The Washington times., 1907-09-22
GATHER EVIDENCE
!. ON SINCLAIR DEATH
Conflicting Stories Told by
Pullen Regarding the
Shooting.
He Admitted Having Held
Weapon When 1t Was
Discharged.

Captain Mathews and Detective Smith,
of the Fifth precinct. spent all day yes
: terday and last evening collecting evil
dence to present to the Coroners jury
at the inquest at 1890 o'clock tomorrow
morning over the body Of George d.
Sinclair, a Chesapeake and Ohio freight
conductor, who died IN the Casually
Hospital from the effects of bullet
wound
William A. Puuen, of 142 NJ street
southeast, a laborer employed at the
State. War and Navy building, and
brother-in-law of Sinclairs brother, is
held without bail at No. station house
ITO await the action OF the Coroner's
jury. The shooting occurred in Pullen's
home.
There is considerable mystery sur
rounding the case. and because OF the
fact that Pullen changed his story i'm
lnediately after he was placed under
arrest. the police are endeavoring 10
learn the real facts.
Said he Shot Himself.
Sinclair was taken from Pullens
house Thursday night 10 the Casualty
Hospital. Although MORALLY wounded,
he had not lost consciousness. and told
the physicians that he had shot him
self When questioned by the police,
Pullen told the same story. and the
police were satisfied that the wound
was self-inhicted.
After the mans death Pullen was
locked up. An investigation OF the wound
developed that its nature was such that
It would have been practically impos-
.sible for the conductor TO have shot
himself. The bullet entered his right
side just below the armpit-
Yesterday morning Pullen told Captain
Mathews that the gun was in his hand
when the shot was fired Il had not
seen Sinclair since last April until he
came to my house Thursday night" he
said. ~ was IN bed. but my wife woke
me up and said George was downstairs.
Asked for Cartridges.
II put on some clothing and went to
the door. AS he came into the room he
asked me for some cartridges for his
revolver. He took the weapon from his
pocket, unwrapped Il, and handed It to
me. r took it with my left hand. in
which I had match. Just as I started
to strike the match. there was a loud
report. and then heard George say:
&" I'm shot: send for an ambulance"
I'VE had never had any trouble, and
-N5esrge and I were the best OF friends
I would not have killed him intention
ally for anything in the world. The
shooting was purely accidental.
Mrs. Sinclair, wife Of the dead man,
said this morning that, although she
and her husband had not been living
together he called at her house on Thurs
DAY night. and was badly in need OF
money. She suggested TO him that he
apply to his aunt Mrs. Underwood
Sinclair telephoned 10 Mrs. Underwood.
Who told him 70 come and see her. and
she would talk to him. Later it de-
veloped that Mrs Underwood was not
able to let Sinclair have the money.
Mrs. Sinclair said Pullen owed her nus
bdnd s., AND Is under the impression
that he must have gone 10 Pullons
house for the purpose of collecting the
money.
IA Brother Informed Police
Because Of the fact that Sinclair.
when first brought TO the hospital. told
the doctors he had shot himself. no in
vestigation was conducted by the police
until Friday night. when Robert Sinclair
a brother Of the dead man, told the po-
lice his brother had made a statement
that the shooting had been done by
Pzlllen
The story which Sinclair first told, ac-
cording 10 the police. was that he had
called at Pullen's home to get some
cartridges for a revolver he was carry
ing While taking the pistol from his
pocket, It was said. the weapon acct
IDENTIFY exploded, the bullet entering his
Eide and shattering his spinal column.
Later it was discovered that there was
a bullet hole in his coat. just below the
shoulder. The Tact did not bear out
Sinclair's story. The police say that
Pullen acknowledged having the re-
volver in his hand, but said 1t was acct
dentally discharged while he was en-
deavoring TO light match
Tells of Difficulty.
Robert Sinclair said that his brother
and Pullen had some difficulty with
each other. but that 1t had not been of
a serious nature. He also intimated
that there had been domestic Difficult
ties.
Sinclair had been employed as a flag
man and freight conductor by the
Chesapeake and Ohio railroad for about
ten years. His wife lived with her sister
at go \ street southeast, while Sinclair
lived with his brother at the q street
house. His wife was formerly Miss
Mamie Deverne. Pullen is married 10
her sister. Rosie Deverne.
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