Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-31
HELD FOR GRAND JURY
Samuel Simms Accused of
Shooting James Williams.
DETAILS OF TRAGEDY
DEFENDANT COMMITTED TO JAIL
BY ORDER OF CORONER.
Declines to Make a Statement at the
Hearing-The Evidence
Submitted.
DETAILS OF TRAGEDY

Chillum and caused the death OF James
Williams, also colored, as heretofore pub
lished In The Star, was held by the coro-
ner's jury today to answer q charge OF
murder. He was thereupon committed to
jail to await the action of the grand jury.
The inquest was held at the sixth precinct
station, where a number OF residents or
the county assembled. Mr.. Peyton Gordon
represented the prosecution. while the pris-
oners interests were looked after by Mr..
Robert w. Wells Simms, who had been
sent to jail to answer a charge Of assault
with intent to kill. was brought up from the
jail and was present at the inquest. He
made no statement of the affair to the jury.
Policeman Sroman First Witness.
Policeman Stroman, to whom the prisoner
SURRENDERED, was the first witness examined.
He told the jury that Simms gave him the
pistol and said he had shot Williams.
IT expect have killed him." the prisoner
told him
The prisoners statement to witness was
that he fired the shot because he was afraid
Williams would shoot him. Witness said
he had known Williams about seven years
Sergt. Slattery was in the tenth precinct
station when the message came telling OF
the shooting. He went to the house of Van
Moten, where he saw the wounded man
d
questioned the witnesses and told Of what
they said to him. He also told Of the re-
moval Of the wounded man to the Emer-
gency Hospital.
A colored laborer named Thomas Fitz-
hugh was next examined. He informed the
jury that he went to Mrs. Moten's because
James Williams sent for him. On his way
to the house he met Van Moten. and the
latter told him Williams was waiting for
him. Williams had talked to the witness
two days before the shooting about going
back to his home at Culpeper. Va Samuel
Sfmms and his brother James came to the
house while witness was there.
What Were you all doing there?" the
coroner inquired.
Il went there because James sent for
me-"
''Were you drinking?
I'VE had some little to drink
who paid for ft7''
''The drink was there and was invited
to help myself"
Sam Smms Fires Pistol
The men became rather lively in the house
and Simms and his brother went out Some
distance up the ditch. Sam Simms fired
his pistol once or twice.
"At whom was he shootingT
He wasn't shooting at anybody then
When James Williams started out Of the
house witness told him not to go on the
other side Of the ditch.
II told him he had no business on the
other side" the witness stated,
Witness said he thought Williams was
thirty feet or more from Simms when the
fatal shot was fired.
Fitzhugh declared there was no trouble
In the house. Outside the house he heard
simms say, m going to Shoot" and Will
iams said, Shoot. you, shoot"
After the shot was fired Simms went up
the ditch, Joined his brother and the two
went away together.
What did you do after Williams was
shot?"
81 looked at him about ten minutes"
Then, witness said, he and George Will
Jams picked up the wounded man and took
him to the house.
Williams remarked. 20 Lord, I'm going to
die" and told the boys not to pull him
about SO much
Gives Williams Advice.
Bradford Fitzhugh. colored brother of
the preceding witness, told Of the gather
ing Of colored men at the house of Van
Moten Sunday afternoon. After the Simms
brothers left there to go home witness
heard some shots fired up the branch and
James Williams went out. Witness advised
Williams not to go, and when the latter
started along the branch Simms said he
would shoot him If he did not stop where
he was. Williams, the witness stated was
a rattlebrain sort of fellow and was in
clfned to be quarrelsome. He left after
the shooting occurred and went for DR..
Brooks. Witness said there was some
drinking INDUCED in while he was In Mo-
tens house, but he heard no quarrel.
Walker Settle, also colored, testified that
he met Samuel Stmms last Sunday for the
first time.
Il was in the room Sunday" he said.
land everybody was drinking"
After the men left the house words pass-
ed between them and the shooting occur
red. Witness heard the victim of the
tragedy use bad language. He advised
nioy,, not TO PoIl
had one hand in his side pocket at the
time he was shot Soon after Williams fell
he said to witness: Don't let him shoot
no more"
Defendants Brother Testifes.
George Williams. sixteen years old,
brother OF the dead man, testified that he
came here from Culpeper to visit his brother
the day before the shooting. He went to
the house Of Van Moten with his brother.
what were you doing in this house?'
eve were just drinking and having a
good time" the witness said.
Witness was in the yard when he heard
two or three shots fred. His brother who
was in the house eating lunch, came out
he said. and started toward the place where
the shots were fired. Witness tried to stop
his brother. but the latter said Simms had
cursed him and he was going after him.
He heard his brother say nothing after he
was wounded. George said his brother was
unconscious.
II asked him how he felt" said witness
land he said he felt bad"
Result Of Autopsy.
DR.. L. w. Glazebrook, deputy coroner,
testified to the autopsy. The deceased was
a powerfully built man. in excellent phys
ical condition. Witness told of the bullet
wound of the right temple. The bullet had
fractured the skull and torn the brain.
He said the wound was necessarily fatal,
and 1t was remarkable that the man had
lived 50 long. Witness found only particles
of the bullet in the mans head.
James Simms. brother of the prisoner
testified that he did not witness the shoot
Ing
do you know who did it7''
my brother said he did it."
Witness said he saw his brother have the