Evening star., 1902-03-25
RESULT OF ACCIDENT
JURY'S VERDICT IN MATTER OF
WILLIAM BOLDEN's DEATH.
Evidence Submitted at Inquest to
Effect That Man Had Been
Hurt by Fall.

Coroner Neyitt held an inquest today owe:
the body of William Bolden, colored, the
barber who died at FreedmanS Hospital
Sunday night from the effects of injuries
reCeived Friday night at Stewart q
saloon, No. 1141 7th street northwest. Boil
den, who worked only few doors from the
saloon, was under the infiu ance Of liquor at
the time. He entered the latter place and
called for drink. He was refused liquor
and few minutes later he was found in the
toilet room lying on the floor where he had
apparently fallen. He was assisted out of
the place by some men, who were in the
saloon, and he returned to the toilet room.
where he fell second time. Two witnesses
tCld of an alleged accusation made by Boil
den before he was taken TO the hospital,
but it was apparent that his mind was af-
fected at that time. The jury found that
RoldenS death was due to an accident.
The Evidence Submitted.
James Wade, who found Bolden in the
toilet room lying on the floor, told the jury
that he was in the saloon when Bolden
entered. There was no trouble of any kind
in the saloon. He said he called Billy
the bartender. after Bolden fell, and the
latter assisted him to his feet. Bolden the
witness declared had been drinking. Sew
eral times during last week the colored
man asked him for the price of a drink.
William TaliaferrO, the bartender. was
next examined. He refused Bolden drinks
Friday night because he already had plenty
@? liquor in him. Witness went to the
toilet room after Wade told him Bolden
was lying on the floor. Thomas Hunter, he
said, helped him to raise Bolden from the
floor. BOden'S head was slightly cut. He
was conscious. but did but little talking.
The injured man sat on a box in rear of
the saloon for an hour. and then his
brot other-ilI-law took him home.
Thomas Hunter gave similar testimony.
He said Bolden was drunk.
Said No One Had Hurt Bolden.
John ]. Cutler colored an elderly man.
who is a plas,erer by trade, gave the jury
the informa ton that nobody had injured
Bolden.
But said the witness. 'he certainly
was hurt bad. He was hurt so bad that
his brain was knocked out of Sorts
BOlden. he stated, was intoxicated, and
the bartender refused to serve him any
more liquor.
The witness said that Bolden returned to
the closet and fell a second time
Was he standing up when he fell the
second time?' the witness was asked by
Mr.. Classic. assistant district attorney.
He couldn't fall when he was lying
down. the old man answered. I'm nearly
in my grave he added, and I'm going to
tell the truth Nobody didn't touch that
man.
Deputy Coroner's Statement.
Deputy Coroner GlazebroOk testified tha (
Boldens death was due to a cerebral hem
orrhage following a fracture of the skull.
His scalp was cut. DR.. GlaZebrOok said
the autopsy showed the man to have been
hard drinker
William Washington colored testified
that he saw Bolden Sunday afternoon at
his home. He asked Bolden who struck
him and he answered, MIR. Stewards bar
tender" At the time BOlden made the
statement the witness said, he was very
sick.
Eliza Waters colored, at whose house
in Majors alley Bolden lived, gave SINH
lar testimony. She said she heard BoIden
say that Sam Stewards bartender had cut
his head.
Maggie Champion. cOored, testified that
Bolden complained Saturday morning that
he sick ard she then noticed that his
head was cut. She begged him not to go
to work, but he refused TO remain at home
Sunday morning he said he felt better He
was sick during the day and late in the
afternoon he was sent to the hospital.
She was present when William Washing
ton talked to Boden. The latter's mind
was not clear and witness could not un-
derstand what he said William Washing
ton, she said, told her he understood him
to say that Sam Stewards bartender struck
him. Witness said that Bolden had to be
assisted down stairs.