The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-21

case OF the unknown negro, found dead
in the early hours of Monday near the
roundhouse in the West End yard.
Apparently no steps had been taken to
establish the identity of the poor fellow,
although there was nothing to show
that he had not boon foully dealt with,
and his identity was the first logical
step in tracing out the cause Of his
death.
The matter was out of the hands of
the police, but Officer Joe Trout hap
pened to be present, and to his effort
was due the first link of a chain of evid-
ence showing who tho man was, and
how he came to his death.
Yet the jury failed to pick the Glow
up and follow it to its logical conclu-
sion. =
When they got to the beginning of
the case, the point whence all theory
and all work of detection must start,
they rendered. Il verdict on tho evidence
at hand.
This jury of inquest was convinced
that Il crime had been committed, for
they so found in their verdict; but it
did not occur to them that when the
name of the man was ascertained. and
th"se of bis associates, the cause of
this violent death might be reasonably
Inferred. if not discovered.
When they got to the point that one
Harvey Lowrcy appeared and said that
he had seen the dead man braking on q
train for Captain Brady, and another
negro said the dead man was tho chum
of negro named Bill Hickman, who
could be produced. they did not think it
necessary to send for Capt. Brady or
Bill Hickman, or even to examine the
volunteers under oath; they simply rem
dered their verdict on the evidence at
hand.
One provident juror said that Jurors
were only paid 81 for service on the
jury, whether the service was one day
or one month"; and they rendered YER
dict on the evidence at hand.
George Colvin, the keeper OF q snack
house on Railroad avenue, was sent for
by Officer Joe Trout, as the most likely
person to recognize the corpse. He came
and identified the remaiTs as those of q
man whom he had seen in his place Sat
urday last at p. m., and who, when he
left was followed by five or six "hust-
lers," whom, he said. would knock
man in the head for fifty cents.
Section of chapter 202. Code of Vir-
ginia. under the title of "Coroncrs," de-
timing the duties OF acoroner's jury, says
that "thc jury, after hearing tho evil
dence. and making all nccdful inquiries,
Shall make" their verdict, etc.
G.. Z. Purcell, white, the switch-light
tender, who originally discovered the
corpse, and whose name was not pro-
durable the day before, was the first
witness introduced. Witness duties
called him from about the dcnot to the
West End yards about 4. IN. On tho
10Th; he walked along the main track;
| about 300 yards west of the round-housC,
beside the main line track. and between
1T and switch-tracll No /, he found the
dead body of negro; recognized the
corpse subject of inquest as the one he
there found; the body was within two or
three inches of the rail when he found
1T; there were no persons in sight at tho
time, and he heard no pistol-shots or
noise of disturbance; reported the find
ing to Yardmaster Lemon, and went
about his duties; his first impression
was that the man had been killed by n
train: the moon was shining brightly at
the time; he had not passed over the
track where the corpse was found that
night prior to the discovery. Witness
remembered meeting several people on
his way TO the spot. but did not notice
them particularly, as il was n common
occurrence; train No, 4, coming east,
had passed over tho main track at l1:45
p. M, on the night before, or about an
hour and half previous to- finding the
body: did not try to find out whether
the body was cold or not when he
found it.
officer j. M. Trout was next called.
He is stationed at the Park street rail
road crossing; by request he closely ex-
amined the spot where the body was
found and the track and vicinity for
some distance Whereabouts; there was no
signs OF a struggle anywhere in the vi
cinity; witness discovered little blood
on the protrudng end OF the cross-tic
whereon the head lay, and also some
little trickliny beside the tic, but no
great quantity; from all appearances
the injury was not inflicted by an engine,
as there was no spattcring of blood any
where on the rails: it was. i'll the judg-
ment of witness, impossible for the man
to have been struck by an engine while
lying in the position when found.
George Colvin, who keeps snack
house on Railroad avenue, was the next
and last witness called. lie recognized
the body as that of man who was in
his eating house Saturday afternoon
about o'clock. Tho deceased bought
fifteen cent lunch, for which he paid:
the man then asked permission to warm
himself. and was accorded Il chair: the
man was with party of five or six;
noticed bin particularly. because OF
revolver bu,ging out OF his hip pocket
Witness warned him against carving