The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-09-02
Did not see the gun fired. Saw Sutton and /

!
then inside Of Hollywood gate. Iturned to
90 away, and walked eight or ten steps, when
the gun went off. When turned my back
Sutton and Clarkson q think it was Clark
sony were the only ones standing up the
Others were lying on the ground. My back
was turned when the gun went of. When
turned after the firing saw one of the
boys with his hands to his face. do not
remember seeing any one in his shirt-sleeves.
l do not remember seeing any one running
OIL. After the firing Sutton was telling peo-
pie that deceased shot himself. I did not see
any one pick up the gun which had been
laid on the grass.
Bette Gross followed: / saw the shoot
ing. Was standing in the window of my
kitchen, as shown yesterday. Was in the
window when Sutton and a boy arrived with
the guns. There were four boys at first.
Sutton and the boy made six persons. MIR.
Sutton stopped and rested on his gun.
When Rowe came up Turner took the gun
from him at once, and fired in not more than
two or three minutes. Turner had on light
pants, light vest, and light straw bat was in
hs shirt sleeves. After he fired the gun he
dropped it and ran away towards Cary
street. Noticed nothing peculiar in his feet;
he ran very well. l saw him come back, and
" w hat ls the matterw He was still in his
shirt-seeves. The gun did not pass out of
Rowe's hand till Turner took it. 1t was not
laid on the ground. At the time of the
firing Turner, Sutton, and Rowe were
nearly III straight line, Turner being near
est me, and Rowe farthest off. Bob Beasley
was nearest to Derbyshre. Turner and
Derbyshire were not more than guu-length
apart. When Turner took the gun he
walked around Derbyshire, but not entirely
around him, and then stepped back little
and fired. He then dropped the gun and
ran. Derbyshire was standing when shot.
He fell to the ground. Did not see anybody
catch him. Did not talk with Belle Page
about the matter then or ut any other time,
not even on the way to the Mayors office.
The boys were not crowded at the time the
gun was fired. No one was between ME and
the gun except Belle. Told Jim Brown and
Andrew Jackson the circumstances OF the
affair Immediately afterwards. Belle Page
told her mother and aunt about the matter
while they were in the crowd. / don't know
whether she told any one else. My brother
in-law drives for Mr.. Derbyshire. lie and my
sister live in Mr.. DerbyShire's kitchen. Told
my brother-in-laW that evening about or
O'Clock that did not think it was an acci-
dent. have been to Mrs. DerbyShire's since
and told her the same that I am telling now.
| would not have recognized Turner If he
had returned with his coat on. Mr.. Will
lams did not tell me that the boys were 60
ing to fight. | heard the boys say they would
60 where the police could not see them fight.
| am sure Turner held the gun with the
stock at his right side when he fired. Der
byshirc was standing with his right side
nearer to Turner when shot. [ am sure he
was then standing up.
Richard ". Robertson (residing on Ore
gon HilD was next examined: [ heard the
report of the tire-arm was within 100 or
100 yards. I saw the boys lying on the
ground some five minutes before the firing.
am sure two or three boys were lying OIL
the grass when the shot was fired. did not
see the gun. / saw boy moving around
and swearing that he could whip all three of
them. He had no gun, and was some dis
tance of when the shot was fired. This
boy and Sutton were the only ones / saw
standing up. He was in his shrt-SleeveS. l
heard Mr. Sutton say Immediately after the
occurl ence that it was an accident. Every
body seemed to be satisfied that such was the
case. | did not see any one in shirt-seeyes
running away. do not think Turner is the
one heard cursing and saying he could whip
all three.
Writ B. Turner seventeen years Of age),
the prisoner, was at this point allowed TO
make the following statement: Charlie and
Willie Clarkson, Robert BeaSley, George
Derbyshire, and myself, on the 14th of Au-
gust, were bathing in the canal, and calling
one another nicknames. l called George
negro, and lie replied that he knew some
there who had more black blood than he
had. Afterwards he called me club-foot.
There was no blow passed between Derby
shire and myself while at the canal or at
any time before we reached the hill where
the killing occurred. He then struck Inc
first, and struck him back; not more than
four blows passed, | think. The hIe
boys aforementioned were then present.
all of Us then laid on the grass. In about
three or five minutes I saw Rowe and SUIT
ton coming from the direction of the former
terminus of the city railway. Two or three
boys arose. George called to Sutton. do
not think there was any whiskey, but am not
certain. Willie CiarksOn was in his shirt
sleeves so was l. put my coat on when /
started for the DOCTOR Willie Clarkson was
lying down by me part of the time. He Was
trying to get bis brother George and myself
into a fight. When he saw we were not
going to fight he said he could whip all three,
meaning bis brother George and Beale. SUIT
ton and Rowe had come up in the mean
time. Rowe laid his gun on the grass, with
the muZZle pointing up the hill towards
George and about parallel with him. George
was lying somewhat on his left side. He
rose little so rs to sit nearly upright. The
gun was somewhat to his left, and he turned
a very little to the left, so as to get hold OF
the gun with his right hand. He drew the
gun towards him, perhaps fifteen Or sixteen
inches, when it exploded. George put his
hand to his body, and in second or two
fell over. Willie ClarkSOn, think, and
Marion Sutton were standing up. The
rest were lying down. l was about ten or
twelve feet from George. put on my coat
and went for DR.. Morris. left DR.. Morris ut
Cary street and went home. When reached
Cherry street, near Ford's Row, going for
the doctor, saw Beasley. 1t was two or
three minutes after we stopped quarreling
before the gun went off. Sutton and Rowe
had been at the spot between three and five
minutes when the gun went off. Sutton was
irving to urge on the fight. ] did not shoot
George DerDyshire. Nobody there did. No
one could have done it without my know
ing it. When: got home, after leaving DR..
Morris, remained at home. intended TO
90 TO Washington about the last OF July ;
had told boy so. l was not aware Of any
investigation being made in this matter unfll
the detective (Mr. WoodS) arrested me IL
Washington. Had heard that some negroes
we're accusing me of having shot Derby
shire. / know of no reason for their doing
so. / was wearing brown felt hat.
Leslie Duesberry 0hirteen years OF ase)
states that Writ Turner did tell him before
the shooting that he was going TO the
George Lafong. Robert Beasley, James
ne o,d Marion Suttou all made the