The Washington herald., 1908-05-28
SHOOTS WHITE MAN,
THEN KILLS HIMSELF
Walter j. Johnson Makes
Attempt at Murder.
ENDS LIFE NEAR MONUMENT
Being Pursued by Mob OF Angry
Persons When He Sends Bullet Into
His Brain-Victim Was Joseph
Sudsberger, Foreman OF stables of
Bureau of Engraving and printing

With his only daughter playing ring
around rosy" within ten feet OF him
and Mrs. Owens. a woman. whose years
have passed the three-score-and-ten
mark. singing in a quavering voice the
echo Of the chIldren's song. Joseph Suds-
burger. superintendent Of the Bureau OF
Engraving and Printing stables. was shot
and mortally wounded last night about
$50 O'Clock
The shots were fired by Walter John
son. a negro. and ten minutes after he
had fred the shots. which will cause the
death Of Sudsburger. finding himself
pursued by mob. with no chance Of es-
cape. the negro turned the revolver on
himself and fired a bullet through his
brain. in time to prevent the vengeance
which the mob would have wreaked.
A few minutes after S o'clock last night
Mr.. Sudsburger. with his little girl and
his wife, went down into the yard of his
home, 81 Fourteenth street southwest.
He reclined in a chair which he had
placed near a swing. Children OF the
| neighborhood came into the yard. and. IN
company with Sudsburger's little girl.
began playing ring around a rosy
Sudsburger seemed interested IN the
game, and wos laughing heartily. when
a man entered he front gate, which was
ajar During the interval preceding the
game Mrs. Sudsburger had gone up
stairs. leaving her husband alone with
the children.
Fired Three Shots.
No attention was paid 20 the man who
entered the yard until he stopped directly
in front Of Sudsburger.
Suddenly, and without warning. three
pistol shots rang out in quick succession.
Sudsburger jumped from his chair as the
first shot sounded and attempted to grap-
pie with the men.
The negro, however. had evidently
planned his action well and as soon as he
fired the shots, evaded the attempt Of
his victim 20 catch him, and walking TO
the far end Of the yard. vaulted over the
fence and started to run away
Mrs Ov ems, an octogenerian. was at
tracted to the Sudsburger home by the
singing OF the Cnuoren. The home of
Sudsburger is a tWo-story brick building.
standing some forty feet back from the
street, with well-kept lawn IN frant.
The front is guarded by a small wire
fence. and Mrs. Owen was leaning over
this singing with the children when the
negro brushed by her and entered the
yard
Sudsburger turned to Mrs. Owens and
said Madame. he has shot me three
tines
The negro had fed at this juncture. but
Sudsburger seemed determined to follow
him, and walked out of the yard to a tree
some fifty feet away, where he halted.
He stood there for q moment and then
walked back to his gate. where he fell
In a semi-conscious state, with blood
pouring from a wound in his right hand
and two in the abdomen.
Crowd QoickIy Gathered.
Frightened by the shots. Mrs. Owens
began TO scream and in a moment a
crowd Of people gathered and started in
pursuit Of the negro.
Cries Of Lynch him" were raised, and
the mob see med intent on wreaking their
vengeance closely did they pursue.
Johnson r west on c street to FIJI
teenth stree nd then turned north to-
ward tho M vent lot. The police sta