The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-04-30
AN INQUEST HELD.
The Jarv Unable TO Decide who Killed
Thomas.

Coroner Taylor yesterday made a post
moriem examination Of Mr.. John W.
Thomas. lie found wound in the lower
part OF the LEFT side. just above The hip,
about two inches long, and small wound
IA the intcstncs. In the afternoon ai >
o'clock an inquest was held. Inc
first witness called was Mr. William
m. Lautcrbach. who said About
~ O'Clock last saturday night, when / was
about 10 shut up my store. saw Mr.. Ihoiii-
a. and another white man standing ON the
pavemcnt near the sidewalk. The c0lored
man had bottle and heard Mr.. lnomas
ask for pickle. but pretended not 10 near
him as | was afraid he would make some
fuss. / don't know whether he was intoNi-
Gated or not. Mr.. Thomas then came MP
and / sold him five cents worth Of pickle.
lie went out and then ] went out, aud then
/ saw the cOlored sqan standing by the door
irving 10 get the stopper out OF The
bottle with knife. He got the stopper out
and IL fell on the ground. and Mr. Thomas
asked him what he had done with the stop
per. and he said IL had fallen. lie handed
the bottle % Mr.. Thomas: then Mr. Thomas
handed 10 TO me. lie asked me 90 pat q
stopper i'm it., and | went into the house ana
put paper stopper in 10 for him. ! handed
the bottle back to Mr. Thomas. They then
went little distance Oh, and heard The
cOl0red man ask for piece Of pickle. Mt.
Thomas said. ~ don't OSe you any pickle
do ~ or something like that. The colorcd
man said want some pickle. One oi the
white men said to hlm. get away or some
thing like that went iniO the house about
that time and STAYED about two minutes.
When I came out the cOlOfed man vas gone.
When / came 10 the door ] saw the White
man mir. Frauklin) standing at one Of the
Il. oil
looked Ikea brick in his hand. which De-
was hammering against the house. Then
stepped back into the door when ] heard
Mr.. Thomas calling 10 some one TO wait
there. IL want 10 see You min
ute.r A little while after / beard
Mr.. Thomas, who had come up TO the front
of the door. say. "fhat negro has stabbed
me-" Nv brother and myself examined
him. and found that he was cut. Dir.
Franklin was standing there at the time.
think saw the same cOiOred man Natuf-
dav noon. / heard two or three rocks
bounce. but don't know where they came
from. I saw no blows passed.
The first part Of MID. +. Nriehts teeii-
mony did not differ materially from Mr.
Iauterbachs. | heard the negro ask for
piece of pickle. and say to Mr.. Thomas, u
YOU don't want me 10 have the pickle ]
have got money | can buy pickle with.
Mr.. Thomas said if You want any thing You
can get 10. The negro said yes, you can
get any thing if YOU want li. Then Mr
Thomas drew back To throw the bottle OF
whisky at him when the negro said, Don't
throw that bottle Of whisky 40 i0e
and backed on down Harrison street. Mr.
Thomas and Mr.. Franklin both followed
him down the street. Mr.. Thomas having
first thrown the bottle Of whisky at him.
The bottle did not hit the negro, but bio ihe
side of the house and broke. Then there
were some rocks thrown. both by the negro
and the Write men. 1hon ] heard Mr..
Thomas say he was cut. and left and went
10 the depot 20 telephone the lDifd ponce
sta ion. Mr.. Franklin was not close % Dir.
Thomas when he said he was cut.
Mr.. Walter T. Fanklin said: ! was with
Mr. Thomas Saturday night. we had beth
drinking together. What ] said don't dis
tincily remember. except being at the corner
and being called over 90 get the pickle ana
of the negro coming up, but don't well fe-
member what took place between the negro
ana Mr.. Thomas.
The Jury. John Pitt. foreman, returned
verdict that John Wilson Thomas came
10 his death ON the 2sih day of April. $780,
from the effects Of 81 wound Of the bowels.
inflicted on the night of the 10Th day Of
April. 1900. by c0l0red man TO them un-
known.
The police of the Third district are exc
orting every effort 90 capture the negro. bUt
at a late hour last night De had not been
caught. There are several persons who
can identify the negro should he De cap
tured.