The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-03-07
RITES FOR MATHEWS
Funeral of Murdered Captain
Held Tomorrow.
TRIBUTE BY MAJ. SYLVESTER
Thorough Police officer, Honest,
Alert. and InteIIlEent-POIicem
Collier. Who Did the Shooting.
Held on Murder Charge and Taken
to JaiI-Refuses to Make Statement.

Funeral services for Capt. william II.
Mathews. who was shot and killed by
Policeman John w. Collier on Friday
night, viii be held at 9 o'clock to-
morrow morning from the family
home. s21 Fifth street southeast. After
services az the house the body Will
be removed to St Peters Catholic
Church, of which church the police
captain had been a member. Interment
will be in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Pail
bearers have not been selected.
Maj. Sylvester will detail squad
OF policemen. in command of an in
spector. to attend the funeral The
squad will be composed Of representa-
tives Of the several grades in the police
department.
Tribute by Sylvester.
In his general orders. issued yester-
day. Maj. Sylvester paid the following
tribute to the memory Of Capt. Math-
ews
While yet recovering from the p-otracted and
aru0us abors incident 70 the maintenance Of r.ace
and order during the inaugural period. the depart
mont has experienced a disappointment at OnCe
shocking and sorroWful IN the death b. violence u
Capt. william H. Mathews which occurred on FIJI
day March 5. 1909. at the hoT Of 7:i5 O'Clock IN
the evening at the Fifth police precinct station
house
Capt. Mathews became member Of the Metro
politan Police FoTce u the District Of Columbia
june IL 1885 and BY force Of industry and attention
To duty won for himself the confidence Of his
sllperi0Ts and the respect q the citizens IN the
Territory where he was assigned. Capt Mathews
was promoted 70 he q private q class septen-
Der q. lSo; made mounted sergeant August II.
1879 and advanced 10 heutenant November L 1907.
and on july J. 1906. received the appointment q
captain under the law recognizing. in a measure.
the police f0rCe.
He was a thorough police ofscer. honest alert. and
intelligent. and he gave his fun tine and attention
TO the welfare Of the department Observing details
and successfully following is progressive poicy IN
al matters relating he Enforcement q the laws
and regulations and the requirements Ct the manual
Capt Mathews was an afectionate husband and
father. firm. but kind 70 the unfortunate. and his
sudden death viii be largely mOuned.
Collier Held by Jury.
Policeman Collier was held on a charge
Of murder for the action OF the grand
jury by a coroner's jury at an inquest
over the body Of Capt Mathews. After
the inquest. Collier was taken 70 police
headquarters. where his photograph and
measurements were taken. He was then
removed to the District Jail
During the inquest Collier sat between
his attorney. J. Z. Archer. and Policeman
Frank Z. Merrill The prisoner showed
no sign of regret. he was apparently as
indifferent as on the night OF the shooting
Attorney Archer advised his client 10
make no statement, and the poIieeman's
motive for firing FIVE shots into the body
Of Mathews remains a mystery
Golfers mother. with whom he lived
at 919 French street northwest. declares
her son must have been nagged and per
secuted to desperation before he was
aroused sufficiently 70 shoot Capt
Mathews.
when my son tells his story. I am
sure he viii go free" she said.
Heard Pistol shots.
Lieut.. ]. l. Sprinkle testified he heard
pistol shots within minute after Collier
entered the private Office Of Capt Math-
ews. and that there was no opportunity
for an argument
Deputy Coroner Glazebrook testified a
bullet had shattered the bones IN Capt.
Mathews right hand. The deputy coroner
said he thought the right fist was
cienched when IL was struck by the bullet
DR.. II. Watson MOfitt who was sum
mOned from Casualty Hospital 10 aid
Capt. Mathews and Policemen CulIinane
and Moran, also gave testimony.