her brother
The girl, on reaching the board walk
leading 20 the front door of her aunts
house, fell bleeding and dying. The spark
of life had fed when assistance reached
her. The fact that the girl ran when
Coates fired the gun caused him 10 have
not the least apprehension that she had
been wounded.
Returning From Rehearsal.
The girl and her brother we're return
ing from rehearsal for a Christmas en-
tertainment, in which she was to take
part In her hand she held a piece OF
paper containing the following verse:
81 think this is a lovely day,
am glad that Christ was born:
would like to DO something for him
This blessed Christmas morn"
This was what she was to have recited
at the entertainment. The piece Of paper,
riddled with shot and bloodstained. was
found near the scene OF the tragedy
shortly after the accident.
Search for Clue.
Search for a clue as to the person who
had taken the young girls life was re-
sumed yesterday morning. the officers OF
the sub-police station at Anaeostia being
assisted by Detectives Miller, Peck and
Lacy, of Police Headquarters, who were
detailed on the case by Captain Board
man.
Ernest Jones, colored boy, and Paul
johnson, who had been cunning Thurs
day afternoon, were arrested on sus-
picion. A portion Of the pgper used in
the charge that struck the girl was found
by Officer W. f. Stewart. of the sub
station, and this satisfied him that the
weapon was a double-barreled shotgun
and not breech-loader, the type Of fowl
ing piece with which the johnson boy
was armed.
Coates Confesses the Deed.
Shortly before noon yesterday Thomas
Jefferson, colored veteran, who was also
at Mrs. Kate Washington's house when
the Coates boy came in and deposited
the gun. reported the incident 70 the po-
lice, and the investigation OF this clue
resulted in his arrest by officer McCor-
mack. OF the sub-station, who brought
his youthful prisoner to the station on
horseback. On reaching the station Coates
made a clean breast OF the whole affair
10 Detective Lacy in the presence of
Sergeant Anderson and Policemen Nc
Cormack and Schuyler.
Sent TO the House of Detention.
Coates was sent from Police Headquar-
tiers to the House of Detention, where he
will be Hept pending the Coroner's in
quest. The Coroner viewed the body
Thursday nigh; and ordered II removed to
the morgue. An inquest viii be held at
IL O'Clock this morning.
Another Anti-Anarchy Bill.
Judge crumpacker. OF Indiana, ycster-