Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-03
MAN KILLED
LOUIS LEDDEN SHOT BY GEORGE
GARRETT, CoLoRED.
Deed Believed by ohacials to Have
Been Deliberate-Story Of
Alleged Joint.
Special Correspondence OF The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, May g. 1907.
Louis Ledden, a Washington paper
hanger, thirty-four years of age, was shot
and killed yesterday afternoon about 4:30
o'clock in an alleged dope joint at Ross
lyn, Alexandria county, by George Gar
rett, colored, who resides at 1882 18th
street northwest, Washington. Immedi-
ately after the shooting Garrett gave him.
self up to Deputy Sherifs Howard Field
and j. H. Collins, and is prisoner in the
Alexandria county jail charged with MUIR
der. The remains of Ledden were this
afternoon turned over to Undertaken Nc
Carthy Of Washington and prepared for
burial.
C. Coroner Ashton Of Alexandria county
held an inquest at Z O'Clock last night, and
after the examination Of three witnesses
the jury gave verdict to the effect that
Ledden came to his death from a gunshot
wound from pistol in the hands of George
Garrett The pistol was Of .32-caliber
pattern, and the bullet entered to the right
Of the median line and shattered portion
of the breastbone. Ledden lived about Ave
minutes after the fatal shot had been fired
The inquest was held at the house where
the tragedy occurred, and the first witness
to testify was Hillman HemphilI, colored.
He claimed that the two men were playing
Soldier" when the pistol Is supposed to
have gone on accidentally.
Margaret Burnstein, alias Margaret Lang
don, Of Washington stated that she did not
witness the shooting, but heard the report
of the gun. when Claude Evans came In
and said: Beat It," After which she Sc
The substance Of the testimony of Claude
Evans was that the men were friends.
Interview Denied.
= Star reporter called at the county jail
this morning for the purpose of seeing the
alleged murderer but was informed that
strict orders had been left to allow no one
to see Garrett 1t Is supposed that the
object of this Is to prevent any one giving
cocaine to the accused. 1t is stated that
Garrett claims the killing Of Ledden was
purely accidental
The inquest developed but little Informal
ton. but the county authorities are firm
in their belief that the murder was de-
liberate one. In less than two hours after
the murder the following persons were
taken into custody and are being held as
witnesses: Margaret Burnstein, alias Mar
garet Langdon, twenty-four years of age,
who resides at 2021 Sherman avenue north
west; Bessie Kemper, colored, forty-two
Rummage court southeast; Hillman Hemp
hill, colored 18th and c streets northwest;
John Sedgwick colored, 273O p street north
west: DR.. william Phillips, 152 w street
northwest.
first floor of the alleged dope" joint. which
Is alleged to be operated by DR.. Phillips
All of the above-named witnesses viii tes-
tify at the trial, and the county officials
arraignment Of DR.. Phillips on a charge Of
operating a cocaine establishment.
Scene Of the Killing.
The establishment where the murder took
place was formerly operated as saloon.
and is within a short distance of Aqueduct
bridge. There has been considerable talk,