Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-24
KILLING OF D0HERTY.
PARTICULARS OF TEE HOMICIDE OF
EARLY SUNDAY M0RNIBG.
COroper's ynry Say that Drumheller Was
Jus,iiGble-Aceussd Before the Police
Cours-Dail Allowed

AT the northwest corner OF Duval and
Second streets there has stood for many
years q brick house, the main part of
which is three stories in height and the
rear part or wing two stories. 1t fronts
on Second street, and nuns back for
some distance along Duval street On
the side aud rear the lot is enclosed by
q plonk fence six and half feet high.
In this building Mr.. John l.. Drumheller
resides aud carries on the business OF
grocer aud barkeeper. and in a room
over the store has baga.e!le-tahle. In
the back yard about j o'clock Sunday
morning, as mentioned in the Disp0fc,
OF that day! Mr. Dmmheller shot and
instantly killed Mr.. John Dougherty-cr
Dobcrty, as tne name is Oftener if not
more correctly spelled.
DOhcrty was twenty-four years Of age
was a painter by trade, weighed about
l70pouuds, and had very dark hair and
moustache. When sober he was quiet
and pelccable man but when in liquor,
winch was too often the case, he was by
many persons regarded as Il dangerous
character. Over AMI over again he had
been arrested and sent to jal-generally
for disorderly conduct. On the last oc-
casion of bis conviction he was imprlsOn-
ed for resisting Policeman Wilkinson in
the discharge Of his official duty. From
this term he was discharged only few
weeks ago.
Drumheller is twenty-three years of
AGE, a machinist by trade, and Is about
five feet ten inches in height, and spare
build. He has been in business at his
present stand about eight months, and on
December the 18th WAS reported for
keeping his bar-room open within the
hours prohibited by the Sunday law, and
was fined S25. This circumstance posi-
bly, has a bearing upon the case, rs at the
tine OF the difficulty Drumheller was
seeking 70 get Dohcrty ami his com
plnions from the house because, among
other reasons. It was Sunday.
EuTly Sunday morning the Coroner
had the body removed TO the aimshouse,
whore the autopsy was made, and where
i'll the afternoon a jury was sworn and
heard the following evidence:
THOMAS Il. 1hOkNION.
Thomas r. Thornton, the first witness exam
iucd. said: Last saturday nicht about o'clock
] me. Walter Napier and Iuhn DOherty near
Drumhei lea ~ ejoic and asked them 10 take some
u'nc to drink. We went IN there, stood while,
and came out again. Al Of uS went INFO the rar-
room. NC bIumhcller said Wa could not gei
au5 lhius. Ine second time We Wcnt we c0uli
not get iu the hrr All three Of Us went i1to the
gate on Duyal street We Knocked al the door,
ana Mr. Drumhcller would not lct us ~. 10
lcrty ana Mr. Hrumheler had some words. /
don't know whether sir Doherty got upstairs or
not / went into the yard.
When / came back there was a scrnmbling.
All no once / saw "a hash OF the pistol. / saw
Napioraud Doherty a. II they were clasping
ea IN o,hcr. Napier said. MY best iliend IS
shot" Mr. DrImheller walked into the house.
drank right smart last night; don't know
whether Napier or DOhcrty went up-stairs; ]
am pretty certain did not 80 no myself. ] am
certain did not climb over the fence.
lam certain wen. in. Mr.. Drumheller met
John D0hcrty ald walter Napier When Hrs
went there the doors were closed. knocked
aud asked permission % come IN. He did not
refuse the FIRST time. We all got drink.
don't remember secils = anybody but SIR. Drum
heller. did not sce James Kennedy when |
went there rr.1. lie did no. threaten Us tho
nlst time Tor trcspa sing. This happened about
o O'CLOCK, as near as eau come nj It.
WALTER NAPIER.
Mr.. Walter Napier testified as follows
DDhtrfy thornton. ard myself won't 10 Mr.
lrumh Hers about o'clock 20 get a drink.
krocked A. tie door on Duyal street, aud Mr.
