The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-12-30

Coroner's jury Adjourns to Thursday.
Tho coroner's jury was again called
to order by Dr. Gray 1T $40 p. III. Sunday.
Quite number Of people had assembled
at the mayors Office. but not a negro was
present. Contrary to their proceedings
OF tho previous day, tho jury did not
have the room cleared, but proceeded at
once to the examination OF witnesses.
John II. Trout, tho l9-ycar-old son of
Hon. ii. s. Trout, was tho first witness
examined and his evidence proved to BIO
the most important yet obtained. Mr..
Trout left his homo by the rear gate
and proceeded down Grove street to
Campbell. Turned into Campbell street
on the south side and met Mr. Massic
on that street, just east OF Grove street,
opposite Mr.. PENIS; saw no one on
Grove street above or below Campbell.
After saluting MIR. Massio and passing
observed 4 man in tho middle OF Camp
bell street, about fifty feet behind that
gentleman; tho man was heavily built
and we'll wrapped; could not distinguish
his features; wore dark clothes
believed he wore a dark hat; C,
say whether he WAS white or
wondered st his walking in tho .u4,,ttlo
of the street, when the walking or side
walks was good; Immediately after
passing heard noiso OF breaking snow
and turned, when he saw the man get
ting on the pavement; the man was evil
IDENTIFY stranger in tho locality, as he
took such poor place to get upon the
pavement from the street This man
did.-no5. follow Mr.sMassie, but camo
across = vacant lot from korcr avenue
apparently
Passed Mr.. Massc about 500 feet east
of where he was assaulted. and the
negro was some fifty feet behind him
when he got upon the pavement.
Still further east, 1T the corner of
Park street. Mr.. Trout saw Il negro
standing; could not describe his features,
as he paid no particular attention to
him. Tha first man may have been Joined
by another between The time witness
saw him and the time when Mr.. Massie
was assaulted, bat not by the man
standing on Park and Campbell streets
Junius Fishburnc testified to meet
ing Mr.. Massic on Campbell street
just east Of Colonel pcnn's shortly after
o'clock on the night he was assaulted;
does not remember seeing anyone be-
hind him; there were several people on
the street, but witness was not attracted
particularly by apparent following of
MIR. MasSie, nor did he sec anyone com
ing up from Rorcr avenue to Campbell
street; was cngrosscd in conversation
with his father and paid no heed To
paSserS-by.
Sergeant Jones was examined. He
saw MIR. Massic on the evening after the
assault, and some man whom he did not
know had pointed out the spot where
Mr.. Massie was assaulted This was
not long after the assault. Mr.. Massie
had said that he saw man (presumablc
his assailant) run across the street to.
ward some unfinished houses. He found
some tracks leading in that dirpItio
and examined them. Did not take
accurate measurement of the tracks as
he had nothing to measure with
Should Judge them to be made by No.
6 shoe. Did not follow them across the
street as the snow was much broken
there.
Andrew Dawson was called but knew
nothing. not even why he had been
called as witness.
Charles Fishburnc, thirteen-year-
old boy, the son OF James Fishbnrnc,
was next called. lie was coming
east on Campbell street with his father
and brother; met Mr.. Massie near Col.
Penn's; about fifty yards behind. Mr..
Massic was negro the latter was
walking swiftly, while Mr.. Massic's
gait was more lcisurcly; when the
negro passed him (Fishburne) at the
Park street crossing he was compelled
To step aside into the snow, and called
his fathers attention To the fact: did
not, however. remember anything about
the negro's appearance.
James. >. l'attic. deputy revenue col
lector, was next sworn, and stated that
in the afternoon of Monday. between
three and four o'clock, he sold a tobacco
license to Redd, who was in company
with one Ratlcy at The time. but he saw
man answering Williamson's dcscrip.
ton on the outside ut the time.
NJ this Juncturc, aft l. Il short private
conversation. the jury adjourned until
o'clock yesterday evening.
AT few minutes after , O'Clock ycs-
tcrday evening Tic jury resumed the in
vestigation. After short discussion
on the part Of the jury Walter w. Wade,
the twclve-ycar old son of Polio man ~
NJ. Wade, who lives AT 5ls Horcr avenue,
was tho first witness called.
HIS iimony created d cidcd sem
Satlon, as 1T tended to show that VIII
hanson was in the noighborhood about
the time OF the commission OF the crime
About seven O'Clock ON the asnd wit
ness was called To his door by IA lSnCck.
and when he opcvcd the door n we'll