Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-07
Suspected Of Having Muir
dered Lazier Gozman.
CORONER'S INQUEST
TESTIMONY BELIEVED TO POINT
TO HENsoN's GUILT.
Police Claim to Have Additional Evil
dence Not Yet Made Public
What Witnesses Told.

James Henson, colored, was held by the
coroner's jury today to answer for the
brutal murder Of LaZier GoZman, the Rus
sian grocer. in the latter's store on Gordon
avenue, one week ago yesterday AFTER
being measured and photographed at po-
lice headquarters this afternoon he was
committed to Jail. The inquest was held
at the sixth precinct and was conducted
by Coroner hewitt. Assistant District At
torney Gordon represented the government,
while Attorney Thos L. Jones was present
looking out for Henson. Henson was held
in custody as United States witness UNI
til the time the jury returned the verdict.
and then a charge Of murder was entered
on the blotter against him.
The six detectives who have been detailed
on the case, Lieut.. Daley and other officers
were present at the hearing. 1t was report
ed at Headquarters this morning that Hen
son had made inquiries concerning the prob
bable penalty in event Of his saying ne mad
committed the crime He did say some
thing along this line, but his statement was
claims he has other testimony in addition
to what was given. The prisoners inquiry
was made this morning while he was at the
ninth precinct police station awaiting his
transfer to the sixth precinct, Where the
inquest was held.
In addition to making the inquiry men
toned, Henson is reported to have re-
marked: Nobody saw me go in the house
and nobody saw me go out
The verdict was not in the nature OF a
surprise to the officers. They were conf
dent that the showing would be such thar
the jury would hold Henson. The investi-
CATION will not be abandoned by any
certain more about the prisoners move
ments the day of the murder and to find the
money that was taken from Gozmans store
1t Is believed that the money was hidden
somewhere by the murderer, and the de-
tectives hope they will be able to find 1t.
The Testimony.
Fritz Frager, nephew of the victim of the
tragedy, was the first witness examined.
He testified through Policeman Berman.
who acted as interpreter. that he now lives
at 1919 25th street.
Were you acquainted with Lazler Coz
mann" he was asked.
Eyes, SIR" was his response.
Were you related to him?'
Eyes. sir"
He said he lived with Gozman. who
was his uncle. for about four weeks. On
the 3Oth of December he went to work at
o'clock in the morning and returned to his
home at 619 Gordon avenue northeast about
6 o'clock. Witness said he stopped at
butchers stand on his way home and pur-
chased some meat and sausage Upon
reaching the house he went to the front
door and found it locked. He then went to
the rear and entered. The first thing that
attracted his attention. he said, was the
darkened condition Of the store. Witness
said the gate was usually kept locked, but 1t
was open when he returned home that day.
There is a wood yard in the rear Of the
building.
Frager said the kitchen or back room
door was closed. There was no light in the
back room. Witness opened the door and
entered. He removed his coat and threw
1t upon the bed. Believing his uncle was
absent. he started toward the store to get
a match and stumbled over the dead body
Of his uncle. Witness called his uncle, and
receiving no response he made light and
discovered the blood Then he unlocked
ed for assistance. After leaving the house
witness went to Mr.. Rosenfeld's store and
related what he had seen.
Because Of the quantity of blood on the
body he had been unable to identify 1t.
Returning he entered the house and saw
by the light Of candle that the dead man
was his uncle.
A policeman reached there about three
minutes after his return to the house and
requested people about there to enter with
him. Witness said he was too nervous to
unlock the door for the policeman and the
latter turned the key.
Frager was asked how many people the
policeman took in the house with him.
HE took whole lot of them in with
him." the witness responded.
Enough to protect him?' queried the
coroner
Witness Cross-Examined.