Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-21
ROOM INVADED BY VICTIM
Griffin Says Gascoigne Threatened
Him and He Defended Himself.
HAD FIST FIGHT MONTHS AGO
Quarrel of Long Standing-Two Bull
let's Reach Mark-Autopsy to Be
Followed by Inquest.

Dead from bullet wounds upon the floor
in the dining room at the house OF
Charles Brandenburg. 517 Eleventh street
southwest. this morning. was George B.
Gascogne. fifty-fve years of age who
was employed in the bureau of engraving
and printing as plate printer, slain by
Thomas r. Griffith irty-eight years Of
age. blacksmith. who was seated quietly
in another room awaiting arrest when
the police arrived.
In the room where the dead body lay
were Mrs. Brandenburg, another woman,
and several children. They were chat
ting about the homicide Mrs Branden-
burg expressed little sympathy for the
dead man.
He boasted he was going to wreck
my house. she stated. mo one can do
that. There are too many men In this
world for one of them to be able to
wreck my house.
''He owed me $500 for board. Now he's
dead. l suppose I'll never get paid
Quarrel of Long Standing.
The shooting was the result of a quarrel
begun many months ago, renewed last
evening and brought to a crisis this
morning by the man who was shot to
death. The shooting occurred in the room
occupied by Griffith. a small apartment
on the second floor
Gascoigne went there this morning and
threatened to XII him. says Griffith.
Griffith fired the three shots at GaScoigne
he says. because he feared his life was in
Jeopardy. He told of having been threat
ened to his teeth and of other threats
against his life made by his victim to
other persons.
At the morgue Coroner Ne1-itt ,,,,da on
examination of the body and found that
two bullets had struck the victim. One
entered just below the collarbone and
the other, 1t Is believed, passed through
his heart
The left ear Of the dead man showed
a number of powder marks, indicating
that the weapon had been held close
TO his head when one shot was fired
1t is thought the first discharge. OF the
revolver inflicted the powder marks and
burn. A bullet fired from the revolver
was found at the foot Of the stairs.
The coroner directed that an AUTOPSY
be performed upon the body early this
afternoon. In order that an inquest may
be held at 4 o'clock.
Griffith is a widower and has three
grown sons. Gascoigne formerly lived
in Brooklyn. \. Y, and has brother
employed in the New York custom
house.
Came to Blows Months Ago.
AS far back as July. Mrs. Brandenburs
told the police, the two men quarreled
and actually came to blows. Gascoigne
she said, was out of employment several
months. Other boarders in the house COM
planned that they were paying to feed
him.
Gascoigne. she said, was a quarrel
some man and resented anything he could
construe as All affront. AT the time of
the trouble last summer said Mrs. Brand
enburg. Gascoigne had Griffith by the
throat and had his head almost jammed
through window screen. They were
separated
She suggested to them that if they
wanted to fight it would be well for
them to go to the back yard, offering
to lend them a lamp if they did not want
to fight in the dark. Several times since
July. she said. Gascoigne had shown that
he still held animosty.
he went to Connecticut few weeks
ago Mrs Brandenburg stated, to see his
Wl1e He did not have money enough
TO bring him back. Friends had to send
him the price of his fare
Row Renewed Last Night.
Last night when Griffith entered the
house and looked at Gascoigne the latter
said he would not be looked at i'm so
superciilous way. and threatened to
hiii dTinlh- Later GaScoigne declared
he would kill Griffith this morning
lie VIII never reach his work alive to-
morrow morning. is the threat he made
MS threat was communicated to Grif-
hlh- Grlfntn had no fear that Gascoigne
would attempt to carry out his threat and
MADE no preparations to defend himself
His revolver was not taken from his
trunk ~
Gascoigne hid Griffiths coat and hat last
nlght or this morning. When Griffith was
unable 10 lind them he went to the front
door ana called to Mrs. Brandenburg to
ask II she knew what had become Of
thenl. He could not find them and offered
TO give ID cents to the one who did find
them
Leaving Mrs. Brandenburg talking to
nelghoor. Grifnth returned to the house
He went to his room.
a few minutes later, about 100 o'clock
Mrs. Brandenburg heard the report of a
pistol. Then she heard second report
followed by a cry Of pain a third shot
was then fired
Mrs. Brande1burG FASTENED into the
house to discover what had happened
Gascoigne. wounded in Griffith's room,
on the second floor. had run downstairs
and had fallen I'm front OF the latrobe in
the dining room. Griffith made no effort to
escape, but remained in the house until
the arrival of the police
lis he dead?'' asked the landladv OF
Bicycle Policeman Russell. who was the
first officer 10 reach the house
Il think he is Russell replied, after he
had felt the body.
Griffith Admits Killing.
Lieut. Flather. Sergt. Yates and Police
man Ais reached the house about that