The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-24
NEGROES ARE HELD
BY CORONER'S JURY
FOR KIRBY MURDER
Crowd From Victim S
Neighborhood CIamor
to See Accused Men.

Held for the action Of the grand jury
at the coroner's inquest this morning,
Charles Thomas and William Green,
colored, were remanded to jail to await
trial in connection with the murder of
William Kirby at his home. 492 * street
southwest, early Friday morning.
Coroner hewitt and Deputy Coroner
Glazetrook, who performed the autopsy,
conducted the inquest. A crowd OF Gu
rious spectators filled the room, where
the hearing was held, and outside the
building nearly 200 people collected
mostly all residents Of South Washing
ton-claIaoring for admission and a
chance to see the ccIored men who are
held for killing Kirby.
The following were impaneled as a
jury, s Porter House manager for a
livery stable; James NJ. McCauley, a
grocer charles w. Porter, phOtogTa-
pner; samuel Lee, a grocer; Claude O.
klllmon. cigar DEALER John L. Tai
bert, feed dealer.
Verdict of the Jury.
The verdict Of the Jurors was as fol-
lows:
I'VE, the undersigned, do say upon oath
that William Kirby came to his death
4 y
1908, from incised wounds Of the throat
and asphy21ia. We believe that said
wounds were caused by a knife held in
the hand of one Charles Thomas. We
believe, Furthermore. than one William
Green was an accessory TO the killing
of the said William Kirby. We, the
Coroner's jury, hold the said Charles
Thomas, also the said William Green,
for the action Of the grand jury
Detective Sergeant Patrick o. Brlen
was the first witness called. He gave
description Of the circumstance OF the
case and the clues that led up TO the
arrest OF Thomas and Green. He said
that when Thomas confessed he placed
the whole blame upon Green, saying
that he, Thomas. was outside Kirby
house when the man was killed.
Physician Testifes.
DR.. Raymond p. Holden. who attended
Kirby, told the jury the condition In
which he found the old man when sum
moned to his home and the efforts he
made 10 save his life.
DR.. John A Foote, a physician at
Providence Hospital, COrrOborated the
testimony given by DR.. Holden. and told
of the death of Kirby at Providence
Hospital on Friday morning
Martin Burke. zoos Sixth street south
west, a bartender at Madden's saloon,
testified that Nv Kirby came TO the
place about II 1iock Thursday night
and after taking a few drinks left
shortly before midnight
Before Mr.. Kirby left Green came
iRtO the bar" said the witness. and
asked for a drink Before he got his
liquor, this big man, Thomas, caEte up
asked MIN 10 pay for the liquor, and
Thomas said that he would, but when 1
demanded the money he wouldn't pay
me.
Says Thomas Followed Kirby.
Green thereupon left the saloon, end
after a few minutes poked his head IN
the door and asked Thomas to come out
But Thomas refused saying, There is
plenty OF time Kirby then left the
saloon, and Thomas followed. As / was
just about to close looked out Of the
door and saw Thomas following Kirby
and Green going in the other direction.
~ was not long after that when Mr.
kirbys daughter came to the house and
asked me 10 come down, saving her
father had been stabbed
When Kirby was in the saloon. Burke
said, the only money he exhibited was
a 50-cent piece.
William Anderson, coIored, a Iaborer.
the next witness, said he was near
kirby's house last Friday morning and
saw Thomas running from the side
alley leading from Kirby's house. He
also said he had seen Thomas several
times earlier in the night, and during
a conversation that he had with him,
Thomas said.
I've got 10 have some money, and
I'm going to get il"
Anderson was the only witness who
actually saw Thomas in the neighbOr-
hood Of Kirby's house on the night
the old man was murdered. Anderson
said further that Thomas showed him
"a knife, and when il was put in evil
denCe he identified it as the one that
Thomas had when he Overwhelmingly held
it ia his hand and said, II want money.
and I'm going TO get it."
Margaret Kirby. a daughter OF the
murdered man, who next gave testi-