Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-06-09
AUTOPSY AND INQUEST
POST MoRTEW ON THE BODY OF THOMAS
J. CRsFIOE.
Inquest In the Afternoon-A Verdict Put
ting On Lucas the Responsibility
for tho Death.

Yesterday morning Coroner William II.
/ Tax l0r aud DIR. James j.. Roy, the latter one
Of the physicians who attended Mr. Grafton
IN hs last Illness. made poStmortcm eX-
animation Of the body OF the deceased. The
autopsy showed o fracture OF the skull eX-
tending from the point where the blow was
gwen on the right side Of the head 10 tie
orbit OF the right eve, about I'VE inches IN
length. THE brain was very much inilamed
and blood was cilused upon IL.
The Coroner and Or. Roy concluded that
Grafton died from the effects OF the blow.
Indeed, the only wonder was how be
could have lived a. long az seventeen days;
but though the bone was cracked IL was
done IN such way that the parts held very
tcuaciously together. The line OF 1t was
first discovered On the inside, and was not
observable to the eye or trsceabe with q
prOhe on tue exterior until the skin was
removed, then it was clear enough.
The Inquest.
At4o'clock in the afternoon the Coroner
emplnclcd jury and held ar inquest. II
had been arranged TO have il at The house OF
the deceased. 1914 west Clay street, but the
funeral was about 70 take place at that hour
and the house was filled with friends, and 30
the Coroner and jury vent over to the old
Blenucr's Park and conducted the eXamina-
tion in the large pavilion there.
MR.. KAISER.
The first witness sworn was L. i. Kaiser,
who made the following statement:
live at 1906 west CLAW street. The Diff
cultv started IN Mr.. JOhn-On's bir-rOom.
During the difficulty came out with some
other gentlemen. II wss between y and
o'clock. Grafton and Lucas came ont Of the
bar quarrelinQ. They went across the street
and the crowd gathered around them. Ihey
did not hchi, and Grafton came back. Then
the crowd gathered around Lucas. ! was
standing in front 0t Lucas, who said some.
thing 90 me and shook his finger in my face.
Then Lucss started TO the south sIde Of the
street. Mr. Grafton was on the north side OF
the street. Grafton came 10 me and said:
- Any man hits you. III die for you. You
are q brother Red Man" He dd not
appelr 10 be under the influence
of liquor. Grafton then went over towards
| Mr. Lucas. ] could not see what was gong
on, bat heard Lucas say " Enough" After
I forwards saw Luc,s and Grafton making
| friends. Grafton went 10 the north side and
Lucas 10 the sonlh side Of the street, Lucas
came OYER shortly afterwards 10 the north
side and struck Mr.. Cline on the forehead
| and Knocked HIM down. Then he went 10
| the south side OF the street again shortly al
/ terWards Lucas ran across the street ana
/ got Mr.. W. 4. Carson down. Lucas called
/ for Charley, (meauing Charley Fleming.)
/ Fleming was standing near Grafton. Grafton
took hold OF him by the shoulders and
{ said: " You are not going anywhere
7 Meanwhile Mr.. Hat Kelley had parted Luz
/ cas- and Carson. Grafton and Fleming got
into a fight IN the street. and Fleming said
/ be bad enough. Mr.. Kelley parted them
. Tteppfr.v and f'r4ftpn IN flp
| middle Of the street. Presently ] saw rock
| biz Mr. Crafton's head and saw Lucas run
/ ning OF | was about two yards OF when
! Grafton fell. Lucas and Grafton had not
been together foI five minutes. Lucas
| smacked me once while ! was in the bar
room with him. and smacked some one else.
| lie said he was only looling with me, but
could take it as l pleased.
1ug SECOND WITNESS.
William J. Marshall lived at 1904 west
. CLAY. lie said: When | reached the place
Grafton and Fleming were hghting. ! and
Matthias Kelley parted them. While we
were holding Fleming ! heard lick. My
back was turned and | did not see who
| struck 1t.
Mr.. sT. CLAIR.
Watson J.. St. Clairlly at 14oj west Clay.
/ lie dcpO>ed as follows: When | went IN
| .I9hnstons store between j. and ! O'Clock
/ Lucas and Grafton were QuaIrelling. They
! went out into the street. also
went out and saw tben fighting.
/ don't know who hit the Gr,t blow.
| Then I heard Lucas halo Enough" and
/ Grafton stopped. Then Grafton and Fle-
ming had some words and Grafton struck
/ Fleming aud they had a fight. Mat. Kelley
nartcd them. while Grafton was standing
/ Lucas ran up behind him and struck him
/ with q heavy rock. / picked 1t up and gave
| 1t to the police
FOURTH.
Charles Henry Cline was sworn and de-
posed: live at S21 east Broad. ! only saw
/ the beginning OF the difficulty, Lucas
/ knocked me down. did not see him bit
/ Grafton nor Grafton him.
DID not SEE THE FATAL BLOW STRUCK.
| William A. Carson lives at 1912 east Main.
/ did not see the last quarrel between Lucas
/ and Grafton when the rock was used. Mr.
/ Cline aud myself came out Of Johnson's ana
/ Lucas hit me in the eve and said | stopped
/ him from fighting. / was not acquainted
| with Lucas, but asked him to stop lighting.
! Lucas was not drunk, but had been drink
/ ing.
Mr.. HILL.
/ william o. Hill lives at Sl5 Moore street.
1 81 was standing on the north side Of Clay
/ street when the rock was thrown. Fleming
] and Grafton had been fighting and seemed 10
/ hc making friends. They were standing in
/ the middle Of the street. At this time Lucas
/ came from the south side OF Clay with a stone
/ in his hand, which ne threw at Grafton and
/ knocked him down. Lucas was only five or
/ six feet away, and then ran of. Lucas had
+ said Fleming was the only friend he had on
oarth.'
| SAW THE ROCK THROWN.
/ Charles X. Sharp lives at26 west Canal
! street. al saw the rock thrown. | was
/ Standing on the north side Of Clay street
/ near Mr. Hill. | saw Lucas hlt Grafton
/ with a stone aud then run of. Fleming was
/ oui in the street with Mr. Grafton"
/ Charles l.. Butler lives at 303 west Broad.
( 81 was talking to Sharp when the rock was
/ thrown. Lucas threw the rock and then
ran up the street Grafton and Fleming
were in the middle Of the street at the time"
ANOTHER Plight.
Matthias Eclley lives at BO,chen's baseball
park. "Dd not see the rock thrown. Was
I AT Johnson's when Lucas and Grafton had
some words about badges. | went into the
ward, then into the street, where ] saw Ln-
cas- have Carson down. Carson had cried
Enough and | separated them. Lucas
tried 10 stamp on Carson'S face. About this
iAiflp Lucas NEu AlaiiNu hAb u A-htf NAiNb
dld not see. Then Fleming and Grafton bad
fsht and separated them. While l was
holding Grafton some one struck him with
rock and he fell at my feet. Did not see who
hit him, but saw Lucas run hp the street.
Lucas had been drinking, but was not
drunk"
HELPED TO CARRY HIM.
John w. Thomas was sworn aud deposed:
81 live on Clay street between First and st.
James. | know nothing OF the light, but
helped 10 carry Grafton home"
NEXT.
Leonard Boiling lives at 925 west Clay.
az was standing on the north side OF Clay
street when Lucas hit Grafton with the
rock.'
DR.. RAY.
DR.. James =. Ray was sworn. "My office
l. nj 10 west Grace. attended the deceased |
during his sickness. He was suffering from
the effects OF q blow upon the head which !
produced brain disorder, from which ne died
~tk a 10 a