The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-12-01
THE LYNCIsBURG TRAGEDY.
statement OF Robertson lie Claims that lie
"nsSo Badly Beaten that lie was Almost
Demcnted-An Affecting Scene.

J
! From The Lynchburg Ne,rs we take tho
/ following account OF an interview with
/ Booker Robertson, who on "Wednesday. os
reported in our special Of yesterday, shot
ana Killed Captain +. ID. Craddock in an
array at the frcight-yard Of the Richmond
ana Allegheny Railroad Company:
The representative OF the Nelcs visited
| Robertson about an hour after the occur
renee, and found him sitting on chair in
a corner OF one OF the prison wards sob
bing Ike child. As soon rs he could
| properly compose himself he consented to
give his version Of the aflIay which re-
suited IN the death Of Captain CraddOck.
Ills statement was in effect as follows al
am miner OF iron-ore, and have been for
some time operating at Sleepy-IIollow
mines, in Nelson county, and shipping ore
10 The Lynchburg Iron Company over the
richmond and Allegheny railroad from
Norwood. There have recently been
shortages in the weights, and | came TO
the city this morning for the purpose Of
/ trying to rectify the matter. | went TO the
freight depot OF the company. and had a
conversation with the agent, Mr.. Dunn,
and requested him 10 20 with me and see a
I
assentcd. proceeded TO the scales ahead
OF Mr.. Dunn for the purpose OF preventing
the snow being broken on the track in or
Ger 10 prove to the agent that the car OF
ore which Captain Craddock claimed to
have weighed had not been on the scales
When | got there CraddOck and myself
had dispute about the matter and he
assaulted me sayagcly with his fists, adj
i Il It'll
observe from the laccated and swollen
condition OF my face and neck. Ny
chest l. also badly bruised up. | had
no friends present and nobody seemed DIS
posed 10 take my assaiant away: hence.
being small and sickly person, ! had to
submit TO his treatment. Shortly after
wards Mr.. Dunn arrived on the scene, and
| complained 10 him OF the way i'm which |
bad been served, and told him that Grad
dock would not even give me the weight OF
my ore. Captain CraddOck replied: You
area d-n liar. sir, and started TO strike me.
Whereupon Mr.. Dunn interviewed to pre-
vent any further difficulty. More bitter
words passed, when Craddock picked up
weight. told him ! had been beaten SUI
ticicntly, and that if he struck me again
should shoot him. He instantly hurled
WV N'iNht at MY uttu' bhl Iiir~fW Ills
mark, the missile falling i'm the canal.
CraddOck reached for another weight,
Whcreupon | shot him over Mr.. Dunn's
shoulder" Here Robertson again gave
way TO his feelings, and commenced TO sob
aloud, saying he had rather have been shot
himself. lie asked ii Captain Craddock
was dead. The reporter evaded the qucs-
ton, and soon after LEFT the prisoner
Robertson served through the late wara
a member OF the First Virginia calvary.
His family, consisting OF a wife and four
children. is living at Glover Hill coal-mincs,
Chesterfield county. When the prisoner
spoke OF his wife and children the scene
was particularly affecting. and in regret
ting his haSty act he said he dcplOrcd the
deed as much because he feared the dead
man had family OF little ones rs Tor any
other reason. He ayoWcd that he was so
excited at the moment OF the occurrence
that ne did not know what he was doing.
Said he, 81 had been so terribly beaten
that | was almost demcnted, and when the
man showed a disposition TO whip me again
| feared for my life. But OH, God" ne
exclaimed, ." did not want 10 kill him y
The evidence before the coroner jury,
though conflicting on some points, in the
whole seems to sustain the statement Of
Robertson that he was badly punished be-
fore resOTting TO extreme measures.
STATE OF PUBLIC SENTIMENT; ROBERTSON
BADLY INJURED: cnVpLAINT AGAINST TUr
JAIL AUTHORITIES, &C.
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatchl
LYNCHBUBG, November 50, 1SS2.
The shooting alray OF yesterday, which
resulted in the death OF Captain l.. d..
CTaddock from a bullet wound through the
heart inflicted by Mir. Booker Robertson.
j. the subject OF much comment to-day,
and public sentiment seems 10 be some
what divided - to which Of the two
men was most in fault Robertson claims
10 have acted in scli-dcfencc, and though
/ there has been a settled attempt TO break
down this point Of defence, there are those
who believe it will hold good when the
[ trialtakes place. Robertson !, q small man,
while CraddOck was a perfect giant in
physical build. The former ], fright
/ lully bruised and beaten about the
| head and body. and the impr'nts OF
/ Craddock's fingers are plainly disccmablc
on.hi~ throat. He was member OF Gene
raj #. T. Mmiord's command during the
/ latc war, and this morning the General
/ visited him at the jail, and came away M
dipnaut az the manner IN which Robertson
/ has been treated. and he has made it the
/ subject Of communication 10 one OF the
city papers. in which he complains that
/ the prisoner. although severely and. it may
/ be. dangerously injured, has not been ac-
corded ordinary comforts at the Jail. and,
indeed. ha, not been treated with common
humanity.
Robertson had a preliminary hearing
before Justice John T. Smith last evening,
and was committed to jail to await the
action Of the grand jury, which meet, to-
! ,,,o,r.,,,- BEAUMONT.