Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-02

A Dastardly Crime of Burglars-They
Secure NOthing-Arrest of suspects
ed Parties.

The community was startled yesterday by
the announcement that the old colored
Waterman, Tobey Lark, at the Office Of
Messrs. Coakley & Jones, wood dealers, on
Bryan and West Boundary streets, had
been found, mangled and mutilated, lying
dead on the floor. near the safe, in the Office.
The discovery was made early in the morn.
ing, and IN short time an immense crowd
had collected in the vicinity, and various
rumors in reference to the fendish and
brutal crime were circulated.
The police and Coroner were promptly
notified, and an investigation was al once
commenced. The appearance of the prem
ises indicated that the faithful eid witch
man had been murdered by parties who had
effected an entrance into the Office With the
view of robbing the safe Tobey was
lying on his back In pool Of blood, Which
had poured freely from wounds In his head.
He was Immediately in front Of
the safe, and bis mangled body,
stretching across the door opening into
the yard, rested partially against it. There
were several severe wounds in the old
mans head, evidently inflicted with blunt
instrument. His left hand was crushed,
and his right hand and wrist broken, appar-
emily by blows from the same instrument
with which those on the head were inflicted.
The parties had undoubtedly made des
perate efforts to break open the safe after
they had murdered the old man, as the door
and sides were battered and damaged. but
they failed in their purpose. An old axe was
found on the floor near the safe, which had
been used in the effort to break it open, and
heavy. thick stick OF wood about four feet
IN length was also discovered near by. II
is supposed this was the weapon with which
the murderous blows were inflicted. The
drawers in the desk were broken open, and
considerable other damage was done, but
the murderous thieves got nothing OF
value.
= Tobey Lark was about ninety years of age
and had been employed as Waterman or
the place for some time. He was rather
hale and hearty for his age, and was con
sidered efficient In his position. 1t would
appear that he made considerable resistance
TO the burglars, and was killed in the faith
full discharge Of his duties.
The people in the immediate vicinity
knew nothing of the crime until yesterday
morning there being no unusual disturb
ance in the mighty, when some coloFed meI
passed by, saw the Office door open, and
looking In discovered the murdered man ly
ing on the floor.
From the remark made by a little colored
boy, after the news of the murder was
known, suspicion was directed to certain
parties, and the Coroner ordered the arrest
Of John Wright, Rosa Wright, Willie
Wright and Ephraim Screven, who will be
held in custody until after the examination
The Coroner empanneled jury, who
viewed the remains and examined the
premises, and then repaired to the court
house, where the inquest was opened, and
the following witnesses were examined:
TESTIMONY.
Daniel H. Campbell sworn: Istsrted down
from my house to the yard the usual time
this morning, about o'clock, and met on
the way Mr.. Dean; | was talking to Mr..
Dean about parties bathing In the canal;
when / got to the foot of Bryan street
turned up to the office, opened the door,
walked in, found the letter press on top OF
the safe; the old man was lying in the back
door covered with blood; ran to the canal
bank, called Mr.. Dean back with me, and
telephoned to the barracks for policeman
to come and take charge; asked Mr.. Dean
to remain there while went to call Mr..
CoakleY; 1t was then, when passed from
the gates into the yard that l discovered the
gates were open, and closed them; went
out; met ScreVen q short distance from the
yard and told him old man Lark had been
murdered; he said yes, he had heard of it
an hour or hour and half previously; the
case was not reported to me by ScreveD;
am living corner Of Margaret and West
Boundary streets.
Ephraim Sereven sworn: l came In the
city with my fiat about FIVE o'clock; went
then by the office of Coakley & Jones to let
them know that the fat was In; saw the
man lying in the door dead (the back door;
the gate was open; about half-past five
O'Clock went on Pine street and told a
woman that the old man was dead; | don't
know the woman's name; the house is be-
tween Lumber and Farm streets; l net Mr..
Campbell coming from the wood yard; did
not have any talk with him; told bin saw
that the man was dead when | was passing;
did not go into the office, but 1t looked as
though he was cut on the head.
Charlotte Cohen, sworn: recognized the
deceased to be my father, Toby Lark, aged
80 years, when l first got down this morn
ing, about $50 or O'Clock; as soon as
was told that my father was killed, !, with
nv grandchildren, went down Immediately
boy named Sammy Wright said his father
helped to kill that man, and when | went
home tried to fnd out who this boys par
ents were that said this; was told that II
was Mrs. Wright's little boy, and then
tried to find out which Mrs. Wright it was
it was Mrs. Wright on Margaret street, near
the canal.
The jury then adjourned until ten O'Clock
this morning, when 1t is hoped that ad
dltional information may be obtained and
some definite clew secured which may lead
to the arrest Of the perpetrators OF this
villsinOus crime,