Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-06
INQUEST ON RILEY.
PAcrs ABOUT TIE psArR OF HEz.
sAUNDERss vIcTIk.
Substance OF the Testimony Taken at the
Coronsr's Invsstigstlon-Ths
Verdict.

DIR. Lewis Z. Bosher, yesterday morning made
a post-morfem examination OF the body OF Au-
gustus Riley, the coIored man who was shot
aud mortally wounded on the night OF the
Fourth by Hezekah Saunders. who snow
afugltiye from Justice. They found thatthe
bali entered the lower part OF RileY's chest
on the right side in front and passed through
the liver, the stomach, and the bowels,
lodging In one Of the muscles OF the back,
producing violent hemmorrbages, which
caused death. The bullet was from an ordi'
nary 32-calibre pistol cartridge.
"THE 'cRowNERs QUEST"
Yesterday evening an inquest was held at
the residence OF Riley, No. IA north Twens
ty.frst street, and a large number Of colored
people. relatives. and friends OF the deceased
were gathered about the street expecting TO
hear some disclosures which would show
whether IL was true az rumored that the fatal
affair was the result OF quarrel about RDey's
wife.
Albert Jones was first sworn and deposed
as follows: live at No. 313 Pres; IN street
/ saw Augustus Riley aud IIezek,sh s@un-
ders fighting yesterday evening. l do not
know the exact time, but think 1t was about
$50 or 0 O'Clock. IL was near the corner OF
Twenty first and Main streets. When hrst
saw them thought they were only skylark-
Ing. They were both on their feet and at
tempting 10 trip each other. During The
skirmish saw pistol fall from saunderSs
pocket and it shOne brightly on the ground.
Then thought they meant business and L
scampeTed away. Both men scuiiled for the
pistol and Saunders was successful In getting
it and ran off, with Riley after him In close
pursuit. When Saunders had gotten short
distance he turned and fred.
Jones said Riley was gaining ground on
Saunders when the latter fred. lie wa sure
the pistol fell from Saunders's pocket, but
didn't know 10 whom il belonged.
TPOUGHT THEY WERE PLAYING.
Andrew Crump was sworn and dep0sed
live at No. 2lO6 east Main street. j saw
Riley and Saunders scufiing. and did not
know whether they were fighting or not
Nathaniel Holiday and ] were standing on
the corner. We thought they were only play.
ing; Just then they clinched two or three
times without either falling. Then Saunders
ran of and Riley followed him. When they
mad gone about twelve or thirteen yards
Saunders whirled and shot Riley; did not
see the pistol before the firing. Riley's coat
was on fire, and put il out. Saunders con-
tinueL TO run through the alley. When i
put the fire out on RIley's coat he said :
"Hezekiah Saunders shot me-" i do not
know the origin Of the fuss.
CONFIRMAToRY.
Nathaniel Harris was sworn and deposed:
I live bere IN Ryan's alley between Twenty
first and Twenty-second street; the house has
no number. was with Andrew Crump yes
terday, and every word Crump said is the
truth, and can't say much more. The men
were about two yards apart when Saunders
shot. | never saw the pistol at all; both
men were standing when the firing took
place.
DAUGHTER OF DECEASED.
Josephine Riley was sworn and deposed :
/ live at IL north Tweniy-trst street. am
the daughter Of "Gus" Riley. / saw my
father and Saunders wrestling yesterday eve.
ming, and | thought they were PLAYING. /
was standing by Murpby's door, and was
pretty close TO them when my father was
shot. don't know how il ithappened. Isaw |
Saunders take out his pistol and shoot my
father, who was stopping under Saunders,
but not on the ground, when saunders shot |
him. Both men were standing up during |
the scufle. No sir, ITO the COronerl did |
not tell you last night that they were both on |
the ground. Saunders was standing face TO !
face With father when he shot him. They |
ran near tbe corner; fatheF-iu iyent and |
Saunders following bin when Saunders shot |
hun. Nv father died at l0t O'Clock last night. |
He said that HezekIah saunders shot him.
THE WOMAN IN THE CASE.
Frederick Roy was sworn and deposed; | |
live at No. lG north Fourteenth street. | |
was in the bar-room with the two men az |
first and heard the dispute. Riley was quar-
reling with Saunders. l said come and 90 |
with me, we will have meeting tonight. |
| saw the two men quarrel; ii took place at |
Muroby's door. Saunders said to Riey."I |
am not satisfied with you" Riley said. " You |
caused me to leave my wife for five months" |
Saunders said to Riley that he wanted salts. |
faction, and I want TO "get 1t tonight
saunders said, ~ will fix you Tonight" |
Riley asked Saunders, care YOU armed"
and Riley said 81 am not armed" Rilty |
saId. Ii YOU don't fix me quick ! will fix |
you'v | said. .Gns, come 20 along with |
me- Hezekish said, Don't bother; let |
orr business alone" When they told me 1t |
was none OF my business / left them. l did |
not see the shooting.
wONAN's STORY.
Minnie Harris was sworn and deposed; | |
live at No. north Twenty-second street. |
Uezekiah and / were sitting down before |
the front door OF this house yesterday after |
been telling lies on him and he was tired OF |
IL. and was going to get satisfaction before |
the sun went down. He also said that he |
was going to Kill bIm later IN the afternoon. |
| heard him (Riley) tell his dsugh- |
for Lula that be meant 10 get |
his weapon, and after that | went |
home. and about twenty minutes later | |
heard that Riley was shot. | came here and |
heard Riley say, Hezekilh has shot Inc ior |
nothing in the worId.' Riley continued; |
." He tore my stomach all 10 pieces, and am /
bound TO die
Riley said saunders had been meddling |
with him all day and all the evening. do |
not know what was the origin OF the trou.
bic.
All OF the witnesses are colored persons,
and so is the fugitive Saunders and his We
tim, Riley.
JEALOUSY.
Coroner TAYLOR stated that he had talked |
with deceased's wife, and she thought the |
cause OF the row was Jealousy.
THE VERDICT.
The Jurors returned a verdict that August |
Riley Tor, as II Is sometimes called, Reiley) |
came to his death on the night OF July 4,
1888. from the effects OF pi,to-shOt wound |
inflicted by IIeZekiah Saunders while these |
two were engaged in fighting.
This was signed by William III. Tay- |
lor. NJ. ID. Coroner, John Pitt foreman), G. |
W. Blankenship Samuel r. Perdue, James
A. Royster, ii. A. Malone, and J. j. Hig- |
gins.
Properly Transfers.
Richmond Edgar Allan and wife TO Isa>
bella W. Butler, 30 feet on Bacon street near