Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-19
HELD FOR GRAND JURY
JOSEPH CANNON CHARGED WITH
KILLING WIN. n. STEWART.

Joseph Cannon. q bartender employed In
Cannon's bar room at 1928 7th street north
west. was this morning held for the action
OF the grand jury by the coroners jury on
charge Of having been responsible for
the death Of william H. Stewart, colored,
who was injured at the bar room after be-
ing twice expelled Tuesday morning last.
and who died at Freedmens Hospital yes
terday morning at 5:15 o'clock. In the
fracas the man was hit in the head with a
piece OF brick causing, according to the
statement Of physicians at the inquest, con-
cussion Of the brain.
The inquest was held In the morgue
building at II O'clock this morning, before
DR.. Ramsay hewitt, coroner. assisted by
Assistant Coroner GIazebrook. The case
attracted considerable attention and the In
quest room at the morgue was filled. every
the examination Of the witnesses the coro-
ner had to threaten to clear the room in
consequence of demonstrations on the part
Of the spectators. The prisoner was rep
resented by Mr.. Campbell Darlington. and
Assistant District Attorney J. N. Proctor
represented the prosecution.
The first witnesses called were DR.. M E.
Toogood of the Homeopathic Hospital and
pr. w. A. Warfleld Of the Freedmen's Hos
pital. who stated that Stewart had been
brought to the institutions named. and also
Of the injuries he had received. and his
death yesterday morning +.-.-
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook told of the
wounds he found In the head when he per-
formed an autopsy on the body Of Stewart
at the morgue. and stated that the death
Of the man was due to conclusion Of the
brain and cerebral hemOrrhage.
Policeman's Testimony.
Policeman George Carroll the next wit
ness, told Of his investigation of the ARRAY
alleged. He was at the corner of 7th and
M streets northwest about 7:39 O'Clock the
morning Of the 10Th. he said. and was told
that man had been struck with a brick
at Cannon's bar room. He went to the bar
room and found Stewart lying on the floor
and was told that the man had had fit.
He saw from his condition that he had
been hit, and on making further 1nvestiga-
ton learned that Joseph Cannon had struck
him. He arrested Cannon as he was return
ing to work from his home. and took him
to the station. Cannon claimed that Stew
art had come into the bar room after being
elected twice, and had attempted to strike
him with a piece of brick. He took the
brick from Stewart, and on his making
motion as II to draw weapon struck him
with It.
Joseph Breen. 2O2s 18th street north
west, was in Cannon's saloon between Z
and 7:15 O'Clock the morning of the 18th.
He heard the bartender, Cannon and Stew
art in dispute over the payment for
u X,
bar. He heard Stewart use a vile term in
referring to Cannon and say that he ives
going to kill him. Stewart then came
lowed the brick fell to the floor. Witness
picked the brick up and threw it behind
the bar. He saw Stewart make motion
Of his pocket, but he did not see Cannon
hit him. The negro. witness said, was
able to walk without trouble. and did not
seem to be greatly under the influence OF
liquor.
Fight in the Bar Room.
George Redmon' saw Stewart go to a
pile of brick at 7th and NJ strets and
pick up a piece of brick. but he saw
nothing Of the fight in the barroom. Jerry
Taylor, colored. residing on L street be-
TWEEN 4th and 5th northwest. went to Cam
mons barroom about am. the 10th, and
vi" He t heard the dispute over the price Of a
drink and saw the bartender, Cannon run
Stewart out of the place. OF the alleged
trouble in a little cigar stand between the
bar and the street. the witness said he
knew nothing. When he saw the men
Cannon had Stewart down on the floor on
his back He saw Cannon hit Stewart with
the piece of brick did not see Stewart make
any motion as If to draw weapon: Wie.
ness acknowledged having heard Stewart
curse Cannon
Arthur johnson saw Stewart ana cannon
STRUGGLING in the street when Stewart was
put out OF the bar the first time. witness
went into the bar and asked for drink.
and he heard Cannon call Stewart back
and ask him II he thought he was as good
a man as he (Cannon), and say he was
going to kill him. In the struggle IN winch
Stewart was struck with a brick the men
were lying on the floor of the cigar stand
in front Of the bar. Witness saw Cannon
hit Stewart with the brick. He Thought
Stewart was very drunk. and unable to de-
fend himself Witness did not hear Stewart
curse Cannon and threaten to kill him.
Joseph Wallace of $40 4th street north
west was in the bar drinking when the
trouble occurred. He saw the bartender
hit Stewart. he said. with the piece or
brick. but saw no brick In Stewards hand
His testimony confirmed that Of the pre-
vious witness.
Cannon Makes Statement.
Joseph Cannon told the jury that he used
the piece of the brick on the head Of the
colored man because be thought that the
latter was armed with a deadly weapon.
He explained that after Stewart had re-
fused to pay for the drink and he had
elected him from the place twice, the col
ored man used vile epithet toward him
and threatened to get even" with him
and fix" him. Cannon said he started to
go home to breakfast after the trouble
had occurred and he met Stewart at the
door. He took the brick from Stewart
after the latter had struck him on his
hand and when he saw Stewart put his
hand in his pocket he struck him with the
brick.
why did you strike him?' inquired At
torney Darlington.
"I struck him in self-defense," was the re-
Spouse of the prisoner.
William Cannon, uncle of the young man.
and proprietor of the restaurant: Harry
Walsky, George Greedy and Policeman Hen
bricks were also examined. The policeman
said he found piece of brick In the pocket
of the wounded man when he took him to
the hospital. The jurors discussed the testi-
mony at some length before they reached
a conclusion.
The jury consisted of Messrs. Mayo Mitch
ell. c. c. Langley, Thomas Walker, w. p.
Evans. Benjamin Smith and William A.
Moore