Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-08-07
Charlie johnson, Negro SteVed0re,
Shot By Companion.
RESULT OF TRIVIAL QUARREL
Cornelius Stewart Puts Two Bullets
into Companion, and Claims He Was
Observation-Disclosures Man Spends
Night in jug"

one OF Wnlcn may prove idldl, thdilVS
johnson, a negro longshOreman from
Baltimore, is being held in the jug
at the police station on the charge
Of disCrderly conduct. johnson was
shot by another negro 'longshoreman
from Baltimore about o'clock yester-
day afternoon in the home OF John
Branch, a negro, on West avenue be-
tween Twenty-third street and the
railroad yard. He laid in the house
for fifteen minutes before q physician
could be secured and then. after the
wounds had been only partially dress
ed. he was bundled into the patrol
wagon and taken TO the police station.
There he laid for more than a half
hour before a physician attended him.
The police finally communicated with
Dr.. J. w. Ayler, surgeon TO the police,
and he went to the station house and
dressed the wounds. This completed,
the man was carried into the jug.
His bed consists of two hard benches
placed side by side and covered with
some bed clothing, which, was furnish
ed by Branch Two negro men, also
sent to the station house by Branch,
spent the night with the wounded
man.
No one al the station house seems
to know why the man was not NOV
cd tc the hospital department of the
city jail. where he could receive prop
er treatment and attention. He has
been made as comfortable as is pos
sible in the Jug" but the place was
not designed for the housing Of SER
iously wounded people Patrolman
Harry Moss. Griffin and Livesay ar
rested Johnson and carried him to the
station house. 1t was stated at the
police station last night that Branch
offered to take care of the MN at his
house where the shooting occurred.
Johnson was shot twice. One ball
entered his left side just above the
hip and has not been located. Ac-
cording TO physicians, it either pene-
trated the hip bone or entered the
stomach II the latter is the case the
mans wounds probably will prove
fatal. The othe bullet passed through
the left leg.
Little car be gathered as to the
h4 hA nnfc nr
the house. who were arrested and are
held as witnesses, are reticent and
the little they are willing to tell Is
conflicting
From what could be gathered from
Stewart and the other men held in
the case. all hands are stevedores
who were brought here from Balti-
more to unload the British steamer
harrington at pier 4. During their
stay in this city they have been put
ting up at the boarding house, which
Is conducted By George Branch and
there have been frequent quarrels be-
tween Stewart and Johnson. though
up to yesterday no blows were passed
At dinner yesterday the two men re
newed the quarrel, afterwards going
to room on the third story, where
from time to time up to the shooting
they argued over their difficulties.
Shortly before o'clock matters
were brought to a climax and accord
! ing to one Of the men, Johnson rush
ed at Stewart but before he had
crossed the room the latter drew his
revolver and fired two shots. johnson
| reeied and staggered to the hall where
he fell face down, unable to move. He
was found there bv the officers.
Say They Saw Nothing
Thomas Smith and Charlie Jones
both employed on the same ship were
in the room at the time Of the shoot.
ing. but neither was able to tell a
clear story Of the affair and their
statements yesterday were conflicting
Smith claims that Stewart began
shooting before the other man had
made a move towards him. while
Jones says he distinctly saw John
son rushed at Stewart in a threaten
ing manner. Neither could tell what
the trouble grew out OF and their
memories as 20 what happened at the
time of the shooting were hazy. Both
declared that when the first ~ was
fired they made hasty exits and in
the confusion saw nothing that hap
pened.
The prisoner would say nothing
more about the affair than that he and
Johnson had been fussirg and that
johnson sd been Threatening 20 beat
him All The week re would not state
the cause OF the trouble. Neither The
prisoner nor the witnesses we're drunk
when brought 70 the station house
though Il was evidently they had been
drinking. The shooting in a measure
had scbered them I'd. All declared
that there had been no hght previous
10 the shooting but the proprietor 81
the house told the police that be was
compelled tc 20 upstairs several times
during the day and ouiet the men.
Ball Not located
Shortly after the shooting occurred