The Washington times., 1905-07-17
Held for Grand Jury in
Connection With the
Crowley Drowning.
BIG CROWD AT INQUEST
Many Witnesses Heard, and
Both Sides Represented
by Attorney.

Capt Harry Randall, who was
| charged by the police with being re-
sEonsibIe for the death of William
Crowley, a coIored waiter on board the
steamer Wakefield, of the Randall Line,
was held fer the action of the grand
jury al the elimination of the Coroner's
inquest held over the body Of the
drowned man at the District morgue.
Whether or not he will be released on
bond pending the hearing in the case Is
a matter to be determined by the Dis
trict Attorney.
The police were still holding him at
O'Clock this afternoon.
Many harsh things were said about
Randall by 800 or 600 persons, most OF
whom were colored. who focked TO the
morgue to hear the testimony, but who
were denied admittance and contented
themselves with remaining outside until
the inquest was ended. Wnen it was
learned that Randall had been held
there was cheering by the crowd It
was necessary TO set the harbor police
to dIspeTSe the crowd.
Verdict IN Detail.
The verdict was as follows:
I'VE the jury find from the evidence
that the deceased. William Crowley,
came to his death as a result OF his
jumping overheard from the steamer
Estelle Randall. We further find that he
leaped overheard while In fear of. or to
escape. punishment at the hands of, Capt.
Harry S. Randall, and we hold Capt
Harry S. Randall for the action Of tha
grand jury"
Considerable delay was occasioned By.
the late arrival of Juryrnan Karr. When
he reached The morgue, however the
jury viewed the body OF the drowned
man. and was then sworn IN by Deputy
Coroner GIazebrook.
In the custody OF Detective Tyser and
Sergeant Dean. of the Harbor precinct.
Capt. Harry Randall then entered tbs
room in which the inquest was TO bs
held He was represented by Attorney
Ambrose, while John W. Patterson ap-
peared for the relatives OF the drowned
fireman.
The first witness called by the coroner
was Sergt. Russell Dean He said:
About $50 o'clock Saturday morning
a. colored man named Stewart entered
Lieutenant Sutton's Office and informed
me that VIII Crowley had been chased
overheard by Captain Randall on FRI
day night I asked Stewart why he
thought the man was drowned, and he
said because no one had seen him
since Captain Randall got after him.
II then went TO the Randall line wharf
at Eighth street, and saw William JEFF
ferson, who told me that Crowley had
been chased by Captain Randall on the
EsteIle. and had jumped overheard l
heard the same from Thomas Dorsey.
Notified Captain Boardman,
81 then telephoned TO Captain Board
man. had the crew of The Vigilant drag
for CrowIey's body, and went 10 Alex
andria, Va The Wakefield was anchor
ed there and 1 went 10 the Office Of
Lieutenant Smith, of the Alexandria
police force who had Randall under
arrest. rs per instructions from Cap
tain Boardman. Randall was then
brought to Washington.
Detective William Tyser took the
stand and said:
''On the stern Of the boat I talked with
Captain Randall He told me that he
had heard some profanity used on thu
lower part of the boat while he was up
stairs preparing tc retire. Captain Ran
dali said he took a lantern and went
down to md eat who was swearing. He
sent MahlOn Diggs, colOred, To the en-
gine room of the boat 10 summon Crow
lev Randall said Crowley came up
stairs and struck him in the ear The
captain Of the D0at then hit Crowley II
the back, and the latter ran away
Captain Randall informed Tyser that
he thought Crowley jumped aboard
Sergeant Tyser then quoted the vile
language which Crowley is said 10 have
used.
liam Jefferson Witness sa 4.
Captain Randall came aboard our
boat and asked all of US if we had seen
VIII Crowley. We told him no and he
sent Bob Bruce 10 the Estelle tp look
for viii
When Bob Came Back.
Bob came back and said he had not
seen Crowley The captain then said:
Bob don't lie. If yor'ye seen him tell
.'Rob kinder hesitated and said he had
seen VIII asleep in Une engine room.
The CAPTAIN sent Two men downstairs
70 git Will and ] saw him coming up
looking scared. VIII thought that eV-
erybody on the boat was after him. and
he ran 10 the midship gangway pretty
fast and jumped overooard don't
think he was trying To get on the other
boat, bat was just getting out of Cap
tain RandaHs way 1 don't think VIII
could swim, bat ! thought he had
climbed up in The paddle wheel house
Captain Randall Went 10 the side OF
the boat and said he thought VIII had
swan ashore. ! didn't hear any more
trouble on the boat and went TO sleep.'
Witness Cross-Questioned
District Attorney Charles Turner
asked: You We're asleep on the boat
where Crowley was. What did Randall
*IIe says. Where's Crowley? If 1
Go to Chesapeake Beach Tomorrow.