Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-04
THE KILLED CHILD.
SIX YOUNG MEN BEFORE HENRIco
JUSTICES FOR THE ICE-THR0wING.
Clearly a Case Of Involuntary Man
slaughter, and Accused Fined Five
Dollars Each, 60, &c.

Dollars Each, &c., &c.
Yesterday was the day set for the
examination at the Henrico County
Court of the young men charged with
killing colored infant by throwing
pieces of ice from an excursion train on
the Oath of June. On the day named
there was an excursion Of the First
Presbyterian Church Sunday school to
Providence Forge, on the eastern extern
sion Of the Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
way. Vixen about two hundred yards
from Elko station, which is twelve
miles from Richmond, it is alleged that
some young men in the baggage-car
threw small pieces Of ice out and killed
a three-months'-old infant, the daugh-
ter of r. and Milly Valentine tcolored).
The case was commenced at 1890
before Justices Griffith, Atlee, and
Yarbrough.
Mr.. G. V. Meredith appeared as
counsel for five Of the accused boys
Powhatan Boiling, James Russell, o.
A. Hawkins, George 7. Haynes, and
Henry Russell.
Mr.. Edgar Allan represented E. r.
Donnan, another one Of the boys.
The first witness placed on the stand
was Sheriff Southwark, Of Henrico
county. lie bad talked to the boys,
and had asked them who threw the ice,
and one of them--he thought 1t was
Mr.. Bolling-said they all threw the
ice. lie learned from Boiling, DOnnan,
HAYNES, and one of the Russell boys
that they, with several others, were in
the rear car, where they carried the re-
freshments; that they threw ice at
things along the road-at telegraph
poles and other objects-butt they didn't
know that they did any damage; at the
point where the killing occurred they
did not know who threw the ice.
THE BRAKEMAN's TESTIMONY.
The next witness was C. W. Alcott,
the brakeman who was on the train.
De was in the rear part OF the train
going down, and when coming back
was in the front part Of the train.
Some boys came into the baggage-car.
BE didn't take much notice Of them
one was standing very near him most
of the time. Presently they commenced
eating ice and throwing pieces Of it out.
lie didn't think they were doing any
damage, and so made no attempt to re-
strain them. lie did not remember
where the ice-throwing commenced, but
it continued until after the train passed
Fort Lee. The boys all appeared to be
in a good humor, were laughing and
talking, and seemed 70 be having good
time generally. Flo, the station where
the killing occurred, is six miles the
other side of Fort Lee. Most of the
ice fell about four or five feet from the
train on either side.
A "HELpER."
The next witness was William ii.
Brown (cOloreG), who was helper
present on the excursion. lie said he
had been employed by Mr. DOnnan to
wait on tho guests at the picnic.
These young men came into the bag
gsge.car and began throwing ice at
each other and then out OF the window.
They would throw from both doors
sometimes first out Of one and next
out of the other door. The ice was all
thrown in the same direction that the
train was going, or had come. 1t was
not thrown straight out from the train.
r. c. GODsEY.
r. C. GOdsey, section master, next
testified. He was at work on the side
of the road with three hands, and he
saw a Young man raise his hand on the
train and throw piece Of ice at him.
1t Just grszed his neck. The piece OF
ice was about as big as O mans fist.
This happened about 800 or 400 yards
below ElkO. After the train passed he
saw no more ice thrown. He was
standing, he said, about ten feet from
the track when the ice was thrown at
him. lie thought nothing of it, and
concluded the boys were just playing.
The boy that threw this particular
piece of ice was in his shirt-sleeyes and
had on straw hat. Witness vas about
$50 wards from where the child was
| killed. lie learned the child had been
killed about ten minutes after the train
passed. The train was hardly out OF
sight. lie saw the child-it was about
three months old-and it had bruisC
over The eve. When he got to the house
the child was in the house lying in q
cradle dead.
4 SECTION HAND.
Lee Owen (colored). one Of the sec
ton hands under Mr.. Godsey, said h
was at work, ard he saw some young
men in the car in their shirt-sleeves
One Of them threw O piece of ice a
Mr.. Godsey and the latter lodged, but
the ice grazed his neck. lie saw th'
child after it was hit, and it had I
bruise on the forehead also, he saw
the piece of ice lying on the ground il
the yard. The boys, after throwing
the ice at Mr.. Godsey, looked back
The boys didn't see US until they go
up to us where we were at work.
A. II. JONES.
A. Ii. Jones (colored), another sec
ton hand, said he saw the ice throw
out from the rear end of the baggage
car, and be thought the ice was thrown
at him. lie lodged, and the ice passet
over him. There were four or fiv
boys in the car near the door, and the,
appeared to be in their shirt sleeves
After the train passed he heard some
body calling frem the house. and b
the time he got there the child wa
dead. 1.-THE piece of ice lying in tn
yard" he said, "was as large as tina
hat" lpointing to a mans straw hat.
THE MOTHER.
Milly Valentine, the mother Of tn
child killed, next testified. She sal
she saw the piece Of ice when it hit he
child the child was in the house in th
Arms of her smaller sister, and that tn
train hadn't finished passing when tn