Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1913-02-20
Unfortunate Tragedy in Charles Town. |


| A tragedy that occurred in Charles
Town last Saturday has caused grea
deal OF interest in that place and in Shep-
herdstowp, an5 has been the cause o.
great sorrow and anxiety TO several fam
lilies. Last week George T. Sisler, o.
that place, came over to Shepherdstowr
with his family to spend few days here
at the home OF his ther-in-law, Edward
w. Athey. He left his house in charge
of his brother-in-law, dward W. Athey
Jr., formerly of Shepherdstown, but who
for some months past has made his home
in Charles Town.
Saturday night young Ned Athey fell
in with three other young fellows we'll
known about Charles Town, Groves
Young, Ted Webster and Garland Hooe,
and they began drinking. They met
Bush Washington, a sporty colored man
OF that place, and engaged him to cook
them supper. The whole party pro-
ceeded to the Sisler home, on Main street,
near the National Citizens Bank, where
they had more or less hilarious time.
Accounts differ as to what occurred in
the house, but a racket about midnight
attracted the attention of neighbors and
passers by, who were startled to see the
body of the colored man come from a
window on the second floor. He struck
the pavement with thud, and lay mo-
tionless. Persons who had been at
tracted by the noise carried Washington
to his home and DR.. Albin was sent for.
When he arrived he found that the color
ed man was dead and examination showed
that his neck was broken The four
young men had in the meantime left the
house, but soon afterward Athey gave
himself up to the police and Young was
also taken in charge, both being placed
in Jail. Hooe and Webster were not at
that time apprehended.
Ned Athey's version OF the affair, as
related TO his father by him, was to this
effect: That the party had been drinking
together, and had gone to the house TO
get something to eat, which was to be
prepared by Washington. After they
had gotten to the house the colored man,
who was very drunk, fell over an article
OF furniture and broke if. Ned Athey
threatened TO send for policeman, and
there was quarrel. Hooe and Webster
left the house. Mrs. Roderick, who
lived next door, about this time knocked
at tie front door. to inquire about the
disturbance. Washington thought it was
policeman, and, fearing that he would
be arrested, he sought TO make his es-
cape. He ran upstairs, took a window
sash out and in panic jumped from the
window 10 the pavement below, landing
on his head and breaking his neck.
Many other stories were circulated,
most OF which, il is said, were exagger-
ated and untrue. One was that the party
were drinking and playing cards, and
that quarrel broke out, ending in
fierce fight, in which the negro was
being beaten. Fearing for his life, he
ran up the stairway and jumped out Of,
the window TO escape from the men, and
so met his death. There was another
story circulated, to the effect that in a
drunken fight the colored MAN was killed
by the young fellows, and that they car
ried the body upstalrs.and threw it from
the window to make it appear that his
death was accidental. The town was all
agog with excitement over the affair, and
all sorts of rumors were in circulation
concerning it.
AS soon as Mr.. Athey heard OF the af
fair on Sunday he went to Charles Town,
and succeeded in securing the release OF
his son on bail, pending the action OF the
coroner's jury. They came 10 Shepherds
town, where they remained until Monday
afternoon, then returning 10 Charles
Town.
Sunday afternoon Magistrate c. FIR nix
Gallaher, acting as coroner, summoned
jury of inquest, composed of the follow
ing persons w. L. DaIgarn, H. A. Car
roll, A. M. S. Morgan, H. J. Miller, S.
M. OFT and J. R. Tewalt. The body was
viewed and the hearing OF testimony took
place in the courthouse, Prosecuting
Attorney George d. Moore assisting with
the evidence. A considerable number
of witnesses were heard, the hearing TAX
ing up the entire afternoon and extend
ing far into the night, and not being con-
luded then. The inquest was resumed
on Monday. and again the coroner and
the jury remained in session until late at
night, finally adiourning after rendering
the following verdict:
State ofWest Virginia, county of Jefferson,
towit.
An inquiSition taken at Charles Town,
in the county of Jefferson, on the 10th,
Ill dIu lOtl vi TCUIudIf, 1919, UGIOIS
c. Frank Gallaher, justice OF the peace
of said county, upon the view f the body
OF Bush Washington. now lying dead.
Jurors sworn, to inquire when, how and
by what means Bush Washington came
to his death, upon their oath do say:
That the said Bush Washington came 10
his death, between the hours OF ! 30 and
II 80 on the night of February Is, 1913.
and that he came to his death by his neck
being broken; and that he came TO his
death while in the company of Grover c.
Young, Edward w Athey, Jr., T. d.
Webster, Jr.. and CARA I'd Hooe and
that we recommend that warrants be
issued and that the proper proceedings be
held before ju tice of the peace. In
testimony whereof said justice and jurors
hereto set their hands.
(Signed) c. FRANK GALLAHER, Up.
w. L. DALGARN, Foreman.
H. A. CARROLL,
A. Nj. S. MORGAN,
H. MILLER,
S. Nj. OFT,
- TEyU.TT