Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-12
MANCHEsI ER MATTERS.
Walkers Accused Asssfianss ssnt
Oa-lhasipg Burglar.

The continued case Of Alberta Wood
and Thomas johnson both coloredD,
charged with shooting Washington
Walker, with intent to kill, Was called
in the Mayors Court yesterday morning
for preliminary examination. Walker
having died at the almshouse in Rich.
pond the Monday night after he was
shot, the charge was changed yesterday
TO murder. The accused were repre-
sented by Judge John II. Ingram and
C. Y. Meredith, ESQ.,; and Common
wealth's-Attornsy Page appeared for
the prosecution. The case has created
considerable interest, and the cramped,
hot room in which the court is held Was
j,mmed with eager spectators, mostly
colored people. Mayor Taylor applied
to Judge French for the use of the
Hastings Courtroom, but this being
refused, be had the room to be used
cleared Of all persons except those con-
nected with the case in some way and
the officers Of the court.
Several Of the Commonwealth wit
nesses being absent, Mr.. Page moved
continuance, which was resisted by
Mr.. Meredith and overruled by the
Court. The examination proceeded
soon after 10 o'clock and lasted for
several hours. Drs. Mathews and
Ingram testified IS to the condition oftbs
man when they attended him, afew min
utes after be was shot. Chief ef-Police
Ipscomb made . statement concerning
the arrest Of the parties accused, and in
the course Of his testimony said that
Alberta had . fresh scar on her neck
when arrested, the day after the shoot
ing, which seemed to have been made
by q fsger.nsil, and which she said
WAS made by . colored man named
Richard Mathews.
DR.. Chris. Tompkins, of Richmond,
who Was acting Coroner at the time
Of Walkers death, and who held the
post.mortem examination, said that be
considered the congregations Of blood
on the right side Of Walkers head the
immediate cause Of death. The col
lection of blood outside the skull was
II by 81 inches; the one inside, upon
the membranes of the brain, WAS
three by one and half inches. These
patches were irregular. Ii was probs-
bic that the wound from the pistol-ball
felled him to the earth, and that his
head coming in violent contact with the
pavement caused these bruises. The
witness thought the man would
have died from the pistol-wound,
but not in the same manner
nor at the same time that be did die.
The wound, in ali human probability,
would have proved fatal Of itself alone.
DR.. Tompkins WAS closely cross-ques-
toned, but no new points were brought
out.
John Walker (colored) said he saw
Berta in company with another woman,
whom be did not know, going from
Richmond 70 Manchester on the night
Of the shooting.
After about dozen other witnesses had
been examined the prisoners were sent
on to the grand jury. The defence did
not introduce any witnesses. One fact
that operates In favor Of the prisoners
is that one Of the witnesses swears
be saw johnson in Richmond about 9
o'clock that night, and two others are
equally - positive that they saw him
It barber-shop ct the head Of Man
chester about the same hour the same
night. The distance between the two
places is over two miles.
Tuesday night . little before mid
night Mr.. James Lpscomb, Jr., who |
lives on Nineteenth street near the Pc
tersburg railroad, Was awakened by .
suspicious noise on his premises. He
got up, went 70 the door. and saw a
man run out Of the yard and 80 down
towards the railroad. He dressed
quickly and went down to see if the
man had concealed himself among the
ears that were standing on the track.
As he (Mr. Upscomb, Was walking
down the track . man whom he
recognized ss chunky negro with
! moustache" fred three pistol
shots ct him. The negro Was standing
in the door Of . box-car. and one OF
Ihs bullets passed through Mr.. Lips
somb's ooat-slsevs. Mr.. Ipscomb
vent beck In the house to got his
pistol, but when hs returned to the car
he negro had disappeared. An hour
Or two afterwards . negro man, sup
posed 70 b The same one, wss seen
lgain sauntssing around Mr.. Lips
combs house. This time hs Was bare
looted. x6srts xsrs psds By Police ]