Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-08
AN AVENUEsIRAGEOY
Joseph Cato Shot by William
Fl. Matchetk
DISPUTE OVER ( CHILD
KILLED NEAR IFS PLACE OF
BUSINESS
coroner's Inquest to Be Held Tomorrow
-Assailant Was Formerly in
an Insane Asylum.

Josenh Cato. an italian barber was
| shot and killed last night near his shop,
No 359 PENNSYLVANIA avenue northwest, by
William "a Matchett, a printer. Matchett
| occunies a cell in the sixth precinct station
| not fifty feet from where the body of his
| victim lies in the mergue. Matchett's
| daughters Emma and Rachael, aged twen-
| ty-two and twenty, respectively, are held
| at the house of detention as witnesses. An
| infant less than a year old, child of the
| elder daughter, is also being cared for at
| the house of detention. This child, it is
| claimed caused the trouble which ended
| In the tragedy.
The sidewalk near Gatto's barber shop
| was crowded about 8 o'clock last night, and
| many persons stopped in front of the place
when they saw the barber and Emma Mat
| chett engaged in an angry dispute. Emma
Matchett was holding an infant in her
arms, and the words that were heard in
dicated that Cato wanted the child. He
was willing that the woman should go, but
he objected to her taking the child. The
shoes she was wearing. he claimed, he had
recently bought and these, too, he insisted
she should leave.
During the quarrel they reached the side
walk The woman was crying when her
father and her sister Rachael came up.
Cato 1t is claimed, was trying to take the
child when Matchett appeared and fired
three shots at him. Two of the bullets took
effect in the victims abdomen and caused
his death at the Emergency Hospital an
hour later Policeman Qulnlan, who had
heard the reports of the pistol, took charge
of the Matchetts and had the wounded man
moved to the hospital. Coroner hewitt view
ed the body at the morgue later and di-
rected that a jury be summoned to meet
tomorrow morning at IL o'clock to hear the
testimony
Cato and the Matchetts.
Joseph Cato was about forty-five years
old and was one of the leading Italians in
this city. He ran saloon on EutaW street,
in Baltimore, prior to ten years ago, when
he came here and became the foreman OF
the National Hotel barber shop. Three
years later he opened a shop Tor hlmsel1;
He accumulated considerable money, and
during recent months he was a heavy
player on the races. His face was a
familiar one in the pool, rooms and ne had
many big winnings, as well as some heaVy
losses
Cato never married., although he was
very attentive to females. Emma Matchett
went to his house to act as housekeeper
for him, and her younger sister also llveo
there 1t is claimed that the barber was
the father Of the child about which the dis
pute occurred. Early last evening Emma
Matchett and Cato had dispute and
when Rachel, the younger sister, reallzed
hurried to her home at 800 street south
west and sought her fathers help Matchett
left his printing office and boarded car
with his daughter, riding as far as tth ana
D streets. He entered a shop on d street
to buy a pistol, but his daughter intimated
to the clerk that he wanted it for an I'M
lawful purpose, and the clerk refused to
sell him a weapon. -. s...
Rachael afterward, i. only wanted the
revolver for protection. .-r-
The Shooting. 5
Rachael made no further objection to his
getting a weapon, which he bought at an
other place. Going to Gatto's barber shop
Matchett and his daughter found Cato and
Emma upon the sidewalk Rachael took
the child from her sister and In response to
her fathers question Emma said she want
ed to go home. Just then Cato stepped
forward as If he intended to take the child
Then 1t was that Matchett drew MS weapon
and fred the fatal shots.
1--WE been in the insane asylum once,
was the statement made by Matchett short
ly after his arrest He was discharged
but the police say there was nothing about
his conduct last night to indicate return
Of his mental troubles.
Refused to Make Statement.
Are you reporter?'' Matchett inquired
Of Star reporter when visited in his cell
shortly after he was locked up. IF You
are he added, II have nothing to say. 1
will make my statement of the affair at the
proper time"
Asked if he were a son Of the Rev. Mr..
Matchett the missionary he responded in
the affirmative and added. I'm something
of preacher myself"
He said his daughters had been living in
Gatto's house, but he refused to discuss the
reasons for the shooting. The prisoner was
soon asleep the iron bench In his cell
He refused to talk with the officers about
the case.
His daughters were more communicative.
They discussed the affair at length, relating
the fact substantially as stated.
The deceased is a nephew of the late Jo-
seph Cato, who formerly conducted a no
oil at lie