Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-30
WHO KILLED THOMAS?
THE coRoNsR'S JURY UNABLE TO
ASCERTAIN THIS FACT.
Nor is It Certain Whether knife or n
Razor was used-Tcstimony
and Verdict.

Who kiiod John Thomss9 is a query at pres
,nt unsolged, and one that bids fair 70 remain
rnnnswerod for some time 20 come.
Thomas. Ia company with young man named
Walter Franklip, was 1T Lauierbachs, corner
unrd.on And Clay streets. last Saturday about
midnight Tboy we're eating pickle, for picco
~ which colorod man who had opened bot
10 Of Whskey for Thomas asked. Ihomss re-
sisted this. and from the evidence 80 far obtain
ei II .osins bad a scufIie with the negro, IN the
course OF which no (1homasl wa. cut in the lett
,de, from tho effects Of which no died last Mon
asy.
No one of the witnesses 20 the occurrence can
,.y hat 10 can identify the negro II he sees him
Egsin ,,..
.4naiis he was too drunk 10 know what was going
a., aud tho other Two witnesses for the COM
roonwesl.h never wore close 70 tho murderer.
Nis the first case ~ importance that Captain
Uulco has had since his promotion, aud u can 10
reaIuy imagined that le 10 using no ordinary
efofi 70 unrEyoi the mystcry, and tho non 10
lis district are working with him Ike O~aYors
several times yesterday II Was th0ught cl Q
lsd been struck, but clOsc Investigation IN each
irsfauce brought nothing 20 light
INQUEST.
Coroner Taylor and Jury mot st tho hOupe ot
the deceased plons father. 1915 wost hsrsbsh
street., al 9 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
he corpse WAS pfHpaFf9 lOl bHfthi hhN ny ."
q uo.t ca-kei IN tho pHrlor, preparatory 70 the
funeral, which took place short aine a''er-
Uers the jury vas sworn in. and with the
Coroner, wiinesscs, aud a nuni or Of Interested
,,e.fstors proc-e eted 20 Blenner's-P8rs pngll-
ION. lust opposite, whore tho witnesses tesuled.
WILLIE LAUTERBAcH.
iscontlernan gave his account precisely ne
published IN tho Dispatch yesterday, WIN tne
~ ftepkIin hsi eor1ething in his hand
which looked liso brick which he MAS hammer
fug against the mousse. .
~ hoard Mr. Thomas" said he, "callng 70
s,t1o ono 70 wait that lie wanted 20 see him a
rDinute. little while Afterwards Nh Thomas
came to tho stOro-dOor with Lir hand a. ms 40
AMI sa1. that negro has stabbed me- Ny
brother and eXnmInod ihomns ana saw lhN'
be rn- cut SIR. franklin was here AT tue tihle.
Vn we're afraid g. tDIch hr. Thomas untl mo
police rame up after which 40 earned hiin iuto
re house. think saw the same cOlorea man
srrlnfay ntoIt noon, but am not certain. !
90 NOS know bis name. ! board Two or tLreo
r,.s. b.uuc8, tut dout know Whore they camo
from. ihoy camo from tuo direction ia NliIh
teuogr0 had gOne'
JACgsoS =. WEIGHT.
Iwes watching an opcn sewer on Clay s,roetDtar
HARRISON last ruturin night heard tne two
voIrr men como up clay street Ihoy stopQca
arl het some conversation ON the o1het eoIhef'
Nr rIiDinas GsKed the sjOrceaeper ioi pcElc'
mr. Thomas turned around 20 ine soinc nYe or
,tt rrros aud sad. "Nhat did you say, sir7
and mode no reply. Ito epcse ike he "Ahleu
,...ane q f,i-4 A colored runn came across tho
r..i irUau Marshall fffoot and went up between
Fr.rt,I1 and Thomas. sir Thomas drew DRr&
b. fnrow ths bottle ~ wh.sKey at the negro
tter trcg had cursed each other ana the colofed
nan backed out Of MS way. Mr. ihOhhH tut""
tro fatfle. and he sud Franklin boih followed
ruarro. Inc b0ite missed tho negro aud MT
sra.r-. he house and broke. some stones were
ftr.aI Nv all par,ies Mr. JhOmas said no was
c.t ito!eIhouei Tor police and they came mp.
Nr Irlnshu vas not close 70 Mr.. Thomas whom
fssl.. Ue war cut Franklin aud Thomas did
rct Lave any Gngry ~ords isgeiher
WALTER FBANKrN.
wa with MI. Thomas on last saturday night
Wo lad been duuking together. We met in
font Df tneOperu-fiOuso. on Broad street, ABOUT
h..f pa,t or 9 O'Clock. ] don't remember how
We c0t 10 Clay street ! remember being on tho
c--ftr optO Osite lauterbach's store. MI homhs
fu.i mo ne was going To- get scme pickle, rs ne
vas sick ~ his strmaob. lie won't TO tho store.
Got ihs pickle. and called me over anl asked me
10 have Que. don't remember c6lug u lheh
The negro steUpei up aud asked me To give hln
q niece of pickle. paid 10 attention % him and
turned away. AZ this time MI Ih1mas stepped
uu. and wnat no and the negro said 10
oerh other don't know lh'y oolh went Gown
the street alongside OF the house | don't re-
member going With them. Mr. Thomas cAlno
back, the negro following him When Mr.;
Thonns got within an arms length OF me
pulled the bottle from Nj. lnOmass pocket ana
iIrew f. al fue negro / so thought Tho negro
proceeded down HHrrifOu sireet ana NJ. IhnMGs
followed him. / s'ayod on the corner, tmnk
NJ Thomas turned and said he was stabbed. he
rama 10 me- and sail areiu, " waller, am cuL"
] went 10 him aud felt him. lie pulled up DIS
vest aud showed me the wound. think then
took him In tuo house ana l6id MIN on th' noot'
The l4rf saw 0f tho negro le Was going down
Harrison r rect townrds Lrigh. on Nhdt nave
SAID don't distinctly Tomcmbcr except thGt
Nr. Thomas called mo across the street TO get
rhe pickle aud tina: mo negro came up but DO
not wen remom her what took place between tho
negro and MI Thomas
AUTOPSY.
DR.. Taylor made q po'f-ino6trln examination OF
the dead man yesterday morning. lie stated 20
fhe Jury that the wound was IN tine lower part OF
she ieft side. along tle line Of the hip-hone AMI
wssnbout two inches IN iength IL penetrated
the bowels, making an opening about one eignlh
of an inch long. This latter allowed the contents
lf ths tntesuncs % ger mo the cavity OF TIC
stomach. causing peritonitia, resulting IN death.
Ihero we're several trinluS scratches on each
arm.
Tho Coroner WAS Of opinion tAai the cutting
was done with knife rather than razor, tho
fh0 ends 81 the wound being the same. IN or
der 90 penetrate to such depth, razor Wouli
he compelled 10 make "a very much lonGOr cut
thau that Inflicted on the dead niGu.
VERDICT.
In view of the very uucnlichtcninG testimony
TIE Iufy a. ouce returned verdict mat The de-
ceased ceme 10 MS death on ihs .Sh day OF
April. 1880, from the effects oi injuries inflicted
on mo uisht OF the day Of Aprl 20, 1871, BY q
cqlored man TO them unknown.
FUNERAL.
Tho funeral took place from tho Clay-Street
BAPTIST church at halt past O'Clock yesterday
stfernoon. II was largely attended, the neigh
hons "a tue unfortunate partuis chOp'lnI thls
manner 60 show thoi- sympCty at the unIimely
death Of young h0mHA