The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-09-26
SAL LEM
PROBABLE MURDER.
One Circus Man Seriously
Wounds Another.
ROANOKE TINES BUREAU.
HOTEL LUCERNE, SALEM. VA,


Shortly after midnight, probably
about 1 n. M, after Rcntz' circus was
all loaded on the train at the freight de-
pot awaiting transportation to Chris
tiansburg, row occurred between some
of the employees of the circus in tho
bar of tho Revere House, and those who
were engaged in it gradually moved out
towards the railroad track. One of the
men suddenly dropped, whether struck
by rock, beer bottle or brass knuckles
is not positively known, though there
are parties who say they saw one Buck
Toner strike the man before he fell.
The man who was struck is named
Harry Evans, aged about forty, who
filled the place of lecturer in the
side show, which was owned by man
named De Arly. Buck Toner, the man
who is said to have done tho wounding,
is one of the principal performers in the
circus, he being the Jack-tar who fell
from the roof of the tent yesterday. He
it was who allowed the elephant to
walk over his PROSTATE body, and he
was the man who walked the tightrope
outside the show. lie is said to be q
twenty-five, dressed in a light check
suit, smooth face, large mouth, gray
ewes, red nose and dark hair; addicted
to drink.
AS soon as Harry Evans fell, he was
picked up and carried into the barroom,
where it vas found that his skull was
badly fractured, SO some one went into
the sleeping car and awoke his wife,
who hastily snatching up some clothing
went to the side of her husband, whilst
all the circus and side-show men
boarded the train for Christiansburg,
many of them thinking he would fol-
low In the morning.
Drs. Baird and Wiley were sent for,
and as soon as they arrived they saw
that they had n desperately bad case,
as there was q clean cut three inches
long on the right side of the head above
the temple, and portion of the skull
was SO badly crushed that it was press
ing on the brain, and this had caused
paralysis of the whole left side.
About 10 a. IN. DR.. Baird, assisted by
Drs. Wiley and billiard, performed the
operation of trepanning, and enoved
two pieces of skull, which together
measure about u inches by IA inches.
These leave some large black clots Of
blood exposed, and underneath is the
brain itself, which has been somewhat
torn. When TINES reporter called
this afternoon Evans was lying on his
back in bed, muttering incohercntly,
unconscious and watched by his young
= and pretty wife, who tenderly famed
him, or moistcned his lips, whilst &C.
casionally when he seemed in creates I
pain she would kiss him and the tears
would come as she would exclaim, 'Oh,
If could only understand what poor
Harry is asking for?''
The wounded man has q clear cut,
handsome face; his body is well-nour-
ished, well-built and of average height.
Mrs. Evans stated that hcr husband was
from Louisville, Ky, and that she was
a native of Illinois, where her parents
lived and where she had left her little
boy From her account Evans and she
Joined the show in Chicago in June last,
and that he and shc both worked in the
side show, but had not saved much
money on account Of her having had
heavy doctors bills to pay. She seems
to be devoted wife and her intense
anxiety and grief are pitiable, being all
alone and in the midst of strangers.
To-day Commonwealth Attorney Bal
lard telegraphed Judge Junkin of
Christiansburg to have the man Jones
arrested, but could get no reply, SC
Sheriff Zirkle has gone tonight to
Christiansburg with a warrant for Buck
Jones charging him with felonious
wounding. 1t is thought that Evans
will die.