Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-09-29

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John Moles, and \. d. johnson.
The psmes Of Richard Coy, Lsndon
Reed, Samuel Logan, and II. O. Fergus.
son were stricken Off, which left the
following jury, composed Of altogether
white men, to try the case Floyd Cox,
Charles W. Gibbs, Thomas E. King, @.
5. Wells, Smith Latham, Alfred Gibbs,
NJ. F. Martin, S. II. Clarke, Edward
Hatcher, William II. Turner, John
Moles, and n. b. Johnson.
THE TRIAL BEGINS.
The jury being empsnelled, the trial
began about / l o'clock, and will doubt
less consume the remainder OF the week.
Only four witnesses were examined
yesterday-Lucy White (colored) aud
her husband, A. F. Snellings, Esq, and
DIR. Christopher Tompkins, Of Rich
mond, who held an inquest over Walker
and made a pOst.mortem examination
of his body. Their evidence did not
differ materially from what has already
been published in the Dispatch. At a
few minutes after 4 p. NJ. the court ad-
journed over until 10 A. N. to-day, and
the jury was placed in the custody Of
the special deputy sergeants.
HISTORY OF THE CASE.
On the night Of the 18th OF July q
man and woman were seen disputing at
the corner of Twelfth and Porter streets.
After some little time second man
came up to them. The quarrel con-
tinued between the woman and the
taller man, and one Of the parties was
heard to speak to the woman as
" Berta." Finally one of the men had
q struggle with the woman close to the
fence; the other man stepped towards
them, and Immediately three shots were
fred. The woman and the short man
ran of, and in few seconds the tall
man, who proved to be Washington
Walker, a Richmond negro, was found
on the other side Of Porter street, lying
against DR.. IDgrsm's fence.
On the % Of August Walker was
taken to The Almshouse, in Richmond,
where he died the following morning,
never having spoken after he was shot.
The shooting occurred Saturday night,
End the next day Thomas johnson, a
Young colored man who lived just out
side the city limits, aud Berta Wood,
Young mulatto who lived in Richmond
in the vicinity of Eighteenth and Cary
streets, were arrested, charged with do
ing the shooting.
SOME OF THE EVIDENCE.
In the preliminary examination it
vas shown that there bad been an init
macy between Walker and Berta Wood,
winch had been broken off; and that
there was also an intimacy between
Berta Wood and Thomas Johnson. 1t
was Likewise proved that Bersa Wood
bad come to Manchester that evening.
The evidence as to Johnson's where
abouts at the time Of the murder was
conflicting. One witnessed testified
that be saw him at the upper end of
Hall street shortly before, and another
that he had seen him in Richmond.
No ore was absolutely certain that
johnson was near the scene Of the
crime, nor could any Of the witnesses
identify the man and woman who ran
of after the shooting.
THE WITNESSES.
The prisoners having elected to be
tried separately, johnson is being tried
first. lie is Of low stature, ginger
cake color, and seems thoroughly COM
posed. There are about forty witnesses
for the Commonwealth AMI there will
be ten or more for the defence.
oRAND-JURY INDICTMENTS.
The grand jury met again yesterday
and brought in the following true bills
Of indictment for nuisance, after which
they were adjourned for the term
Nary Schroats, G. C. McRae, Baston
Logan, +. S. whitehead, George p.
Walden, John Love and G. G. McRae,
John A. Coke, Nicholas Black, Alice
Jackson, Hilton Brooks, c. W. Turner,
John Bright, B. IL. Morrissette, Lucy
Christian and Silvey Resms, Henry
Baugh, James Rogers, Mrs. r. Wright,
Thomas Brown and Julia Turpin, Fam
ME Hagan and Julia Turpin, Ann
Gordon and Robert Besttie, Mary Hass-
blant and Robert Besttie, Mary Ross
and the Richmond aad Petersburg Rail-
road Company, Virginia Fire and Ma
rine-Insurance Company two, Thad.
Fritz and ". II. Brander.
There were two indictments of o
similar nature against the city, in which
instances the jury returned " Not true
BILL"
SCHOOLS TO OPEN MONDAY.
A regular meeting of the City School
Board was held at the Mayors Court
room at s O'Clock last night. Present:
Messrs. F. @. d. Farmer (chairman),
d. j. Weisiger (clerkJ, O'Brien, Foster,
Nunnally, Moore, Carr, Pilson, and
Peplc. A number of bills for repairs
to the buildings were ordered to bs
paid, and the contract for furnishing
fuel for the next session was awarded
to Owen Brothers.
Mr.. Weisiger submitted his annual
report, which showed that the present
Indebtedness of the Board is 81, 306.9G,
areduction Of over 81, 200 from what it
was at the commencement OF the last
session.
1t was decided that the schools shall
open next Monday, October 4th, and
that the term shall be eight months.
The amount to be received from the
State this year is about 1925 more than
it was last.
The Board feels confident that by
having an eight-months' session its debt
will be reduced about 81, 500 next year,
and that after then the schools can run
the full nine months.
Mr.. Peple read q communication
from Mr.. Fitzgerald, the incoming prin-
cipal, recommending certain changes in
grade and textbooks in the High School.
The Communication was referred to the
Committee on Grades, with power to
act.
After the transaction Of routine bu5i-
ness the Board adjourned.
OTHER ITEMS.
NJ l..