The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-10-08

About hali-past six O'Clock yesterday
morning Harry Coleman was shot and in
stantly killed by Kleber White. The parties
(coored) lived on small farms lying on
by-road which leads into the Nine-Mle
road about two and half or three miles
from Richmond. Coleman was domiciled
on the place of Sam. Garnett (also colored),
White was employed by hs brother. who
is q landowner on 4 small scale. His mother
and sister lived with the two Whites.
Kleber White has a sister, Arina, who Is
about fourteen years OF age. and recent de-
yelopments convinced the Whites that Cole
man, who was about twenty-thrce, had taken
advantage of her. He promised to marry
her. it is said, but when called upon to do
so always asked for time. FINALLY he lc-
fused point blank to marry his victim.
WARRANT OUT FOR COLEMAN.
On Saturday Arina Whites mother, hay
ing become convinced that Coleman would
not marry her daughter, determined TO
prosecute him. She went to see Common
wealth's Attorney Thomas, and told him all
her troubles.
The result was that warrant against
Coleman was issued by Justice Singleton
(colored
Constable Bradley, being informed that
such a warrant had been issued, went early
Yesterday morning to Justice Singleton for
| it. He got it, and was on his way to Cole
mans to serve it, and was near Sam. Car
nett's, when he heard the report OF gun.
That gun killed the man he vas after. Upon
arriving at Garnett's he found Coleman
stretched out upon the ground dead.
TIE INQUEST.
No sooner had kleber While shot Henry
Coleman than he went to the residence OF
Collector &. l.. Miller, near by, told him
what he had done, and offered to give HIM
self I'D. The Collector told him to go TO
Justice Larus, which he did, and was taken
into custody and committed to jail.
Justice Larus yesterday morning held an
inquest upon the body OF the deceased. y
| full load Of No. shot had struck him in
the stomach and breast, and death was evil
denIly nearly instantaneous. There was
not much evidence rs to the shooting. Such
as it was, it pointed clearly to klcbcr White
as the author Of IT, and 10 the cause, Il dis
putc about Coleman marrying the girl. The
verdict was that Coleman came to lis death
at Klebcr Whites hands.
THE STORY OF TIE fRlSoNiE.
A representative OF this paper ycStcl day
| afternoon had an interview at the county
! Jail with the prisoner. He is black OF
| twcnty-siN years OF age. quiet III manner.
and stumbling in Speech, but. nevertheless.
seems to he possessed OF the average intclll-
| rence OF his race. Several gentlemen from
| his ncighborhood who were standing by
! listening to the conversation gave the
prisoner good character. They said ne
had always been a peaceable. industrious,
and well-behayed man. He made no con-
ccalmcnts. He confessed the shooting. cN-
pressed no regrets therefor, and told all
about the matter.
TIE PEyIrEHTIARY PREFERRED TO MARRIAGE.
Kleber White said that upon the discovery
OF Colcman'S intimacy with his sister, and
in view OF the result imminent, Coleman
was asked to marry her. At first his an
swers encouraged them TO hope that nc
would. But Il few days ago Coleman told
some members OF the family that lie would
not. Then being threatened with prosrc!l'
ton, he declared, "l'iI go an lay i'll dc
penitentiary forever fore I'll marry her.
That was Coleman'S uItimatum.
klebcr White being informed OF il, re.
solved to see Coleman in person. lie col
up early yesterday morning, took his gun in
hand, and went over to Garnelfs. There
! he saw Coleman, and asked him il it was
| true that he had declared he would 60 tc
the penitentiary before he would marry
Arina. Coleman said in substance that il
| was.
There were then some angry words, and
no doubt klcbcr handled the gun in :
threatening manner.
TIE FATAL SHOT.
Coleman remarked so Kleber says
.sI on are armed, and I'll arm myself, too. =
and started 10 the house. E!cbcr declares
that he wss under the impression that Cole
man was armcd-he knew Coleman owncC
pistol-and being apprehcnsiyc thu! Cole,
man was going to shoot ut him, lie resolved
TO get in the first fire.
| The position Of the parties ct that no
mcnt cannot be understood from wh',
k!cbcr says; but as the load entered Cole
mans breast and stomach, they ni>t have
| been face to face. Coleman fell forward Ill
the yard or field where they were. He cried
out, "Oh, Lord" or "l1ave mercy. oh
Lord" and expired. The members OF the
Garnett household were not far OF, but none
o? them were right at hand.
The prisoner will OF course be sent on &c
the grand jury. The case against him Is
strong one on his own confession. Tho
fact that lie went after Coleman carrying &
loaded gun will not be in bis favor. In adj
dition to that hc says that Coleman WA,
leaving him when he fired. But, on Tho
other hand, there are very few instances or
record in Virginia where 4 man has beer
convicted for SO furnishing 4 female rcla
tive's betraycr.