The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-16

L.
worked but short while when he was
discharged for negligence. Tho fore
man gave as his reason that he was con-
tlnually looking toward tho city. In
the meantime he had been boarding
with Mrs. Casey, on "brick row." Mrs.
casey said he acted very suspiciously
ana whenever anyone knocked at the
door, he would start in frightened
manner. After being discharged from
the bridge works, he left Mrs. Casey's,
and said he intended to apply for work
elsewhere.
On Saturday evening, January 10, a
man BACKED up as negro went to the
residence of an old lady on Norfolk
avenue and demanded something to eat.
The lady of the house noticed that he
was white behind the ears and ordered
him away. He became very insolent at
this and cursed at a fearful rate. The
unknown man told her very pointcdly
that he would have what he wanted or
that he would pillage every house on
the street.
Mr.. Williams, who lives near by,drove
the man off and went for an officer. lie
found Officers Bower and Tally and
went with them to tho woods south OIL
the furnace.
They SEW huge fire burning a short
solitary figure standing before it. OH
Ger Bower concealed his official identity
and went cautiously up to tho man and
placed him under arrest 1t was
Daniel, and he inquired at once why he
had been arrested. The officer told him
for building fire in tho corporate
limits. While on the way to the station
Daniel again asked why he had been
arrested and whether
GIT WAS NOT THAT OLD MAN"
The officer gave him an evasive reply,
but Daniel continued asking why he
had been arrested. When &C last he
was assured that it was on a trivial
charge he became more quiet.
The black was still on his face and
hands, although he had rubbed portion
of it off with his hand and coat sleeves.
While he was in Jail the detective was
working on the case. Ho had already
secured evidence to show that Daniel
was at the new houses a short time be-
fore Mr.. Massie was assaulted. He was
taken out one night and asked to show
which way he came when he left Mr..
Massie's. lie said he came down Camp
bell street to Park, thence to the rail
road. and thence TO Railroad avenue,
where he got something to eat. He then
went back to: tho West End Furnace.
lie finally admitted that he might have
been in tho new houses, but could not
remember. He said he came down the
middle OF the street.
John Grasty, n colored miner from the
coal regions, was locked up one night in
the cell with Daniel. He said he had
been put in for stealing. Grasty had
known Daniel before, and made free to
talk with him. He inquired Of Daniel
on what charge he had been imprisoned.
Daniel told him it might be on several
charges for what he knew.
The next morning Grasty came out
for trial He could not paw his fine, of
course, and when he was put back he
carried letter purporting to be from
The prisoners half sister, Laura Daniel,
well-known railroad avenue character.
This letter was read to tho prisoner the
following night. Grasty then said he
had seen Laura, and that she was very
sorry that he was locked up on such a
charge.
"Bill, why did you hit tho old man
SO hard?" said Grasty.
'Wcll, didn't know was going to
hit so hard. l didn't mean to kill him"
This conversation was heard by the
person who will testify in the case today.
The stone found by Mr.. Yates at the
place were Mr.. Massio was assaulted,
and which was produced before the
coroncr's jury, will furnish another
strong clue. This stone came from Mr..
Massie's yard. There were two small
spots of green paint on it. Was any
painting done at Mr.. Massies house
shortly before the murder?
1t is not known who Daniels confed.
crates were, bat it is expected that he
Will tell the whole story If convicted
AT one time he came very near confess
ing as to who his associates were, but
instantly checking himself said it was
not worth while to implicatc any one
else
1t is not known what line the prosecu-
ton will adopt in the case, nor what de-
Tense the prisoner will make. Chief
Morris and Sergeant Jones have both
been summoned for the defense. They
are tho only witnesses the prisoner is
known to have. For the prosecution
twenty-five witnesses have been sum-
moned, but the bulk of the evidence has
not been made public.
Who Daniels confcdcrates were is a
mystery. John Dickson has been sus
pected of knowing moro about the
affair than he would tell He lived
with Laura Daniel on Bunker Hill and
Railroad avenue. Tuesday evening this
couple were looked for, but could not be
found. 1t was ascertained that they
had left the city together.
Q Laura Daniel at first said she knew
nothing about The prisoner, but visited
him once or twice while confined in the
city Jail.
The case will doubtless attract con-
siderable attention, as the testimony on
which Daniel was indicted has never
been made public.
The authorities are confident o case