Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-09
CHARGED WITH MURDER
RICHARD CHASE RESPONSIBLE
FOR BROTHERS DEATH.

Eve hold Richard Chase for murder was
the verdict of the coroners jury WHICH
heard the evidence IN the case OF the death
of Henry Chase, colored, for which Rlchard
Chase his brother, was arrested Ihe IN
quest was held at the morgue this morning
at II o'clock by Acting Coroner Glazeprook.
After the verdict Richard Chase was Or
dered to be committed to the jail pending
the action of the grand jury, and he was
taken there this afternoon by ofncefS Oh the
fourth precinct station.
The evidence was presented under the
direction of Sergt. Dunnigan OF the 1ourlh
precinct station, who assisted IN the arrest
TWO cye-witnesses of the ARRAY, two police
officers and another who heard the defend
ant talking about the killing told what
they knew. The jury, composed of g III.
Dikeman, w. A. Foy, r. j. Smith, John
Holmes, James NJ. Pridgeon and William h.
Sleeper, brought in the following verdict:
THAT he CHenry Chase died about = a. M,
September s, 1905, in Christian court, from
hemorrhages of the brain, as result OF d
fracture of the skull the said fracture nav
ing been caused by one Richard Chase, by
striking the said Henry Chase in the head
with a blacksmith's hammer We therefore
hold the said Richard Chase for murder
Assistant United States Attorney Bling
ham was present for the District Inc
prisoner had no attorney.
tOucGman DdVlS b '" ltuCSS.
Policeman J. F. Davis of the fourth pre-
cinct was the first witness in the case. lie
stated that he went to the blacksmith shop
in Christian alley southwest on telephone
call. and found man dead, or almost dead,
lying on the ground in the shop. The man
was afterward shown to be Henry Chase.
He was sent to Providence Hospital, where
it was discovered that life was extinct. and
later the body was removed to the morgue.
The witness stated that he learned chase
had been struck by his brother, Richard
Chase of 116 Van street southeast. He ar
rested Richard at 18th and M streets. when
he was apparently on his way to Anacostia.
The first thing the prisoner said was:
rs Henry dead?'
Witness stated that Chase was under
the influence of liquor at the time of his ar
rest and wanted more. To the witness he
said his brother wouldn't keep quiet, and l
auieted him."
Witnessed the ARRAY.
Mary Howard of 81 G street southwest
stated that she heard racket" In the al
ley, and she heard Henry cursing Richard
and saw Henry go into the shop. where
Richard was.
did you see Richard strike him with a
hammer she was asked.
Yes; saw him.
She identified the blacksmith hammer,
with its broken handle, as the one used by
the brother. she SAID 11eUTy Ieit ditSi He
was struck and Richard again hit him sew
eral times. Then Richard went away. They
were facing each other when the first blow
was struck. and Henry fell sideWise. She
stated that she did not know the men at all.
She did not know whether Richard had the
hammer in his hand or not when they were
disputing.
Oscar Harris a small colored boy. testi-
fed next He said he knew the men and
that he went to the shop yesterday morn
ing and heard them talking Then he heard
Richard say:
IN kill you
Henry did nothing at the time, witness
said. Richard was holding hammer In
his hand and he raised that. the witness
said. and struck Henry on the head. Henry
fell against the door. Then. he said, Rich
on the arm twice. and also kicked him.
Did Henry have anything In his hand
when Richard struck him." he was asked.
mo. sir. He didn't have anything
He said Henry was bleeding from the side
OF the head. He knew nothing more, al
though he was closely questioned by Acting
Coroner GlaZebrook.
Said He Had Fixed Him.
George B. Henry. living near the scene of
the trouble. said that he met Chase at LIST
and streets southwest. and Chase re-
marked:
1--WE fixed him." Witness said that Rich
ard was then under great excitement and
was cursing and swearing. He teiephoued
for the police, and later saw the body put
into the patrol wagon and taken away.
Officer Herbert took the stand to identify
the body of the man at the morgue as
that OF the man he had taken from the
blacksmith shop yesterday morning. OFF,
Ger Davis was recalled and identified the
hammer and handle in evidence as that
taken from the shop beside the dead man
yesterday. 1t had numerous blood spots on
1t. DR.. Glazebrook told of the examina-
ton OF the body and finding of the frac-
tured skull. which was depressed. about
half an inch.
DEFENDANTS Statement.
The defendant took the stand to make
statement. and he was warned that he
need not say anything unless he wished
and that the evidence he gave would be
used against him later. But he persisted
| and said in part:
When / went to work on a wagon top
| In the shop yesterday morning my brother
came In in rather rough way. he haviag
been drinking / asked him what the MAJ
ter was and he replied that 1t was none of
my business l told him not to fool
with me, and he says to me: Now. Rich
ard I'll kiln YOU / told him not to bother
| me, but he tore the shirt sleeves of from
me- In passion struck him.
How many times did you hit him?''
Twice. ! think"
do you remember when this hammer
| broker"
mo-
Defendant added that he didn't want any
persisted. He also told OF trouble between
them before. which. he said. was due to
Henry cursing bis mother
Mrs. Chase. the mother. was present at
continually. She stated to Morgue Master
Schoneberger that she could not pay for
| burying her son and that the District would
have to bury him.