DrlmLel ,rsaid we could nos ret in. We were
tlcn inn the yard on She porch. We won't through |
thc gate. iir DOhcriy and Ar. DrunLelier had |
some words then tncy got tp nghilng Just had |
st1prel fighting aud Nh. DWmhel!er seid: -! |
wiu dN Iim.H ard then shot Linn. 1 am sure we |
u.a1 atout tnree or four drinks in me. was
10 q condition e understand everything IL n was
going on. lil no' eit down while there.
Mir Drumhclcr came from up stairs to the
door.
am certain the last drink took was with
Mike Dohcrty ana Thomas Thornton, a little /
after IL oclocl,. OF Mr. Drrmhe.ers.
am certain Gii nct drink 2 drop az Drum /
hcllcr's with John pohcrty Nhlo they were
cuGr.ellngl held uy head down, lookinc al the
floor
MIR. Drumhellor asked us TO leave the lot be-
fore The lght
heard no iemark. nor Gid see any one strike
a blow, because held my mead down.
DRUNHELLER's TESTIMONY.
John L. Drli.heller: 1.-Two at No. $50 north Sc
coud street. am grocer ana lQuordcaler
About nye or ten minutes tO II o'clock on Satur-
dav uight left my store IN charge OF my Wiic /
and Walter Weaver. n llttle boy, ara went 10
room whore have pig8on-hole hhd Dacatelie-
Table. Mr.. Joseph Mason and Mt William
Shortell were playing a game OF pigeon-hole. 1
told them that ii ihey Lad any checks they
wanted 10 get rid Of 10 come down and dispose Of
them, as IL was near IL O'Clock.
Nj. Mason said: "O0nt Dc too close on the |
minute, but let Us finish this game which IS nov |
nearly over.
then went down stairs and proceeded TO close |
my doors. just rs had finished Mr. Mason and |
Mr. Snorteu aud boy we called sonny game !
keeper, came down into me bar hurredly and |
called for glass OF beer aud cigar That was
Just about j. o'cl0'k.
When they n8d finished their beer and lighted
their c.cars some Due knocked on the DO /. went
10 the back door OF the house opened the door,
and looked ont When looked cut saw Mr.
John Dohsrty. | SAID: "Gou cannot come in
here. sirn Nith that no seized my arms aud 0'-
tefot,tol 10 push bY me with the words. Let me
H. John, and treat me litc a gentleman"
said: d" / try 10 treat everybody a. gentleman,
but YOU cannot come in norc,' and with this J
shut The door. He stood outside then ana Eicked
on my door very violently. using the words, .
q. You had better come ana let me in."
said: John. you had better get away from
ther0: If yOu don't 20 away there Is way 10 /
make YOU = awRy.n He asked, " W bat way Is !
that.r I said, 4" could have you arrested f"r
on ny premiscs' lie saa; lfes~
pass ana be ID. but como here a minute, /
want b talk with yOun ! said: go away; | am |
ov,nn lie said: "Oh. come here minute" |
/ said; " / am going 70 bed" He SAID; Wei, /
co 10 hell then; DO YOU hear that? II you won't /
let me in and DO friendly with me, won't be /
friendly with you, aud will do you all the DAM |
age can"
While that conversation was going on. or some |
time during that conversation, Napier aud |
Tborpton camc in tho gate. ] heard some one /
saw then: "Oh hell; II We can't get la there, l /
reckon by ---, We can 90 upstairs" .,,,-
With mat all three OF them went stumbling /
along up the steps then said to my wife: ." | !
cannot sit here any longer. but must 60 up !
stairs aud see what they are dotug.' My wife /
began 20 cry, and shy For hraNens SAKE, /
JobDpy don't 60 up there; that John DOhefty IL /
:, sesnernte character aud he NAV Kill you and /
t,.-ff1 little baby DO ~ ]