Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-26
SHOOTS MS BROTnER-|n-lAW
CLEVELAND WATERS CAUSES
DEATH OF WIN. NEWMAN.
Mistakes Relative for Burglar and
Fires Shot at Close Range.
No Arrest.

Mistaking William Newman. his brother
in-law. for a burglar, Cleveland Waters,
colored living near Oxon Hill. Prince
George county. Nd, shot and fatally
wounded the latter between l and
clock last Friday morning while in the
dwelling occupied by the two men on the
livingston road, not far from the Dis
trict line. Newman lived eighteen hours
after the wound was inflicted, dying al
o'clock Friday night
Ma gistrate John Roberts and Constable
Soper conducted an investigation. Their
conclusions. based on the statements of
Waters as we'll as of the dying man.
we've that the shot had been fired while
Newman was entering the house. and
that Waters was really under the impress
sion that he was burglar, hence the out
come was purely accidental No arrests
were made. 1t was stated by those who
knew the two men that they were the
best OF friends. and that Waters had no
cause to fire on his brotherin-law unless
under such circumstances as were ex-
planned to the authorities.
Mistaken for Burglar.
Newman arose from his bed between 1
and . o'clock Friday morning and went
into the rear yard OF the premises on
which the small dwelling is situated The
recent rains had affected the door leading
into the yard to such an extent that it
had swollen and was, therefore. hard to
get open. When Newman tried to re-
enter the house he found the swollen door
too hard for him to push open, so he went
to another door. which was also swollen
and did not give him admittance until he
had pressed hard against it. The sound
OF the door opening under the conditions
named were heard upstairs in the apart
ment occupied by Waters and his wife.
Mrs. Waters aroused her husband, telling
him tina. some one was forcing an en-
trance into the building. This Waters
readily believed. as a week ago thief
had entered his premises and had stolen
lot of poultry. Waters after that had
loaded q shotgun and kept it in his room
at night. AS soon as he heard what his
wife said Waters seized the gun and went
out to the top of the little stairway. Just
the dwelling and Waters saw him dimly
in the darkness.
Fires at Close Ra1ge.
Without a warning Waters fired in the
direction Of the moving figure. Newman
received the load of mixed shot at close
range in the abdomen and hands, the
81 aims of powder even reaching the man s
liver and intestines. He sank to the
floor. and by his cries his relatives were
able to understand who it was that had
been shot.
Assistance was summoned and physi-
clans sent for. DR.. Arthur n. Meloy of
Congress Heights arrived at IL o'clock
Friday morning and rendered medical aid
He found Newman in a rather strong
condition, considering his desperate
wounds. and the man seemed to be pro-
crossing we'll until about o'clock Friday
night, when he insisted on leaving his bed
and walking about the room. His condi-
ton then became grave, death resulting
from internal hemorrhage.
Newman was a widower Waters and
his family lived in the little house with
him. Both men bore good regulations.
They were employed as farm hands by
Harry Sweeney. a trucker of Giesboro.
Newman's statement exOnerated Waters
from blame. He said there was no mis-
underst anding between them. and related
the circumstances of the affair as de-
scribed. Waters and his wife corroborated
what the dying man said about the par
ticuIaJs of the case. Newman was about
twenty-four years of age and Waters is
twenty-six years of age.