Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-06
HELD FOR GRAND JURY
WILLIAM THOMAS UNDER THE
CHARGE OF MURDER.

At the hearing before Coroner Ramsey
hewitt at the morgue this morning to IN
auire into the death of Robert Whales VINO
was shot on the night of March In front
of 2SO6 Olive avenue northwest and who
died the following Saturday night at
Georgetown University Hospital. VIM.
Thomas, who did the shooting. took the
stand on his own behalf and told q con-
nected story Of the shooting. claiming that
it was done In self-defense. As the result
of the injury however, the coroner's jury
held him for the grand jury.
DIR. Glazebrook, deputy coroner, was the
first witness examined. He testified he per-
formed the autopsy on the body of the de-
ceased and found perforations In the bowels
and bladder that had been sewed up by
the surgeons; that the death Of the man
was evidently due to gunshot wound ana
the conditions arising from the wound. DR..
M. j. Ready. resident physician in George
town College Hospital. was next examined
He testified that Whales was brought into
the hospital the night of Thursday, March
l. In an intoxicated condition and suffering
greatly from a gunshot wound in the stom-
ach Next morning he was operated on and
twelve distinct perforations of the bowels
and two of the bladder were found. The
mans condition was very serious, ana ne
died the Saturday night following In re-
Spouse to questions the wounded man stat
ed he had been shot by a man named
Thomas. 49,,
Edward T. P Hams. residing at 122s 2Sth
street northwest was next called He
stated that he was standing In the door
way of his house, opposite where the shool-
ing occurred, and saw two cooreo men
talking on the street. One wanted TO break
in the door of the house, and the other was
trying to persuade him not to do so. He
then saw the man who was doing the pc
suading fire two shots and run. The other
man went around the house and was let IN
After the shooting the police We're called
Witness had a clear view OF the two men,
but heard no quarreling When asked II he
could recognize the prisoner the man
who did the shooting the witness said he
could not
Officer Albert s. Johnson of the seventh
precinct the next witness, told of having
been called after the shooting, and finding
Whales lying wounded on the floor of the
Olive street house, and of sending him to
Georgetown University Hospital. While
in the Olive street house he was told that
VIM. Thomas had shot Whales He then
tcld the story of the arrest of Thomas in
Virginia, near Makersville. and stated that
Thomas told him he had shot Whales in
self-defense. He alleged that Whales had
threatened to kill him and his CWhales)
wife also.
Detective Fathers, who was next called
to the stand, also told the story of the ar
rest of Thomas I'm Virginia and said the
prisoner made no resistance to the officers
when they went into the house in which he
was staying. The prisoner had told witness
afraid Of him.
Prisoners Statement.
Coroner hewitt asked the prisoner If no
wished to make any statement. and on his
saying he did Assistant District Attorney
Proctor, who was present, warned him that
whatever he might say would be used
against him. Thomas took the stand and
stated that after getting team that he
drove for local grocery house from the
stable he had gone to the house at 2so6
Olive avenue and had breakfast. Whales
was there and after breakfast got on his
wagon and spent the greater part of the
day with him. He told OF his movements
during the evening before the shooting. OF
having been In a bar room with Whales and
q man named Jim Reynolds He left
Whales and went to the Olive avenue house
where Annie woman who resided IN
the house. gave him his supper.
Maude Whales the wife of the dead man.
was there While at supper Whales came
IN. All spoke 70 him except his wife, who
was sitting By stove. with her head In her
hands Whales went up to the woman and
began to abuse her and threatened to kill
her, when annie" stopped him, ana after