Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-16
FRACTURED HIS SKULL
JOSEPH STEWART SUFFERING
FROM EFFECTS OF. A BLOW.
Refused to Pay for Drink and the
Barkeeper Hit Him With
Brick.

Suffering from fracture Of the skull and
in an apparently serious condition, William
H. Stewart, colored, was taken from the sa-
loon Of William Cannon, 1225 7th street
northwest this morning about 1870 o'clock.
The police removed him to Freedmen's Hos
pital after he had been given treatment at
the Homeopathic Hospital Joseph Cannon.
who was working in the saloon as barten-
der. was arrested by Policemen McGrath
and Carroll Of the second precinct and &C
cused of having caused the injuries. He
admitted that he had struck the cOlored
man with a piece Of brick. but claimed he
dealt the blow in self-defense. The infor-
nation given the police by some Of the sur
geons who assisted in dressing the wound
indicated that Stewart had not much show
to recover. 1t was because Of this infor-
nation that young Cannon was held to
await the result Of the wound. no specific
charge being preferred against him when
he was placed under arrest.
Cannon was behind the bar this morning
and called for drink. He had been one
of the regular patrons Of the place and
the drink. 1t is stated, was placed upon
the bar In front of him without any ques-
lions being asked. When he had emptied
the glass he failed to pay for it. it Is
charged. and the bartender made a demand
| upon him for the cash. but without sue
cess. The bartender had been on duty
since the place was opened at an early hour
In the morning and was about to start
homeward to get breakfast when Stewart
entered.
Persists in Refusal. 8
The customer was asked for the money
several times, 1t is said by persons who
were in the saloon at the time. and when
| he showed sign of putting down the
cash he was invited to leave the place of
| business. This invitation was not accepted
any more than was the request for the
money complied with. 1t then became
necessary to eject Stewart from the place.
Young Cannon succeeded in putting him
! out of the saloon. but he returned and was
a second time elected and again he re-
| turned The last time he entered the sa
| loon, 1t is alleged. he was armed with
| piece OF brick. and after he and the bar
tender had INDUCED in a further argument
the colored man was knocked down.
| Stewart did not get up and Cannon left
| the saloon and went to breakfast 1t was
| stated that Stewart was subject to fits. but
| his friends afterward denied the assertion.
| Others thought he was considerably under
the influence Of liquor and believed that his
| inability to get up and leave the saloon was
partly due to his condition. The police say
the victim was unconscious when they got
| him and that his condition appeared to be
critical. They hurried him to the Home
| opathic Hospital.
When Capt. Sullivan reached the second
precinct police station he learned that Can
| non had not been apprehended. He directed
/ several Of his men to search for him.
Hes only gone to breakfast" one Of the
officers was told when he made inquiry at
the restaurant. land he will be back in a
| short while"
Cannon Arrested.
Precinct Detective Fortney and several
policemen were sent out to search for Can
! non, and ne was met near 9th and o streets
| by Policemen McGrath and Carroll He had
| had his breakfast and was returning to his
place of employment. He was surprised
when told of the serious nature Of Stew
| arts injuries. and declared he had acted
| only in self-defense. The young man was
| taken to the second precinct station and
| held to await the result of the wound.
| The police visited the saloon and obtained
| the names Of the persons who were there at
the time the affair occurred. They were
questioned by the police, and, 1t Is stated,
! they all agreed that the brick was brought
3, to the saloon by the carpenter after he had
| been elected twice because Of his failure
| to settle for the drink. At Freedmen's Hos
! pital this afternoon it was stated that Stew
art was still unconscious and that his condi-
| ton was critical.
| Stewart lives at II Goat alley. At the
house where he boarded nobody was to be
| seen when a Star reporter called today. 1t
was said by neighbors that Stewart was or
dinarily a quiet man, but he would get
intoxicated occasionally.