Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-12-24
CAUSE OF DEATH.
VERDICT OF THE coRoNER's JURY IN
THE CRAIG CASE.
Court pTatters-Acquittcd of Murder
Painful Acknowledgements Per-
sonai Intelligence, &c.
lcorrn,ponaenco Of lne RIchmond pIspatch.l
PrrrRsDuno. December %, 1889.

PETERSBURG. December %, 1889. =.
Coroner Leigh, after viewing the body OF
| John Craig. whose dead body was found at
| a late hour on Saturday night on the SIDE
of the track Of the Petersburg railroad
| near the Guarantee-street crossing, direct
ed that jury of inquest be suminoned 70
be held at 10 O'Clock Sunday morning. The
jury met at the hour appointed, and after
the examination of several witnesses were
adjourned over until this afternoon. IL
was in evidence that the deceased bad
been drinking. though not TO excess; that
as late as o'clock he had been seen In
company with other persons, and that
there was a clear cut across the neck OK
the deceased, apparently inflicted by some
sharp instrument. This cut, however, was
not decp enough to have caused death. In
order 10 sift all the surroundings of the
case, and 10 remove all doubts as 70 the
cause of death, the jury were adjourned
until to-day. II was evident that the upper
half of Craig's head had been crushed by
wheels Of the cars. No further evidence
being introduced to-day, the jury rendered
a verdict that death was caused by the de-
ceased being run over by q tram: Inc
supposition is that he had fallen asleep on
the track, and of course no blame Is at
tached to the railroad authorities.
COURT MATTERS.
The argument in the case Of the Postal
Telegraph Company against the Western
Union Telegraph Company for right OF way
along the Norfolk and Western railroad -
still being argued in the Circuit Court be:
fore Judge Hancock. NJ Honaday, OF
Richmond. has been speaking ali day.
ACQUITTED or MURDER.
John Satch6cld. n white citizen Of this
place, was acquitted in the County Court
OF Charles CITY on Saturday on the charge
Of completely in the murder Of the colcred
cook of the schooner Ellen White. William
White. captain of the schooner. was tired
some time agO a. principal IN the alleged
murder and was convicted and sentenced
to tho pcni.entiary. where he Is now
serving ont his term Of imprisonment.
Satchfeld was confined in Jail flty-tWO
DAYS before his trial. according 90 his
statement. few hours after his arrival
hero he was arrested for drunkenness. and
this morning wGsSent 10 Jail In default Of
payment of the fine imposed upon hlm by
the court. The body Of the dead cook was
found floating on the shore of one Of tho
Charles City creeks few days after the al
legged murder.
A PAINFUL ACCIDENT.
An evening or two ago Thomas Dean. the
colOrod fireman at the Petersburg IRON
Works. met with on accident which VIII
probably cripple him for life. BY the
breaking e the shattinc q heavy piece oi
iron was lu.led aeaIns, HIM, breaking The
night thIgh-bon9 and piercing through the
flesh of the Jet thigh. J., is thought that
amputation may be found necessary.
prEsoNAL INTELLIGENCE.
Captain Joseph T. Mason. who for the
last fifteen years has held the position Of
American Consul at Dresden. arrived IN
New York last week by the Norih-German
IlOvd's steamer Iraye Aud came direct to
his home in Petersburg. Captain Mason
has number Of friends md relatives ia
Richmond who viii be glad 90 hear Of his
safe arrival, a. he IS IN perfect hcalth aud
fine spirits. II is rot improbable thGt lie
NAV again return to the consular service.
although the many who know bun wei
and love him" are saugulne that
he may be induced TO stop IN Ameri-
ca. Captain Mason IL CentlemaL of
superior talents aud education. while
his knowledge of foreign affairs Is
perhaps equal % that Of any. Re first went
abroad as tho secretary OF legation with
his uncle. Hon. John Y. Mason, uteu
States Minister TO France. AMER several
years abroad he returned 90 take charge OF
his extensive estates which, by the ior-
tunes OF war. became of little worth. Re
brings a number of very beautiful aud
costly paintings with other works Of art.
ard it Is probable his Richmond friends
NAV have view Of them ere many moons
shall wax and wene.
Sheriff f. Sladc, Of Norfolk, spent Sun
day in this city.
MIR. Frank Clements. Of this city. has re-
moved TO Roanoke, where lac expects short |
ly to open a hotel.
MISCELLANEOUS MOTIFS.
Mayor Collier has received papers from
Washington with request TO furnish full !
statistics Of the several municipal depart |
ments for the census Of 1880. The request |
will he complied with.
Captain ". Il. Eanes. chief Of police. |
this morning received from Providence, IL. !
l.. n beautiful oxidiZcd cam.sheu bearing |
the initials *. l.. sent him by his friends |
in that city. The shell is complete, closes !
with a spring, and Is held by gold pin.
ROBIN ADAIR.
Rev. Wilton Merle Smith, the famous
pitcher Of the Princeton Baseball Club IN |
1871 has become pastor OF the Central /
Presbyterian church of New York.