Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-22
M'CRACKEN MURDER.
THE TESTIMONY BEFORE THE coRo-
NERS JURY YESTERDAY.
Verdict Deceased Came 10 Hts Death
from Wounds by Gunshot Fired by
His Son. Thomas MoCracken.

tHLDEhICKSrUnG. VA, teDruhTy kls-tHb
shooting and almost instant killing Of Mr..
Michael McCracken here late yesterday
evening by his son Thomas has been the
entire topic Of conversation to-day. The
affair has cast gloom over the entire COM
munity.
short while after Mr. McCracken died
the coroner summoned his jury, who view
ed the body and adjourned over until to-
day at II o'clock. An autopsy was also
held last night and thorough examina-
ton Of the wound made. which revealed
the fact that the load had entered the de-
ceased's right side Just above the mp,
fearfully decorating his bowels ana causing
internal hemorrhages.
At IL o'clock to-day the jury reassem-
bied at the Mayors Office, and the follow
ing testimony from eye-witnesses was
given:
TOM. DoS'T DO IT,
o. NJ Burrel testified: l was coming
mp the street by Mrs. Whites to. MIR. Nc
Cracker between 4 and 3 o'clock Friday
evening, and saw Mr. McCracken coming
out of his door witha Ratchet in his hand.
He went over 20 the telegraph-pole. diago-
nally from his store door, about thirteen
feet, and started to tack up bill. About
that time / had passed the door, and when
between the hall-door and gate
heard some ono say who was IN
the store: Tom, don't do It,"
As turned around Tom stepped TO the
door with a'gun in his hand and said: Yes,
by God" Mr.. McCracken then turned
around and as he did so Tom McCracken
fred Mr.. McCracken then threw MS
hand to his right side and said On, you
have shot me-" and started TO the door ard
when half way across the pavement Tom
grabbed the gun about half way ana
raised it over his fathers head, SAYING
Yes, God d-n it.n ] then turned my
back on him and walked of, as thought
he was going to hit him. then went up
the street.
NE FIRED THE GUN.
Charles Foulke testified: On Friday eve
ming q few minutes before O'Clock, the
goth of February, / was coming down
Commerce street from Liberty, and When
/ got to Dir. VI. McCracken's wagon-yard
saw Mr.. M. McCracken come out Of the
store with hatchet and some tacks IN his
hand. and he walked up TO the telegraph
pole to finish lacking up bill, and Just as
got near the little gate Leading IN by the SIDE
of the house / saw his son Tom come out
with o gun in his hand and he remarked
lyon are going 20 kill me with the
Ratchet, are you?' With that he drew the
gun up in the attitude of shooting and L
started TO go TO him, and Just as l made
the start he fred the gun. heard MI.
McCracken then halloO " Oh me, oh my,
he has shot me. believe | will die"
Then Mr. McCracken walked up from
the telegraph-DOle to the pave
ment aud Tom walked up to him with
the gun raised up and Mr.. McCracken
SAID: "What do you want 70 do? am
killed now" He then looked, down ana
saw the blood running from his fathers
wound and said; " Oh, yes, God d-p you. !,
you,n don't remember which. Tom then
went into the house and behind the coun-
ter.
TO MAKE HIM COMFORTABLE.
Polico-Oficer ]. II. Robinson testified !:
On Friday evening, February 2Oth, about
8 o'clock. / was Informed that Tom Nc
Cracker had killed his father at his place OF
business on Commerce street. fastened
there and went into the bedroom Of Mr..
NJ. McCracken. and there found him lying
on tho bed with q wound in the stomach
and found Tom McCracken and Mr..
John Harris leaning over Mr.. Nc
Cracken examining the wound and try
ing to make him comfortable. L heard
Mr.. NJ. MoCracken say: Tom, you have
killed me.n / then placed Mr.. Tom Nc
Cracker under arrest and asked him why
he had shot the old man. He said /:
because he had threatened TO split his
head open with q Ratchet" which last re-
mark occurred in the old mans bedroom
while he CTom) was under arrest. The
wound is IN the right side of the abdo-
men.
THE VERDICT.
After hearing the evidence the jury re-
turned q verdict that the deceased came to
! his death from wounds inflicted by shot
gun in tho hands Of his son, Thomas Nc
| Cracker.
A SPECIAL TERM.
A preliminary examination was after
wards held and the prisoner sent on TO q
special term of the grand jury which will
| convene next Wednesday. During the pre-
! liminary examination the prisoner sat with
his head bowed down in his hands, but did
not show any emotion, and when he was
being carried back to jail he walked with
| steady step.
| THE PARRICIDE.
He is twenty-seven years of age, about
| six feet in height. rather thin, with sandy
| hair and mouStache and dark complexion.
When asked this morning about the sad
| occurrence he was very retlcent, but SAID
| that he knew nothing of 1t, as he was
| drunk at the time and had been on spree
| for over a week. The spreeing story IS no
! doubt true, as be is known 20 be dlsslpated'
| and when under the influence OF liquor IS
| said TO be very disagreeable. His father
| had been q resident of TINS city for many
wears and was in the retail liquor and
| grocery business, which he had prosecuted
very successfully.
The funeral will take place tomorrow
! evening az 4 O'Clock from 81. Mary's Catho'
! lie church.
SYMPATHY FOR THE MURDERER.
Nothing that has occurred here for years
| has caused such universal SORROW as this
sad affair, and the unhappy murderer has
| the sympathy of a large number OF citizens
| and friends. Mr.. st. George X. Fitzhugh
| has been retained as his counsel.
FROM TAXATION.
| The City Council here last night at
regular meeting passed an ordinance eX-
| emptng from taxation fer ten years from
! this dateall new manufactures that should
| locate here.
A HIGH-HANDED PROCEEDING.
| Considerable stir was caused among the
| neyspaper-men here to-day by the refusal
Of the coroner, DIR. A. @. Doggett, to at
| init them in the Mayors office while EVIL
dence was being given before the coroners
| Jury in the case of Tom McCracken for the
| killing of bis father. While the news.
| paDer-men recognize it rs only matter Oh
| courtesy, still they thought that after the
reputed counsel for the prisoner had been
admitted they also were entitled to, the
same privilege, and made a demand IN
writing, which was refused. This Is the
| first time that reporters have ever been eX'
| cluded from q coToner's inquest in this CITY
| and the cause of this strange and unprece-
dented action is q mystery to them ali.
TOBACCO, COTTON, AND PEANUTS
Death OF Prominent Mason In Prince
George-The Alliance District Ex-