Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-15
RANDALL ARRESTED
Held by Police Pending In
quest by the Coroner.
NEGRO MAN DROWNED
CAPTAIN OF RIVER STEAMER HAD
AN ALTERATION.
Man Went Overheard and Sank to the
Bottom - Body Recovered
by Harbormaster.

Harry Randall licensed steamboat cap
tain the Potomac river, is under arrest,
but II is probable that no charge will be
preferred against him until after Coroner
hewitt has held an inquest over the remains
of William Crowley. colored, who was en-
ployed on the steamer Wakefield deck
hand. Crowley, who was twenty-five years
old and lived at No. 100 Ridge road. Ben
ming, was drowned off the steamer last
night between II and u O'Clock. 1t Is al
legged that he was being pursued by Capt.
Randall at the time he fell or jumped over
board from the steamer Estelle Randall,
and 1t is for the purpose of determining
the circumstances attending the drowning
that the captain is being held until a jury
can pass upon the case.
Eugene Dodson, who lives at 1915 Az
street southwest, was with Capt Randall
last night and was passenger aboard the
steamer Wakefield at Alexandria this morn
ing when the captain was arrested He was
brought here with the captain and taken
to police headquarters, where both men
were interviewed by Capt. Bolrdman.
On the way here from Alexandria aboard
the police boat Vigilant Capt. Randall dis
cussed the affair with Detective Tyser.
Sergt. Dean and others. He admitted that
ne had a difficulty with the colored man
and that blows passed. He denied, how
ever, that he had pushed Crowley overheard
or that he was the cause of his jumping
into the river. 1t was explained to the po-
lice that Capt Randall and the colored man
had some words last night aboard the
steamer Wakefield and the cOlored man, it
Is claimed, called the captain an objection
able name. In this statement the chief off,
Ger of the boat is substantiated by Mr.. Dod-
son. Crowley left the boat and boarded
the Estelle Randall, going to the engine
room. Shortly afterward Capt. Randall
reached the boat and went in search of
Crowley. He found him and the difficulty
was renewed, with the result stated
Although a number of persons knew that
Crowley had jumped overheard and had
not returned to the vicinity of the boat,
none of them called the attention of the
police to the affair. and it was not until
after 8 o'clock this morning that James
Stewart, colored. who lives in the house
where Crowley lived at Benning, called at
the office of the harbor precinct and asked
that search be made for his friends body.
He didn't come home last night" said
Stewart. land l heard that he was
drowned"
The harbor precinct started an inves:i-
cation Immediately, and learned from col
ored men employed on the boat that Crow
ley had gone overheard from the boat as
stated. Members of the crew of the police
boat got out their graphing irons and
dragged the bottom of the river about the
vicinity of the Sth street wharf. Their
efforts were soon rewarded and the body
was taken to the morgue.
Capt. Randall, 1t was learned. had gone
down the river in charge of the steamer
Wakefield. and the Alexandria police were
asked to apprehend him.
He was brought to Washington on the po-
lice boat and taken to police headquarters.
where Capt. Boardman saw him. He told
the police official that after Crowley cursed
him several passes We're made by both of
them, and that Crowley inflicted a slight IN
jury to his Randalls) face After his state
ment had been heard he was taken to the
fourth precinct station to be held until Mon
day morning, when Coroner hewitt and a
jury Will hear the evidence.
Arrested in Alexandria.
When the steamer Wakefield which left
Washington early this morning for the reg
ular trip down the river, reached her wharf
here she was boarded by several local DO
lice oHlcerS, who ARE Sted Capt. Harry
Randall the commander OF the steamer
and conducted him to the station house.
pursuant to a request received at -olice
headquarters about o'clock this morning
from Captain Boardnan OF the Washing
ton police, asking that Captain Randall be
taken into custody here on the charge Of
murder The Information contained in the
telephone message WAS brief, hut il was
stated that Captain Randall was wanted
on the charge OF running a negro over
board in the Washington harb0r last ght
and causing his death by drowning. OFF,
GERS Knight Beach and Gill we've dis
patched to the wharf TO apprekend Cap
tain Randall. and later they were joined
by Lieutenant Smith and Officer 81 erwood,
When the Wakefield arrived she was
boarded by several of the officers. but a
delay i'll locating the captain was expert
enced The policemen went through the
vessel searching for CAPTAIN Randall, who
was finally found in the bar room. Mean
while one policeman was stationed at the
gangway to see that the steamer remained
at her moorngs. The mission of the po-
UcemPn no
crowd of passengers on the upper decks
causing a little furry of excitement. The
intelligence also spread on the river front
and a crowd soon collected on the wharf
After the location of the captain lie was
given time to change his uniform for a
suit of civilians clothes, and the delay in
his appearance on the wharf occasioned
much speculation among the passengers
and others gathered at the place 1t was
nearly 10 O'Clock before lie was conducted
from the boat. and the vessel was detained
some time after that before leaving for the
river trip.
ton house. where he was placed in the
mayors Office and guarded without being
locked up. The Washington police depart
ment was at once notified To a Star re
porter Capt. Randall stated that he had
nothing to say concerning the charge
against him, except to deny that he had
struck the negro. He. however, admitted
that there had been a difficulty, and de-
villainous name. His father, Capt Randall
the owner of the Randall steamboat lines,
soon reached the station house. Accom-
panying him were Pilot Deane of the pO-
lice boat Vfgilant and officer Frank Cooper.
Later Detective TIGER arrived and the party
of officers, with the prisoner In charge. re-
turned to Washington on the police BOAT.
Jesse Parr, negro, who was employed
as deck hand on the steamer Wakefield
stated this morning that he was am eye
witness of the drowning of the negro in
Washington. whose name. Parr stated was
William Crowley, fireman on the steamer
Estelle Randall. Parr declared that Cant.
Harry Randall. accompanied by a colored
man, had made vigorous search last night
about 80 O'Clock over the Wakefield for
some negro employe Parr said Capt Ran
dali had a lantern and asked for yellow
man. The captain appeared excited Parr
stated. and left for the EstelIe Randall
when informed that the man was on the
deck of that boat. Later. Parr stated, he
saw Capt. Randall and his companion ap-
preaching. Crowley hastily retreated be-
fore them and finally either jumped or fell
overheard, disappearing under the water.
The New York Custom House.
Assistant Secretary Reynolds of the
Treasury Department today let to John C.