Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-20
TRAGEDY AMONG AGED
District Institution the Scene
of a Homicide.
TWO OLD MEN QUARREL
John G.. Mason Shoots and Kills
Martin McCrossin.
CORONER HOLDS AN INQUEST
Verdict Holds the Accused to Await
Action by Grand Jury.
The Testimony.
TWO OLD MEN QUARREL
CORONER HOLDS AN INQUEST

| Witnesses appeared at the morgue to-
day and told a jury, impaneled by Coro-
ner hewitt. the circumstances of the fatal
shooting late yesterday afternoon of Mar
| tin McCrossin, an inmate of the Home
for the Aged. by John G. Mason. an in
mate Of the same institution. Mason is
seventy-four years of age. while the age
| of McCrossin was registered siXty-siX
years
| McCrossin was in charge of the dormi-
tory. Witnesses testified he was shot in
the stomach by Mason because Nc
Crossin had objected to Mason occupying
bed In the dormitory in the daytime.
| The jury rendered verdict that Mason
be held to await action by the grand
| jury.
DR.. ]. A. Watson of Anacostia was one
Of the witnesses
II saw at the institution three or four
surgical Instruments" DR.. Watson told
the jury; rusty instruments. There was
no whisky, no aromatic spirits of am
monia, nor means of giving salt solu,
ton there
Was there any medicine there?" Cor
There was some medicine he said
''but not as much as have in my cabinet
at home. and 1 don't make practice Of
dispensing it,
Grating table. DR.. Watson also explained
that he was asked to bring DR.. Black.
| istone from the Washington Asylum Hos
pital to the Home for the Aged, and when
they reached there they found the wound.
| ed man was in serious condition. 1t was
due to their efforts that he was removed
to the Washington Asylum Hospital.
where he died after an operation had been
performed.
DR.. Julian c. Blackstone resident ply
sician at the Washington Asylum Hospi
tai. was called. He told of the trip to the
| Home for the Aged, and in response to
the coroner's query, said he realized that
assistance might have been obtained from
the Government Hospital for the Insane.
which is about three miles nearer the
scene of the shooting. Witness told of
the operation having been performed by
DR.. Hickling and of the serious character
of the wound The patient, he said: did
not rally after the operation. DIR. Black
istone said he noticed the absence OF
proper hospital facilities at the Home for
the Aged.
Resident Physician Testies.
DR.. ". P. Kirby, resident physician at
the Home for, the Aged, testified regard
ing the treatment he gave the wounded
man before the arrival of the other ply
/ SlClduS ne StdtCu tilel eiio iAoSP'eA' ~
the institution has sixteen beds; that med
icines are kept there and that he has
few surgical instruments. -,
Have you any means for giving salt
| solution?' the coroner asked
| mo, sir
Are you fixed so that you can handle
q case like this"
| Yes. sir"
why did you not operate on the MANI
IT did," he replied but found | need
ed assistance and sent for the other ply
| sicians."
| was in a serious condition when he saw
| him. although he was still conscious and
| able to talk. McCrossn was extremely
weak. however. and was not questioned
| much about the shooting.
| Deputy Coroner Glazebrook explained
the result of the autopsy.
| Edward Cant, an inmate of the Home
| for the Aged. told the jury that he was
in the dormitory yesterday AFTERNOON
when Mason entered and wanted to lie
down. McCrossin, he said, objected to his
living down and Mason declared he had as
much right to do so as others.
Details of the Shooting.
What was said by the men before the
shooting occurred?" the coroner asked
| mason said he would not go out Of the
dormitory for him or any other person,
witness responded.
McCrossin, the witness. declared. pulled
at Mason to get him out of the building.
! and the latter drew revolver and shot
McCrossin In the stomach.
| Ibid you actually see the shot fired?''
Yves. sir" the witness replied. Il was
| ONLY ten feet away"
The witness further said that McCrossin
wanted him to take his pocketbook after
he had been shot.
Did you hear the wounded man say
anything?"
HE said he had been shot"
The witness further testified that
Mason said he was not going to let
any overgroWn " beat him.
Had he beaten him?'
mo, sir"
Policeman Ready testified that he
went to the institution and made in
quiries about the shooting. He was
told that McCrossin was in charge, of
the dormitory and that he was shot
because he objected to Mason lying on
the bed in the daytime with his clothes
on. Witness was told that inmates are
not permitted to occupy the beds in
clothing. If they are i'll, he was in
formed, they can secure permission to
occupy the beds Witness was further
told that the pistol was found in a
| room in which persons than Mason
| sleep
| Policeman Oldin was also examined.
He produced the weapon that had been
turned over to him at the institution
Mason Declines to Speak.
The prisoner. whose head was bandaged,
was asked if he desired to make state
ment. Coroner hewitt advised him of his
rights In the matter.
Under the circumstances" Mason said,
II will refrain from making a statement
until l see my attorney"
1t Is said to be probable that an in
yestigation will be made by the authori-
ties into the matter of Mason having a
loaded revolver. Mason, 1t is stated,
was confidential clerk to Gen. Rucker in
his younger days. and later he had law
offices in this city and Baltimore. Nc
Crossin had been resident of Montgom-
cry county, Md. and afterward resided
at Brightwood. Mason was committed to
Jail this afternoon.