The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-10-05
CORONBR'S JURY
FINDS THAT JBTT
KILLED WEBSTER
cont,nu.a from r.s. one.

which must have been hard for the frail
little widow, who sat speechless and
motionless. to have stood. When Bar
rett entered the room. Jetts orphan
child cried loudly. ana the mother reach
ed over. to soothe the infant. 90 as to
prevent hanishment from the court room.
Barrett testified that he was helper
In the engine room ut the brewery and
that he left Jett and Webster together
when he went on duty at o'clock In
the morning Of September II. Webster,
he testified. at that time was sitting on
a box back of furnace No. 8, apparently
asleep. In a crouching attitude.
| Barrett stated that he had known Web
ster about three months, during which
time he had been q frequent visitor to
the brewery, after midnight. during Bar
rett's trick Of duty. Barrett related the
circumstances leading up to the time
Wooster disappeared. He testified that
Webster was an intimate friend Of An
drew Mangum, a fireman at the brewery,
ard that he came often to see Mangum
and himself. Webster also knew Jett,
he testified. but did not visit the boiler
room often during Jett's trick" on night
duty.
QlaFreled with Jett.
Barrett testified that he and Jet fire.
quentiy Quarreled. and that "Jett was
such mean man that I did not like to
help HIM" He declared that Jett
seemed to him as a man who wouldn't
night" and that he was always
growing about something, but wouldn't
fight"
Barrett stated that he had been told
that Jett and Webster had had fight.
In which Jett came out loser, before he
had gone to work at the brewery. They
later made up their differences, he testi-
fed, at fremen's excursion to Chesa-
peake Beach, and were friendly again.
They had not had any trouble since
that time SO far as / know said Bar
| rett, but Webster did not come around
| often on Jetts watch. / was somewhat
surprised to meet him about o'clock on
the morning Of September IL. coming
down the runway up which I was wheel
ing ashes. He had been drinking. When
he saw me he said, I can whip Jett and
that engineer together. That Engineer
doesn't like me. I've got enough money
| 70 get away. and more at home
Barrett said he was surprised to hear
Webster talking in this manner, as he
thought he had made up his differences
with Jett. Webster then went on into
the boiler room. When he was through
| wheeling ashes, Barrett testified. he
went back into the boiler room and saw
Jett and Webster drinking beer togeth-
er, and laughing over their past differ
ences.
Barrett went of duty at 4 o'clock, and
stated that at that time Webster was
sitting on a box back Of furnace No. 6,
and that lett was stoking his furnace.
There had been loud talk between the
two men in the interim. he stated. but
he had been too busy to see what was
the matter. He stated that he did not
believe there was any trouble, however.
Barrett said that Jett was in the boiler
room alone, except for Webster. from
4 o'clock until his relief came at s o'clock
in the morning.
Fireman Testines.
Andrew Mangum, fireman. Of 1915 E
Street Southeast, stated that he had
known Webster for four and Jett for six
years. He stated that the quarrel be-
tween the two men had been patched up.
and that Jet had not exhibited any
change or acted differently since the dis
appearance of Webster. This was in d.
rect clash with the testimony of Bar
rett. who declared that Jett would not
speak TO any one the day following the
morning on which he and Webster last
had been seen together. and that he had
acted in a grabbed manner for some
time.
Vincent Accardey, an oiler. told of the
old quarrel between Jett and Webster.
"
and knocked him down, and Jett got up
and grabbed a milk bottle, but that he
got between them before they could mix
it again. Accardey testified that early
morning of September II he glanced into
the boiler room and saw Jett and Webster
drinking beer on the work bench.
Chief Engineer Lorch proved an inter-
esting witness. He stated that detectives
had tried to prove that drop Of 30 de-
g-ees in temperature of furnace No. 6
OF the morning of September II, between
$50 and AIS o'clock, as shown on the
heat chart. had been caused by the open
ing OF the door of the combustion cham
ber This was unreliable, he said, mas
much as during another test the heat
dropped even when the door was closed
Torch also testified that he had dis
charged Jett for characterization in re-
fusing to work longer shift when his
relief was late. Efforts were made by
Jetts brother and the business manager
Of the firemen's union to have Jett re-
instated, but he refused to put him back
to work He had promised him the next
vacancy. however.
Father on Stand.
His voice filed with emotion. his eyes
dim with tears, and his limbs trembling
as II with palsy, Charles A. Webster, the
aged father of Arthur Webster, told of
the efforts he had made to locate his son
before reporting his disappearance to the
police.
Il learned on the afternoon of Septem-
Der II that Arthur had not been home
since 2 o'clock that morning." said Mr..
Webster. THE next day, when 1 found
he was still missing, / went and had a
talk with my daughter-in-law. We found
Arthur had last been seen at the brew
cry She told me of the old quarrel he
had had with Jet, and that she feared
something might have happened to him.
We could get no trace of him at ALL and
two days later I met Policeman Kenny
and told him I wanted to have a talk
with Jet, because / thought he might
know what had become of my son.
''On Sunday the officer brought Jett to
the house to see me. / asked him where