The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-09
visible. The man soon died, and Act


and large number of negroes were out
having high frolic. The beer was
paid for by an assessment of 25 cents
| each, and was delivered by Robert JEFF
freys, the colored driver for Nicholas
81 Woodward.
The dancers had scarcely gotten
warmed up, when Newson, who was
standing on one side of the room, fired
pistol toward tho floor.
Pandehonium relgned Immediately
and many fled from the room. Lanier
came In and ordered everybody out.
Everybody went out expect tho women
and three or four men.
A few minutes later Newson was
knocked in the head just outside the
house. lie managed to get up, and, 60
ing through tho back yard, crossed the
hill toward brick row. On top of the
hill he fell, where he lay for some time,
but finally got up again and walked of.
That was the last seen of him until he
was found yesterday morning.
After Justice Howerton, the acting
coroner, was notified, he had the follow
ing jury summoned: e. w. Sisler, E.
III, Lloyd, a. O'Conner, Philip Tren-
worth,J. w. Camper and Il. A. McGehee.
The body was viewed and the exam
nation of witnesses began.
Emma Burnett was the first witness.
She is employed as servant by Charles
Lunsford, 1913 Salem avenue. She ac-
companied Newson to the dance. she
did not see him drinking. She heard
him fire the pistol shot, and told of the
scene that followed. Newson was driven
out of doors and did not come back any
more. Another man named Will Lester
accompanied her homo. She carried
NcwSop'S OyercOat with her.
Dr. Hodson, who first made an exam
nation of the wounds, said it would be
difficult to tell how the man came to
his death without an autopsy.
Sherman Clark, tall, bright mulatto,
said he was calling figures. Newson
fired The pistol, and he went up and
reprilnanded him. Ncwson handed over
his pistol, which was a British bull dog
lie also handed owe; something like
another pistol to Charlie Pool. He did
not see the other pistol but claims that
Newson told him ho had one. Lanier
did not go out of the house, but the wit
ness saw him standing in tho door with
Il stick in his hand. Lanier told him the
fuss was settled outside, and that the
dance would proceed.
Clark alleged that Newson had been
corresponding with Emma Burnett for
some time. He was endeavoring to get
d uiNOlCo lIOHi HIS WIG, whom nc naQ
deserted near Hollins about two years
ago for tho purpose of marrying Emma.
L. II. Lloyd, Bell Casey, Lanier's wife,
and Hattie Gum, were next examined
Their evidence was not material, except
that the latter heard Newson make
some remark about Bob Jeffreys trying
to run over him.
In the meantime DR.. Norman had
been sent for and performed an autopsv.
On being sworn, the doctor said he had
removed tho top of the skull, and found
that death had resulted from two blows,
one on the left and the other on the
right side Of the head, inflicted with
some fiat instrument. The blow On the
left had ruptured a blood-vcssel, and
caused compression of the brain, fore
ing it to one side. The blows were
heavy and had loosened the seam across
the skull. Nearly a quart of clothed
blood was taken from the BRAIN
William Lanicr was sworn, and testi-
fled that he went to Newson directly
after the shot was fired, and asked him
why he did it. lie then ordered every
body out He said he did not go out of
doors, and knew nothing of the row on
the outside. Some one came in and
said Newson had been killed outside.
He started out to see, but was subsc.
Quently informed that he had gone off.
Lanier's evidence was very crooked,
and several times he came very near
being caught.
The most important witness was Will
liam Young. He was the only witness
who seemed willing to tell all he knew.
Young says that he was standing be-
tween the two buildings after everybody
was put out Lanier came out on tho back
porch with stick in his hand. Directly
he went to the front of the building
a crowd collected around him. New
son was standing near and Lanior called
him. NewSon went to where the crowd
was standing. lie heard Lanier say,
II Understand you are the man who
fred the pistol" Some one else said
something about his denying it under
penalty. Then some ono struck him
three or four blows with stick and
Newson fell to the ground They all
then left him and went into the house.
The jury adjourned to the scene of
the disturbance and Young carefully
explained every position. Ho could re-
cognize any of the men who assaulted
NewSon expect Lanier.
Andrew Wren, Clinton Pegram and
several other witnesses were examined.
but they told nothing that would fur
niSh clcw.
Commonwealth's Attorney Roy Il.
Smith came in about this time and con-
Quoted the examination. Nearly all
| the witnesses were re-eXamined. Young
told his story over correctly and every
one believed him.
| 1t was almost impossible to procure
evidence as to who was present Mr..
| Smith asked every witness to tell who