Evening star., 1908-01-12
EXONERATED BY JURY
SIMMONS NOT HELD FOR
CHARLES STEGELL'S DEATH

4 years. instructor III the School OF baklnS
a Washington barracks. yesterday
cleared by a coroner's jury of al! re-
| sponsibility for the death of Charles E
| Stegen. aged twenty-five years, a stadent
| in the baking school. the jury deciding
| that Simmons acted in self defense.
In fistic encounter at Washington bar
racks Monday afternoon last between
] Charles +. Stegeil a private in the 4t7h
| Company of coast artillery at Fort Hunt.
Va. and student in the baking school
| at Washington barracks. and Charles A.
| Simmons. private in the 142d Company of
coast artillery. but in charge of the bak-
| ing school al Washington barracks, Ste
| gell was Knocked down by Simmons.
| In falling StegeEs head struck an iron
| cot. fracturing his skull. The man was
1 removed to the hospital in the barra cks
and died of his injuries yesterday after
| noon.
| While Simmons was held as A prisoner
| by the military authorities at Washington
| barracks and was not in charge of the
| local police the barracks authorities pro-
duced him at the inquest which was held
by Coroner hewitt at the morgue.
The inquest began at lao O'Clock. and
Messrs. Charles w. Porter. G. H. Dixie
man. James f. Gessford. George F. w.
), Strictly. William \. Foy and George B.
| Walker were sworn in as the jury.
| Evidence Introduced.
| DR.. B. r. Ashford. United States Army
was the first witness called. He de-
scribed the wounds received by the pris-
oner from a blow struck him by Stegeil
DR.. Walter Webb, United States Army
the next witness. testified that he treated
Stegell. who was suffering from frac-
ture of the skull. The injured man told
| the surgeon he had Been struck in a fight
and injured.
Mabel Costello. a thirteen-ye girl
who was in Private Simmons room at
the bakery to get bread for her mother
witnessed the quarrel between Simmons
and Stegell. The latter and Simmons had
| words and Stegell struck Simmons Sim
mons struck back. Then. while Simmons
was picking up her hood from the floor
Fstegeli got pair of brass knuckles and
struck Simmons. The witness stated that
Stegell struck the first blow.
charles Carmack, private in .he
United States Army an datteEding the
was next sworn. He heard the quarrel
between the men. Stegell called Simmons
an ugly name. he said. and struck him
on the head. Simmons struck back Ste
geil'then went to his trunk and got some
| thing out. and, coming behind Simmons
struck him several times with brass
knuckles. Simmons then caught the man
and threw him down. shaking the brass
KnuckieS from his hand.
Witness denied that he had taken any
part in the trouble and that he had
struck Simmons with banjo, which was
produced in evidence. He acknowledged
that he was under the influence of liquor
As far s-the witness knew Simmons had
not been drinking. but that Stegell had
At this point Mabel Costello was re-
called and testified that she had seen the
witness. Carmack. strike Simmons with
the banjo
Capt koyster. L. s. A.. the next wit
ness called. stated that Tuesday morning
last it was reported to him that Sim
mons had been assaulted by Stegall with
brass knuckles. and by Carmichael with
banjo. He found Stegall in bad condi-
ton and had Simmons placed under ar
rest. The officer testified to the good
character OF Simmons. who had been with
him for two years. There was no doubt
the officer stated. that the men were both
drunk and that Simmons in the dis
charge of his duty. being in charge of the
bakery demonstrated with them, and
this brought on the fight
Officers Heard.
Corp. J.~W. Dorsey had been uptown
with Stegall. Cormack and others, and
on his return to the barracks went into
the bakery He heard quarreling, and
going into Simmons room found the
prisoner and Stegall fighting He sep
arted the men and then returned to the
bakery. In few moments he heard
the sound Of fall. Going into the room
again. he found simmons holding Stegall
down. He again parted the men. Sim
mons claimed that Stegall had struck
him with brass knckles. Witness knew
that Stegall owned such knuckles. Wit
nes took Stegall to the hospital Stegall
was conscious, and was able to walk
without aid.
Deputy Coroners Statement.
DIR. Glazebrook, deputy coroner who
performed an autopsy on the body of
Stegell. testified that he found The man
had a very thin skull, and the nose and
the bones back of it were crushed In
the opinion of the physician the. mans
death was due to shock and slight
injury of the brain from the broken
nose.
Private Simmons then took the stand
in his own behalf. He stated that Car
mack and Stegell came into his room
drunk. Carmack laid down on his bunk
and vomited. He called upon Stegel to
take the man to his quarters and clean
up the room Stegeil refused to do SO
and cursed him and he and Carmack
assaulted him. He defended himself. and
was struck by Stegell with brass
knuckles.
TO defend himself he struck the men
and threw Stegell to the floor alongside
his bunk. He did not see Stegell's head
strike the bunk.
This closed the evidence and after a
few minutes deliberation the jury re-
turned it's verdict. declaring that 1--WE
believe that Charles A Simmons acted
entirely in Self-defense We absolye said
Charles A. Simmons from all RESPONSE
Stegen.''
Stegelrs home was at Banister Va.
The Finest Flowers That Grow