Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-31
MOST BRUTAL CRIME
Murder of Lazier Gozman, a
Suburban Grocer.
ROBBERY THE MOTIVE
POLICE UNABLE TO OBTAIN DEF
INITE CLUES.
Bloodstained Ak and q Ratchet Found
in the Store-Ghastly
Discovery.
ROBBERY THE MOTIVE

Another murder has been added to the
already long list of such crimes in the
District. making the sixteenth of its kind
committed during the present calendar
year The victim of the latest tragedy
was Lazier Gozman, who conducted gro
Gerry store at 619 Gordon avenue northeast
The murder was committed, it Is believed,
about 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. and the
condition of the store and sleeping room
makes it apparent that robbery was the
motive. The mans body was found about
b:3O o'clock in the afternoon. There was
not the slightest sign of warmth about 1t,
which made it certain that death had oc-
Cured some little time before $50 O'Clock.
Two blood-stained instruments were found
upon the premises, Ratchet and an ak.
There was matted hair on beth weapons,
and so far as the police could determine the
hair on both came from the head of the
grocer.
When news of the horrible tragedy reach
ed police headquarters the detectives found
themselves up against tough proposition.
The mysterious murder of Mrs. Catherine
Jordan in Hllsdale just one week ago had
not been solved. and number OF the
sleuths were still at work on that case.
Capt. Boardman was willing to drop the
investigation In that case, temporarily, in
order that the men might concentrate tneir
work in an effort to overtake the slayer
OF LaZier GoZman. A number of detectives
went to the scene of the latest tragedy and
spent the entire night working on the case.
Precinct Detective Johnston and uniformed
policemen of the ninth precinct were also
on the case. When daylight came several
OF the detectives returned to headquarters
without any information Of value to give to
Capt. Boardman Several possible clues had
been obtained. and the officers started to
run them out.
Maj. Sylvester was on hand at an early
hour this morning for conference with the
the tragedy In all it's phases and determin-
ed that something must be accomplished in
the two cases.
A Brutal Crime.
The killing Of Lazier Gozman was by far
the most brutal crime committed here this
year. The victim was thirty-six years old
and a native Of Russia. He landed in this
country two months ago, coming direct to
this city from New York. With him came
his nephew. Frank Frager a carpenter.
Samuel Shappirio. a brother-in-law of Coz
man, who is now in the grocery business
"a 336 I'D street northwest sold Gozman
the Gordan avenue store for $35. and did
what he could to assist the young man.
German left wife and four children in
Russia and only yesterday morning he sent
them 30. The merchants little store was
well stocked with groceries, meats and
provisions. He was getting along so well
that he concluded to send for his family in
short time. Yesterday morning when he
sent the money away he remarked that he
would send hts earnings there but a few
more times, as he was anxious to have his
wife and children here with him.
Many customers were in the store during
the morning hours, but business was ap-
parently dull in the afternoon. Two col
ored women, Essie Harris and Mrs Fan
troy, We're at the store about 2:3O o'clock
One left about the time the other entered,
and they are supposed to be the last Gus
toners whom Gozman served before he
was so foully murdered At that time the
merchant was wearing a heavy Russian
overcoat. and the garment was on his
body when his nephew Frank Frazer re-
turned home from work.
About 4 o'clock customer called at the
store, but found the front door locked
No effort was made to ascertain the cause
for such a condition of affairs and II was
not until the return of the nephew that the
crime was discovered. He entered through
the rear door, which was not fastened,
having been unable to enter through the
store. as had been his custom. He lighted
match and was Mortified at the sight dis
closed having stumbled over the dead
body of his uncle. Then he went to the
door and made an cutlery, which soon as
sembled hundreds of people.
Police Take Possession.
Bicycle Policeman Nebb was the first
officer to arrive and others followed shortly
afterward. The police took possession of
the premises and sent for detectives and the
coroner. Captain Boardman was at dinner
when the report reached headquarters, but
ne hurried back to the office and took an
active part In the investigation. Samuel
Shappirio. the brother-in-law, was sum-
moned to the house, and while there he got
blood stains on his overcoat. These stains
We're seen by policeman later In the night
ms Shan RI In,
reported what he had seen. and this morn
Ing Shappirio was taken to police head
quarters by Sergeant DUNCAN and Police
man Geier Of the eighth precinct. An ex-
PLANTATION was made and he was not de-
tained. Photographer Johnson visited the
scene OF the crime this morning and took
several photographs OF the interior and ex-
terror His pictures will show many of the
numerous blood stains found about the
premises.
Scene of the Murder.
Gordon avenue Is between F and G
streets and east of I'd street. There are
several rows of small brick dwellings on
the avenue which are inhabited by colored
people. Gozmans store was on the corner
or the avenue and an intersecting alley
The front room was occupied as the store,
while the rear room and those on the upper
moor were the sleeping apartments. The
grocer had bed in the rear room on the
as In the store, that he engaged in the
desperate fight for his life. His body was
found with the head resting upon the sill
or the door between the rooms and his feet
In the sleeping ROOM There was blood all
over both rooms, and the evidences Of a
terrible struggle, but which people in the
vicinity of the store say they did not hear.
Gozman's body was on Its left side and one
loot had become twisted between the
rounds of chair. On a vinegar Darrell in
the store the police found the old cleaver
that had been used In the store while the
hatchet was in the rear room on a small
table. In the back room were the two
money drawers that had been taken from
the store counter and an open pocket
which contained some papers. This pocket
book. II is believed. had been distracted
from the pocket Of the murdered man.
Near the body was q wooden tub partly
filled with water. This water was of q
reddish color. and the police think the
murderer washed his hands In 1t after he
had committed the murder. Coroner Newt
bad the body removed to the morgue about
D o'clock. where It was examined.
Was a Rendezvous.
People who were well acquainted about
che store say that the rear room, in which
Goxman slept. was a rendezvous for colored
men who spent their small change with him.
They occupied his bed and loitered about