Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-06-08
A CASE OF HOMICIDE
DEATH OF GRAFTON, WHO WAS STRUCK
BY LUCAS.
A Post-Mortsm to be Hads This korn-
ing and Inquest Held This
Afternoon.

| A'dt ~irh'
Mr.. Grafton was born 10 Henrico county on
the 22d OF February, 1856; was brick
laser by trade, and with his wife and two
children resided at No. 1914 west Clay street
Though he occasionally took drink he was
| known ss sober, industrious, and peace
| able man.
THE BALL.
On the night OF Whit-Monday ball took
| place at Blenner's Park. which Is within two
| squares OF deceased's residence, and he was
employed as gste-keeper. The admission
was by badge, for which the men paid
| twenty-five cents. One OF the patrons was
Joseph Lucas, a young man, whose occupa'
| tion Is that OF abOrer, but who from all ac-
counts never did much work OF any kind
and led rather rowing life.
/ From what can be siited out Of the con-
fused accounts Of the unhappy affair Lucas
went into the ballroom, stayed some time,
| and came out into the street and gave his
badge ft is alleged TO Charles Flemlrg.
| Fleming at any rate passed in, and when
! Lucas presented himself Grafton refused him
admission because he could not show bis
| badge.
/ Lucas made some excuse, which was not
accepted by Grafton.
Thereupon the two got to words and then
| TO blows, but were soon separated.
! After the ball Fleming and Grafton got to
/ QuarfeIlng and fighting. and In the midst OF
/ it-sO the Commonwealth's officers think
/ they can show-Lucas came up behind Graf
/ ton and struck MIN down with a granite
| paving stone.
The block, which is now at the Third
/ statIon.house, IL wedge-shape and weighs
/ nine pounds and four ounces.
- Il FuFf fT.nn ~ a
| picked up from the ground in an insensble
/ condition and carried to his home, near by
SUFFERING AND DEATH.
Grafton lived in framed house that sets on
a hillside on the north side OF Clay street,
and the ground slopiDg from the porch to
the sidewalk is covered with grass and
! flowers, while within the rooms are cleany
/ and comfortable; all evidencing quiet, good
/ home, where thrift and comfort prevailed.
Here be was brought 10 his wife on the night
/ In question and was laid in bed, and there,
after intense suffering, life ended.
Mr. Grafton never was well enough TO
give any account oi the stfray; aud IN
/ deed never spoke much more than to call
Emma" (his wiie,) or "Johu," faithful
neighbOr and friend. who was by bis bedside
most Of the time.
Whenever asked where the hurt was he
/ always said "My head. my held.'
The stone struck him on the right side
over the ear. 1t cut the skin open for dis
/ tance Of about an inch, but whether 1t frsc-
/ tured the skull can only be ascertained by
/ the post mortenl, which Coroner Taylor will
I make this morning.
/ Mr.. Grafton was probably never fully in
! his right mind after he was bit. At tunes,
/ however. he was certainly partly conscious.
trTt laaf daV m y
/ howeyer he was in delirium, and at 1928
/ death came and relieved him from suiferngs
/ that were very acute, judging by his moans
/ and facial expression.
CoIoner Taylor having been notified OF
/ the death at once went 10 the house, and ar
/ ranged to return this morning TO make the
/ autopsy. At4P. VI. jury OF inquest will
/ be empanelled, and all the witnesses who
1 can be found will he examined.
Personal.
/ Mr.. Grafton married Miss Rodes. One
/ OF their children is aged four years; the
/ other Is but eight weeks old.
/ Deceased was a member OF the Grace
/ street Baptist church, but his funeral VIII
/ take place at a +. NJ. to-day from Clay
! street Baptist church. and he will be buried
/ in OakwoOd cemetery.
/ lie was member OF Pamunkey Tribe,
/ I. 0. x. NJ, and Of the BricklAyers' Union.
and at the time OF ths difficulty with Lucas
/ and Fleming was employed on the new CITY
| Hall building. His brother, Mr.. Il. w.
/ Grafton, Is the driver Of the Brook.ayenue
/ steam fire engine.
/ Lucas's home is on west Leigh street,
and Fleming lives on north Twenty-thlrd
street.
LUCAs's ESCAPE AND ARREST.
/ As well as can be learned Lucas, after
/ picking UP the paying-block and striking
/ Grafton down with ii, buried OIL to the
/ extreme western part OF the city and then
/ proceeded TO the Fsir-Grouuds. There
| hiding himself in one OF the out-hOuses he
| spent the night. In the morning he met
| a man whom he knew, who told him
/ that Grafton would surely die. This
made him resolve TO leave this part OF the
! country and he struck OIL towards Atlee's
/ station, on the Chesapeake aud Ono raj way,
/ and there got on a train and beat" his way
/ 10 Charlottesville. From that point he went
| to Lynchbure from Lynchburg TO Roanoke.
! At Roanoke he joined other tranps and in
[ 40 empty freight-car they beat their way to
| D2nyile.
YOUTHS GOOD WORK.
Captain Charles IL. Epps, who has charge
: Of the Third police district, IN which the
/ affair occurred, was over and over again in
/ formed that Lucas was in hiding In the
| swampy ground on the Fredericksburg rail-
/ road, and he had all that country secured by
/ officers, who were out day and night; but II
occurred TO him that Lucas might slip
! through the net. work OF police and get 10
/ " ashington.
! After considerable time bad elapsed it
| was clear that Lucas had escaped from the
/ county,
CAPTAIN Epps, meeting his nephew, young
/ Jimmie Wingdeld, who is now employed in
/ one Of the DanYille railroad offices in Wash
! ington. said.
"JimmIe, do you know Lucas "
eyes, indeed" he answered; 81 went 10
/ school with him."
"Tben you look out for him." said the
| Captain: "he may 90 10 Washington. II
/ yon set your eyes on him have him arrested,
/ charged with murder"
IAN right" said the youth, "Pll do it."
Young Wingfeld going back to Washing
| ton for reasons OF his own took the route Uia
/ DanWe. The FIRST man be saw upon land
/ ing at Danvie was Lucas. He at once went
| TO police officer and said 10 him: "Arrest
/ that mau; he is charged witt murder in
/ Richmond"
! WINFIELD was a stranger; his manner, be
Z dunlr, WAS tANAtNAs AhA bSNA-h ~ "a
| planned the matter al some length 10 the
! officer, that gentleman, exercising proper
/ and praiseworthy caution, declined to rash
INTO ihe case without more light. He and
other, however, followed Lucas and three
I other tramps 10 an empty car In North Dan
vile. Here the officer approached Lucas
and said:
"rhe man in Richmond that you struck
! is dead"
Lucas at once wilted, and trembllngly
SAID:
"Ishe! didn't mean 10 kill him."
Then the officer knew that young Wing
/ field had truly represented the csse.
Lucas was arrested; the Richmond au-
thorities were notified; Sergeant HHlce went
on and brought the prisoner bsck here and
be was taken before The Police Justice, who,
pending an examination, committed him to
! Jail.
Fleming, who never left the city, was also
arrested and committed In default OF bail.
Death of Mr. ID. A. Langhorne.
Mr.. u. A. LaBghorne, who for the past
five wears has held the position OF second
clerk In the City Auditors office. died yes
terdsy morning at the Red Sulphur Springs,
in Mouroe county, w. Va. Deceased was
about thirty-eigbt years old and unmarried.
He had beeu IN III health for q long time.
His remains will be taken 10 Lynchburg for
2 N.sAa n