Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-23
THE THIEF WAS SHOT.
ROBERT STRONG GOES TO STEAL
JUNK AND RECEIVES LEAD.
NJ, James c. smith. who Did the Shoot
irg Exonorstcd by the Coronsr's
jury.

from the effects of which he died about
seven hours Giterward.
Tor some time past Mr.. Smith has
been missing lot Of material from his
Junk store. at the southwest corner OF
Cary aad Seventeenth streets, and Tues
day be determined TO watch his pre-
mi.es that night which he did, but nc
one came to molcst ms goods.
TIE THIE- ArPEARs.
Mr.. Smith concluded 10 stand watch
again "Wednesday night, and between 2
and O'Clock Yesterday morning Strong
made his appearance Mr.. Smith was
armed with double barrellcd brcech-
loader filled with No. shot.
The intruder came within n few feet
Of Mr.. Smith, when the latter fired, and
be thinks missed his man. Strong ran
end hid IN a pile Of old ra ys Mr.. smith
called 10 him 20 como ont, which he did,
and made his way into the Office, and Nj.
smith states he thought he attempted to
draw q weapon, but, as Was afterwards
shown. Strong did not have pistol.
Mr.. Smith fired again and the negro fell
Mr. Smith telophOned 10 the First
fiotiDn-house, and two police officers
were sent down and TOOK the wounded
man 10 the station.
COSrE VIs THETrs.
After receiving some whiskey Strong
"A tod The officers tuat be had been into
zz Mr. Smiths s house three times and stolen
~ goods. which be had sold.
81 Early Yesterday morning the city am
81 bnlnnco was called, and Strong was taken
81 % the city almshouse and died about
al $50 o'clock.
81 MIR. SMITH ARRESTED.
81 Mr. Smith was arrested yesterday
u morning charged with shooting Strong
and taken before Justice Crutchfeld,
but soon after reaching the courtroom
II was learned that Strong was dead, and
the lustice declined % bail Mr. Smith
and put him in charge of police officer,
who carried him back to the station
house.
THE INQUEST.
As soon ms Strong died Coroner Taylor
was sent for and decided to hold an in
quest over the body at p, NJ. at the
city alm,hou,e.
The following gentlemen were sum-
moned aid sworn as the coroncrs jury :
llcssrs. William G. Taylor, John Hume,
John higgins J. d. Redwood, Lewis
Werner, and j. H. Phillips.
Colonel SpotswoOd was on hand to
look after the interests Of the Common
wealth.
Mr. Smith had no counsel.
TIE BODY.
The jury first visited the morgue,
Ia & 1. "A
out. The Coroner pointed out the
wounds of which there were several IN
tine lower REGIONS of the back The tes-
umouv OF the witnesses WAS taken IN the
chapel of the almshouse.
MIR. SMITHS TESTIMONY.
Mr. Smith was first sworn and testi-
fed that ior the last eight or ten years
he hni been losing considerable stun,
such as brass. canvas. etc, from his
store. Five or six years ago be sat mp
aI nel, in the dark 10 watch for the
tl,f and one morning about clock
be heard the holt 10 the back door move,
tie door opened, and Robert Strong
walked in.
Witness took OF his shoes and follow
ei hm. The thief took the key to the
metal-roOm and unlocked The door and
went in and filled q bag with brass and
such stun lie (Strong) came out, lock-
"a the door. hung tine key up. and put
tho bag on his back. when witness. who
was living on the floor opposite the metal
room. fired at him. Strong stopped and
lct the bag fall, aud witness thought he
(Strong had been struck and watched for
him % fail. After standing few min
utes the thief ran TO the door, and wit
ue-s shot az linn tWo or three times, but
without effect
Strong came by the store a few weeks
nitcrWlri and witness remarked to him
that B. could not see how lac missed HIM
rs he was so near. Strong laughed end
dcaie THAT he was in the store. but
witness knew he was the man. and warn
"a him TO keep on bis premises. lie
Thought lac had frightened strong so that
tc would stay away IN future.
MORE RECENTLY.
Some time ago witness noticed that
eouo material was being moved from
his store and told his clerk (Alr. VIII
hsmsl about il. MIR. Williams said he
could not scc how any one could get into
tire huildiug.
Continuing. Mr.. Smith said The
aay after tie late flood We moved tie
rrtsl INTO another room. aud the next
norninp came IN and found that the
door had been broken open. told Wll-
ans they thc thioves) must have
Ir.ken in dunng the night and carried
away some of the metal, but Williams
thought they had broken in during the
DAYTIME, and not IL the night was
n9t satisfied, aud determined to watch
t.e place myself
went down there about . o'clock
night before last and sat there until D
O'Clock. 1 didn't say anything 70 any
one about II. and no one appearing l
went home and laid down for about two
hours. thought would witch again
Inst night la,d down on the tioor and
about 2:30 o'clock one Of the dogs /
had there began to wag his tail against
IN. paftitiou wall. and J said TO myself
some one must be around whom the
doc knows. / waited minute
or 40. There WAS a window opposite
from me which opens on the street, and
.aw man sliding down the stairs 10y
tlc light from the window. There was
100 hight in the room where was and l
didn't see anything more Of the man for
g. low minutes, and thought ! must have
been mistaken. In IA few minutes, how
ever. / saw him walk down the shop,
and / thought he would stop somewhere,
40 did not get up from the
Goor. He walked over towards
me and / still waited in hopes
nat he would turn away from ine.
He came within five feet OF me, and l
thought be was getting ready to Jump
ON me. and | raised up and shot, but be-
iag SO neag 10 him he in some wav
struck against the gen ard was not struck
by the shot. He then ran over and Ind
among some old rags. l told him to get
out Of there or would blow the top OF
bis head OFF. lie then got up ana