Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-08-03
CURET EXONERATED
MARINE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR
CLARENCE GEORGES DEATH.
Coroner's Jury Returned Verdict to
That Effect This Morning
The Testimony.

At the inquest held at the morgue this
morning In the case of the boy who lost his
life In the river at the foot of Sd street
southeast, Saturday afternoon, as hereto
fore published in The Star, DIR. Glazebrook
the deputy coroner, announced that the
boys name was Clarence George, and not
Thompson, explaining that the boys step
father is named Thompson and that Is why
he was known as Thompson. The several
companions of the victim of the accident,
who appeared at the inquest as witnesses,
referred to the deceased as Thompson.
An exciting scene was witnessed at the
home of the Thompsons yesterday when
DIR. Glazebrook went there to swear the
jury in the case. Mr.. Thompson became
greatly excited and gave vent to his feel
ings with such violence that DIR. Glazebrook
had to give him something to quiet him. He
had hardly finished with the treatment of
Mr.. Thompson when another of the mourn
ers swooned, and had to be prescribed for.
The several persons who appeared wit
nesses at the inquest told of what happened
about Shoots sand barge Saturday after
noon while the party of boys was there,
and only one of them make a statement to
bear out the contentious of Mr.. Thompson
that Clarence George had been pushed over
board by Adrian Curet. the marine. who
was placed under arrest yesterday by De-
tectives Pratt and Hewlett.
Curet and his wife we're interested list
eners at the hearing this morning. The
former was there in charge of Detective
Pratt Mrs. Curet, Miss Elsie Raynor and
Miss Lula Mangum, who went to the river
together, appeared upon the witness stand,
and were followed by the young man who
was under arrest. William Mangum Homer
Kelly and William Calvert, who We're COM
panions of the victim, were also called as
witnesses.
The story told by Calvert was that he was
at the same barge and heard Curet promise
to look out for Mangum and George, who
were anxious to learn to swim. Mangum.
he stated said he had a cramp and would
not go into the water. Curet he declared,
said something about Mangum losing his
nerve. and pushed Clarence George over
beard. He said that Curet afterward jump
ed In the water and did all in his power to
save the drowning boy, but did not sue
coed. Curet and George, the witness stated,
were the best of friends.
The Defendants Story.
Curets story of the drowning was given
about printed in yesterdays Star. He
told the jury that he went to the foot of
Sd street to take a swim. His wife and
two other young ladies were with him. The
boys were there. wearing their bathing
suits, and he was willing to do what he
could toward assisting them to learn the
art Of swimming. He denied that he
pushed the boy overheard. and described
how he went into the water and tried to
save his life. The defendant described how
he struggled with the boy in the river and
told of how he came near losing his own
life. His statement was substantiated by
all the other witnesses, with the exception
Of Calvert All agreed that the marine and
the George boy were good friends. and also
that Curet had not been drinking.
The jury promptly returned a verdict ex-
onerating Curet, and he was thereupon re-
leased. Mr.. Thompson, stepfather of the
dead boy, was present but did not make a
statement.
Wears Medal Of Honor.
Curet, who is only twenty-three years DID,
wears medal of honor that was voted him
by Congress for his bravery in rescuing
Capt. Harry Leonard of this city ON the
field of battle In China, after the captain
had been so seriously wounded. He is a
Kentuckian by BIRTH having been born In
Louisville, but a number of years OF his
life were spent in Baltimore. Only a short
time ago he was married to Miss Mangum
of 1854 Sd street southeast, two doors from
the home of the Thompsons. He lives at
the Sd street house with his wife, filling
detail at the barracks which excuses him
from military duties.