The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-02-13

Edward Daniel, alias William Halle
wood, has been indicted for the murder
of Thomas G. Massie by grand jury.
Nothing can interest the people of Roa-
noke moro than to know that at last
some clue has been obtained whereby
this great mystery may be finally
solved.
TIE TINES yesterday morning made
the startling announcement that Will
liam Iiazlcwood, white tramp locked
up at police headquarters as vagrant,
would be before the grand jury yester-
day on the charge of tho crime. AS
the case was in the hands of detectives,
no evidence was available, and tho pub
lie had to be content with tho mere an
nouncement.
The grand jury, composed of L. L.
Powell, foreman; w. A. Kimmerling, j.
L. Kelly, w. w. Workman, p. w.
Oliver, w. w. Marston and C. A.
Moomaw, were sworn in at l2 o'clock,
and at once repaired to the jury room,
where they remained till SEQ o'clock.
The judge charged the jurors to be
careful in their examination of wit
nesScs, and use their best endeavors to
get at the bottom of this great homicide,
but to be over-cautious in bringing in
an Indictment, for unless sufficient evil
dence was secured it would be useless
to go into the case, or even have it be-
fore the court
ho ri ~
were conducted with the utmost privacy,
and the witnesses were all duly posted
to know nothing for the public. A large
crowd was in the court room throughout
the entire afternoon, and waited with
patient endurance for the report that
would perhaps reveal some startling
facts.
The commonwealth attorney. Roy b.
Smith, assisted by Is. e. Scott and W.
e. Bibb, were in the court room, and
guarded the witnesses with eagle eyes.
All the spectators knew was that
every now and then a witness would be
sent out and another taken, and from
the length of time they were usually
kept cut, it was evident that the Jurors
were conducting the examination with
much care.
The TIMES reporter noticed one wit
ness with particular interest. He was
John Grasty, who boards at John Il.
Redd's establishment on Railroad ave-
nue.. He was arrested several weeks
age on the charge of drunkenness and
placed in the cell with Lakewood.
Officer Wolfe, the stalwart policeman
who has been assisting the detective in
working up the case, was also put
through lengthy examination.
Tho detective, whose name it is
thought best not to mention, was also
before the grand jury, but what he or
Wolfe told, or what the evidence amour
ted to when taken together, mono but the
mysterious seven jurors knew.
When they came out at 500 o'clock
they answered to their names and pres
ented the following Indictment:
Commonwealth of Virginia vs.. Ed.
ward Daniel, alias William Lakewood,
alias William Halle, murder. A true
bill"
The judge charged them not to divulge
any parts of the evidence, and to be OK
tremely cautious how they talked
about the matter. They were accord
ingly discharged and Immediately
started out of the court house in quest
of dinner. Their lips were sealed as
to the evidence given before them, as
were the witnesses who testified.
When asked by the reporters why
this undue secrecy was maintained
when the grand jury had actually
brought in an Indictment and the
prisoner was safe behind the bars of a
prison, they intimated that there was
something more behind the whole affair.
and to make the matter public would
thwart the ends of justice.
So his name is Edward Daniel? And
the grand Jury actually indicted him for
the murder of Mr.. Massie? This seem
ingly idiotic tramp, arrested by Officers
Bower and Tolly as vagrant, who
threatened to pillage and burn if he
was not accommodated by the citizens
of Norfolk avenue with food and lodg-
ing, is then the murderer of Mr.. Massie?
The arrest was made on January TO-
On the 12th, which was Monday, the
mayor fined him $50, and in default of
payment sent him to jail.
Now that nothing can be obtained in
the way of information with which to
satisfy the public and show cause why
this man is deprived of his liberty,
without preliminary examination or
benefit of counsel, let it be seen how
Daniel, alias Lakewood, alias Halle,
showed up about the time of the muir
der.
just before Mr.. Massie was assaulted
white man whose name was unknown,
applied at his residence for a job at shov-
cling snow He was given work as re-
quested, and went to several other
places along Campbell street. Even af-
ter Mr.. Massie was assaulted he was
seen plying shovel along the side
walks on that street.
On Friday, December &c, Mr. Massie
Ind hA -