Evening journal., 1914-09-22
EXONERATE Officer
OF NECRO'S death
Coroner's Jury Says Sharp
less Killed Hunter in Per-
formance of His Duty
FEW WITNESSES
TO THE SHOOTING

Patrolman willard S. Sharpless,
who is being held to await the ac-
tion of the Grand Jury on the charge
Of the murder Of George Hunter, Jr.,
colored, on Sunday evening, August
16. was exonerated of the charge, by
Coroner Springs jury last night
Those who testified had not been
called at the hearing of officer
Sharpless in City Court and those
called last night could not throw any
additional light on the case. Patrol
man George Harris, colored, who
was with Officer Sharpless at the
time Of th0 shooting was the only
one present who could tell what did
happen just before Hunter was shot.
The verdict was as follows:
THAT George Hunter. Jr., came to
his death on September 1, at the
/ Delaware Hospital from pneumonia
and paralysis. the effect Of a gun
shot wound inflicted at the hands Of
/ Willard S. Sharpless while in the
performance of his duty
The jury was a mixed one, three
of the members being cOlored men.
The chairman, Charles H. Colburn,
was one OF that race. Charles G.
Guyer was secretary.
All of the witnesses except two,
we're colored men. but their testi-
mony was immaterial Sharpless was
present with David j. Reinhardt, his
attorney. CHIEF Of Police Black was
also present but was not called as a
witness
George w. Hunter. Of No. 61S Penn
street. father OF the dead man, was
called as the first witness. He told
of seeing his son in the Delaware
Hospital while he was patient
there and of later seeing his sons
body after death.
William Pendeton, colored, of No
lllls Walnut street, who said he was at
tracted by the crowd at Eleventh and
Walnut. the night of the trouble, told
OF seeing the scrimmage and of hearing
a shot and Hunter falling. Questioned
by the Jurors Pendeton admitted be-
ing but a few feet from Officer Sharp.
less. but he said he heard no threats
or words spoken by the officer, and hc
knew no one in the crowd.
George Reed, of No 2lO East Four.
ieenth street. told of seeing the crowd
gather around patrolmen Sharpess anC
Harris. as they took colored man
named George Jones towards the patro
wagon. Reed said he could see the
shooting but he saw no blows struck.
officer Harris was the only one WHIT
could throw any light on the case. III
. said that while Sharpless and he wer'
walking with Jones towards the patrc
box, he turned around and saw Sharp
less struck from behind. Sharpless a
.e that time was staggering from I'll
10 blows. and recovering himself, SharI
+, less. according 20 Officer Harris, starte
!, after Hunter. whom he grabbed. Tl
" next instant Sharpless was again struc
N from behind and Hunter whirled aroun
5 aud also hit Sharpless and then starte
4, to rum Sharpless followed and fire
once, Hunter falling near an alleywa'
DIR. II. w. Briggs, coroner's physical
said the autopsy on Hunters bod
showed death 60 have been due
pnrimonis and parl lysis caused by u
- punshot wound The bullet, the dot
tor said, cut Hunters spinal cOlum
and then passed through his rigl
lung. Dr. Briggs said the only stat
ment made 10 him by Hunter at q
hospital was that he (IIunter) felt q
right
William Carter, colored of No. III
Elizabeth street, was called, h',t u
only thing he saw was the crowd.
said he heard the report Of a gun. Sc
in. cral Of the jurors suggested that Ohir
r. Sharpless make statement, but N
,'g Reinhardt, counsel for Sharpess, J
nj fused TO allow his client TO talk, Z
though Sharpless desired TO.
ai The jury included Charles II. Colbm
foremani Charles G. Guyer. secretar
my II. p. Bowers, S. J. Allen. Frank c. Co
ner. Harry Weeks and John II. Gold
- borough.