The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-31
KILLED BY LIGHTNING.
There Was n Flasb, Peal Of Thunder aud
Rev. Moses wilks Fell to the Pave
ment Dead-other News Items.


lightning and terrific pess of thunder fol-
lowed by rain. During this storm occur
red sad and fatal accident. the instant kill
ing by lightning OF very worthy coIored
man, the Rev.Mo Wilks. the esteemed pas
tor ofthe Fourth Baptist church, on twenty
second street. He was just leaving house
which, being also carpenter. he was work
ing on towards completion, expecting soon
10 occupy II. and walking along near Stock
ton and Madison streets with his tools In
his hands and strapped about his waist
when the fatal bolt fell that laid him dead
on the pavement. There were few persons
in the vicinity, and but one eyewitness of
the sad affair, and she. Mary Burfoot. told
me- that she was coming along the sam9
street with the deceased, he having Just left
his house. She passed in front OF him. and
when about ten yards ahead she
was dazed and stunned by the stroke
of lightning and the tremendous crash
that followed. She said she was fright
ened aud ran towards home as soon as
she recovered herself. aud. looking back,
she noticed man lying in the street, face
downwards and little curls of smoke arts
ing from his clothes. She called her hus-
baud and they went back and found out
it was Brother Wilks He never made
sound or moved a muscle. she said.
BODY REMOVED.
DIR. W. Vaughan Lloyd. a veterinary sur
geon, came along just before Wilks fell,
and though somewhat shocked by the same
bolt called to Constable Brooks who. with
Chief-of Police Lipscomb. examined the
body and carried it to his late residence
east Twelfth street.
A coroner's inquest was held. called at
9 p NJ. and the following gentlemen
chosen for jurors: Messrs. Lithgow, French,
Ferguson. BrodnaX. Sims Martin and JUS
tice Owen, who presided. Or. BFodna1, the
coroner, being absent. DR.. Dorset, who saw
the body soon after the stroke. could rem
der no assistance. for Wilks was killed
instantly.
The body was viewed by the jury and was
q shocking sight The fatal fluid seemed 10
have entered on the left side of the head,
burning his whiskers; then through the
chin, thence down the chest. dreadfuily
burned through the left arm. down the left
side into the left leg. thence TO the earth.
After hearing the testimony OF Mary Bur
foot and Constable Brooks. and hearing Dr.
Dorsets opinion "a 20 the cause OF death,
the verdict was agreed on of death from the
stroke Of Lightning.
The unfortunate man was about forty five
years OF age and leaves wife, and Is spoken
of by all as having been good and upright
citizen and pastor, and held by everybody
in high esteem.
AT LEApKR HALL.
Rev. George II. Ray will have charge of
the meeting at Leader Hall this afternoon at
$3.50 O'Clock. He is spoken of as an earnest
and eloquent speaker and hard worker IN
every good cause There will be q service
of song at o'clock All are welcome.
Mr.. James F. Bradley is much better and
is expected back at his desk Monday.
Ropes. or some proper substitute in the
way Of q railing or fence, should be at once
put along that ditch for drains at Forest
Hill Park. and so avoid any further acci-
dents there.
A contract was recorded in the clerks
Office of Chesterfield County Court Friday
involving ego, 900 worth Of valuable Chester
field coal lands sold to Mr.. +. c. Dininny, Jr.
PERSONAL MENTION.
Mrs Amelia Stroud died at her residence
yesterday afternoon.
Mr.. Hudson Russell and Mrs. j. w. Blan-
ton. all of Richmond. are on visit 70 Mrs.
Z. 4. Pilkinton. of Chesterfield.
Miss Annie Poole, OF TINS city, aud MISS
May Moody. of Chesterfield, are paying 3
visit TO Mrs j. l.. Duyal, of Brunswick
county.
Mrs. Mary A. winfree is quite i'll at, her
house.
Miss Day. of Manchester, is visiting Mr.
A. p. Day at South Boston
Miss Perkins. of Richmond, is visiting
Mrs. NJ. A. Cogbnl in Chesterfield.
Mrs. Mary Adams goes to Blackstone on a
visit.
The Meade Memorial church will have
musical attraction to-day in shape Of solos
at the morning service by MIR. (. z. Weisi-
ger. and in the evening by Miss Mary
Thomas. from Washington. This young
lady will also sing at Bainbridge-stTeet
Baptist church this morning.
Cowardin-avenue church people will
listen TO the Rev. 4. K. Moore, Of Rich
mond. both at the morning and evening
services.
West-End church will have its pastor,
Rev. T. T. Dadmun, to-day, as ne has come
back from bis vacation.
BASEBALL GAME.
There was a game of baseball at Forest
Hill Park grounds yesterday afternoon, in
terrupted by rain. unfortunately, as both
mines were prepared 70 play good ball.
They were the Blue Jeans Club. OF Rich
mond. and the Swansooro Club. Below
are the names OF the players:
Blue Jeans-Luck. catcher; Duke, pitcher;
Folkes. first base; Lynch. second base;
Foster third base j. Morgan. left field; \.
Morgan. centre field; Darby. right field;
Meade. short stop.
Swansboros- catcher; Beans.
pitcher; Barrett, first base; Morrisett short
stop: Kahn. second base: Wise. third base:
+. Crostic. left field: w. Crostic, centre
field; G. Redford, right field.
TRIAL BEGAN.
In the hastings court yesterday the trial
was on OF the case of James Nelson's heirs
against s. ID. Atkinson, an action OF eject
ment. Major b. II. Nash. of Richmond.
and Judge w. l. Clopton, of Manchester,
appeared for the plaintiffs. and Messrs. ID.
l.. Pulliam and A. c. Attkisson appeared Tor
the defendants. The jury chosen TO tEy
the case was composed of Messrs. j. ).
Cook. John A. Purdy, ii. +. Cobb, u; J..
Walden, j. l.. Petit. r. b. W. Beattie. Q. !.
IiDseomb j. l.. Breach. L. J. Macon, NJ. +.
Martin, George q. Ely. j. ". Toney. Inc
case was partially heard and will probably
be decided Monday. Many Intricate points
of law are involved in this action.
STATISTICS.
In the month of July. ended yesterday:
Clerk DuVal Of the hastings court received
forty-six deeds and entered them for record,
and issued licenses for marriage to SIX
couples-fve white and one colored.
Mrs. Rosser Moody is Ill at her residence,
Fifteenth and Porter streets.
Judge S. Bassett French Is at work on his
book. which will be one of annals and histo-
ries of prominent men of the nineteenth
century. The title is not vet decided on.
Nobody is better qualified IN literary tastes
and ability. together with extensive ac-
ouaintance with public men, than THIS gen
tleman 20 undertake such work.
Bainbridge-street church will have their
pastor with them to-day. Mrs. Ihornhin
stays at West Point.
The police of Manchester made seventy
Ave arrests during the month just ended
4 a. 80 Una and they