The Washington times., 1908-11-21
George B. GaScoigne Slain
After Argument in a
Boarding House.
THOMAS GRIFFITH
HELD FOR CRIME
Killing Said to Be elimination of
Long-Standing Fued-Slayer
Claims Self-Defense.

George B. GascOigne, uIty-Tlye years
Of age, plate printer at the Bureau Of
Engraving and Printing, was shot and
almost instantly killed this morning By
Thomas X. Griffith thirty-eight years
old, blacksmith, employed at the Firth
Sterling steel plant, GIesborO Point
The shooting occurred shortly after
o'clock in a lodging house at 517 Elev-
enth street southwest, where both men
had lived for some time.
There had been III feeling between the
men for several months. but Griffith
asserts that he shot the plate printer in
self-defense. Police Captain Mulhau, Of
the Fourth precinct. says there is no
doubt that both men had been drinking.
According to GIrs. Charles Branden-
berg. the lanGlady, the trouble between
the two roomeIE started early last sum-
Uer.
GasCcigne. It is said. had been out OF
work for several months, and the other
roomers objected TO his remaining in
the house and not paying any board, on
the ground that they were paying his
living expenses.
Words Are Passed.
Words passed between Gascoigne and
Griffith on several occasions, and once
they came TO blows. They had trouble
az the supper table again last night, ana
several OF the boarders in the house say
they heard Gascoigne remark that
Griffith would never live 70 60 to the
steel plant this morning.
Mrs. Brandenburg was standing on the
front porch this morning when she heard
three shots fired. Going into the house, [
she met Gascoigne staggering down
wounds, one in the side or the head
and the other IN his chess. He managed
10 drag himself TO the dining room
where he fell to the floor unconscious. 1
He died before the arrival Of the
Emergency Hospital ambulance.
Griffith followed Gasccigne downstairs, !
and walking up 10 Mrs. Brandenberg. is |
said to have remarked:
II hated to do 1t, but had TO-"
Mrs. Brandenberg says that about half
an hour before the shooting occurred, |
Grinth came to her and wanted TO know
II she had his coat and hat Mrg. |
Brandenberg. suspecung that Gascoigne
had hid them, 0nered TO find them II |
Griffith would give her a quarter, she !
says.
Police Notified.
A telephone message was sent TO the
Fourth precinct station that a man had /
been murdered in the Eleventh street 4
house. Captain MulhalI sent the re- 4
serves around TO the house in the patrol, /
but in the meantime Bicycle Policeman /
Russell had arrived. Griffith was locked /
up TO await the action of the coroners /
inquest. At the station he made the fol-
lowing statement TO Capain Mulhau:
"GascOigne had made threats against /
HHHA N#H fra aneH
beaten me on previous occasion. This /
morning he came to my room, and said: /
Tom, this is your finish putting his
hand TO his hip pocket.
Il was afraid ne was going to do me /
bodily harm, as ! had been warned by
me.
I showed hira out OF the room. He /
came back in q minute with his hand /
still at his right hip pocket. / opened /
nay trunk took the pistol out, and held /
II so that he could see It, I warned him /
TO go away, but he wouldn't leave the |
room.
Pulls the Trigger.
Then I pulled the trigger as often |
as the pistol would respond I think /
there were three loaded shells in Il. I
put the pistol back In the trunk before /
! went downstairs
Cascoigne held only a temporary ap- /
pointment as plate printer at the /
was extended to December 81, 1893. He 4
was a native of Brooklyn, n. Y. and is /
said to have a brother employed IN the
New York custom house.
The body was taken to the morgue,
where an Inquest viii probably be CON
Quoted this afternoon