The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-01-20
He met AN UNKNOWN DEATH.
The Corpse of a MuIatto Found
in the West End Yards.
n Brass Disk Numbered "17I6" and a
double Action 3%-Calibre 5-Chambered
Revolver Found Upon His Person.
His Wounds Upon His Head-Not
Yet Identified.

upon it, and Harrington & Richardson
hve-shot, double-action, 32-caliber re-
volver, one chamber loaded, are the only
present means of Identification of the
corpse OF man now in a cheap coffin at
Oakley & Woolwino's undertaking estab-
lishment, if exception is made of tho
clothes upon the remains. G
The corpse is that of yellow man
perhaps twenty-five years of age, of
sturdy though not powerful build,
weighing perhaps $50 pounds, smooth
face. thick lips, and not unpleasant fea-
lures even in violent death
The body was discovered near tho
round house at l:ao yesterday morning
by man whose duty it is 10 attend to
the lights about the West End freight
yards of the Norfolk and Western rail-
road, and whose name, for some unex-
planned and singular reason. was un-
known to any one Of 4 number of wit
nesses cited to appe ar ut q coroner's in
quest yesterday afternoon at o'clock.
Wncn this unknown lamplighter
found the body it was lying within
three inches of the main track of tho
read, some thirty feet east of
the ore-tipple switch, tho legs
doubled up beneath it, lying partly
on the right side. Though examina-
ton disclosed tho fact that he had in
Cured ut least five wounds about the
head-one at the base of the skull three
inches long and others lesser in extont
any one OF which must have blod pro-
fuscly when inflicted, there was no
blood about the tracks in the vicinity
save where one of the wounds had
touched the ground. and no signs of q.
struggle.
After this discovery shifting engine
LA was sent for and brought tho BODY,
accompanied by Officers Bower and
Norman, to the Commerce street
crossing, whence it was carried to
Oakley and Woolwine's There an
examination disclosed the check and
tho revolver, but no other clew to his
identity. lie was comfortably though
poorly dressed. having coat and vest of
some dark material, stripped light
pantaloons, brown SLOUGH hat, verti-
call striped flannel shirt, and n gaudy
rcd necktio with white dots on it; on
the lRtt hand was a yellowish buckskin
glorI6 With black stripes. Nothing
about him betokcned the tramp, but no
looked like temperate worlingman.
He appeared to he about % years of
age and upon him wore cicatriccs show
ing that he had been operated upon for
certain phases of disease. Upon tho
outward side OF the left leg were
two sears, enc upon the hip and tho
other some four inches below, on tho
thigh.
Coroner Gray had tho following sum-
moned for 4 jury of inquest at o'clock
yesterday: $. L. Ducrson, Thomas
Folks, w. 4. Wright, O. II. Owens, w.
A. Henderson, and j. j. Kelly. Tho
inQuisitors examined the corpse at
Oakley Il Woolwinc's Office, and pro-
cecded to take testimony.
The first witness examined was John
Moore, brakeman on the Norfolk and
western yard shiftcr, whose evidence
was immatcrial, except that the BODY
was stiff when he helped bring it up
town. between and 3 o'clock
Officer Merriman testified that he
reached the body about 3 a. M, it was
lying within three inches of the rail.
between the main track and track No. 1.
with tho face partly toward tho track;
examined tho spot closely for blood
stains or marks of scuilie, but found
none at all, save slight traces of blood
where one of the wounds had impinred
the ground; within thirty feet of where
u rubber shoe, the corpse had one rub
Der shoe on when found, the indica lions
pointed to the body having boon carried
where found; the feet were drawn up;
inc moon was shining brightly, and OBJ
Jects could be seen fifty feet away; no
one was at the scene when he arrived,
although the body had been discovered
an hour and Il half before.
Thomas Frazier, night yardmaster at
the West End yard, was called and eX-
planned the position of the tracks near
which the corpse was found. All the
freight trains as they arrive at tho yard
stop near where the body was found;the
lamplighter or lamp tender, whose namo
he did not know, discovered tho BODY,
and witness furnished the engine TO
take it away.
John NJ. Fucker, jr., an employee of
Oakley Il Woolwine, testified that he
received the corpse when it was brought
to his place of business about 4 q. m.
yesterday; when il arrived there was no
blood on face, neck, or clothing; tho
body had not been washed after its re-
celpt by him; when placed on the eleva-
tor the wound in the back of tho head
began TO bleed afresh: there were two
large and severe cuts on back of head.
and several little ones on top of head.
Recognized the hat produced; it had no
blood stains upon it, nor was it cut at
all.
AT this point Coroner Gray adjourned
the inquest until 10 4. M. this morning.
and effort will be made in tho mean
time to secure some knowledge as to
how the man met his death and who no
was.