Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-06-02
THE HALFWAY CREEK MURDER.
result OF the Autopsy and Verdict OF the
Coroner's Jury--otber Nots..


coroner's Jury--other Notes.
correspondence Of tho Richmond Dispatchl
WILLIAMSBURG, Va, Juno The coro.
.b Jury which has been investigating
the death OF the young Swede. John Johns
son, whose body was recently fonnd An an
ing IN the Halfway creek, on arm az the
saturday night. WYNN
Inc most important evidence was that
on Mr.. George Waltrip, who stated that
nnetween II and IL O'Clock Montay morn
ing, May 18th, he sawithree men. one 81
@hom he, recognized as the deceased.
Nalking down the river shore near the
mouth OF the creek, and that was the laet
seen Of the deceased alive. Who tb".e
TWO other men were the witness did not
snow, but ne gave description of them
ana they were white men. An autonsv
Deing ordered (the man being In the mean.
umeo inferred it was ordered that the body
oe dlsinterred) DIR. Richard A. Wise was
requested TO make the examination, which
ne ala at the undertaker's rooms Sunday
evening at 5 o'clock in the presence Of
several OF the jury.
THE AUTOPSY.
- Inc following IS his report to the Jury:
Dr. Richard 4. Wise. after being duiv
sworn, testified as follows "The body
was In an advanced stage of decomposi,
ton. sawed of the caiyaria of the head
ana made careful examination of the
cavity OF the head. found nothing 10 i'm.
dSlcate violence TO the internal or external
pony structure thereof The brain was
very much decomposed. but apparently
was quite free of any abnormal amount of
DIo0d. The condition Of tho body was
such es TO prevent any intelligent opinion
oelng formed as TO whether the man died
rom drowning or not. The brain indi-
Gated between the theory of violence and
drowning, rather that the latter was the
cause of death, but this is only stated as
an appearance as between these two theories
DEATH"
CoRoNER's JURY VERDICT.
The Commonwealth Offering no moro
evidence the jury retired and in short
time made the following report: An in
QUESTION taken at the College creek in the
corporation of the city of Williamsburg
va, on the goth day of May, 1891, and CON
tlnued 60 this day before Leonard
Hurley, mayor Of said city and act
ing coroner, upon view of the body,
there lying dead. the Jurors sworn
TO inquire when, how, and by what means
the body came TO his death, upon their
oaths do say That the said body is that of
John johnson or Jansen; that he came TO
his death by means unknown to the Jury
on or about the 25th day of May. 1891, and
from the evidence taken in writing and
filed herewith we believe by some vio-
lence committed on him at or near the Col
lege creek, on which creek we first viewed
the body.
In testimony whereof the said Jurors
have hereto set their hands.
L. NJ. SoUTHALL, Foreman;
JoHS ii. LLYMoBE,
JAMES =. CLAIRE,
WASHINGTON VAUGHAN,
EDWARD BRIoHT.
ROBERT L. ABMIsTEAD.
BiEDALLIsTs,
In the Phoenix Society Saturday night
the following young gentlemen were unan-
imouslY awarded medals as follows
Orators medal TO William J.. Bib; de-
bater's medal 10 Thomas Self; medal for
Improvement in debate to w Il. Graves;
declaimer's medal to T.. ". WhitteD.
These medals Will be presented at the
coming commencement.
STUDENTS pATTIzED.
At the Baptist church last night two
young men-college students-Mr. /. 5.
Guy and Mr.. o. I. Edwards, of Norfolk,
were baptized by the pastor, Rev. p. L.
Warren, IN the presence of large congre-
cation, a most interesting and impress
sive sermon being preached by Rev. MIR.
Richardso p, of New Kent. from last verse
of last psalm, Praise ye the Lord.
General Pike Graham, of the regular
army. is here to-day looking over the
places of interest in our town. He is
native of Virginia.