The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-10-07

scr1bed by him. 1t is not probable that
the two wounds could have been in
ficted at the Same blow, certainly the
knife or instrument could not have
glanced from the arm and have made .he
cut in the neck.
Doc Hampton, q colored man who
drives a wagon for Brown s. johnson,
said in his testimony that he was pass
ing the Rtore and saw Dyer stagger from
the door and meet Mr.. Reed, who led him
to Pollard's meat market. He asked
Mitchell who hurt him and Mitchell
replied: "He hit me in the face and
cut him" Doc then said: "You have
killed him." This witness did not hear
any words pass.
K. A. Pollard was not aware of any
difficulty until he saw Dyer coming up
the street bleeding and tottering. Dyer
said: Dick Mitchell has killed me-"
with the assistance of Mr.. Reed and
Mr.. Chain Dyer was carried into the
store, where he was laid down. Mr..
Chain held his hand over the wound q
few minutes while the witness little
boy went for doctor. Then Mr.. Reed
started after another doctor. Mr.. Chain
said to Dyer: You are in a dangerous
condition, are you prepared to die" He
replied he did not know and never
spoke again.
DR.. Brown was recalled and asked to
examine the knife. He thought it
likely that the wound was made with
such an instrument. The knife has
four and three quarter inch blade.
The testimony Of D. v. Reed corrob
Grated that previously given, and in
addition to that Mr.. Reed went to
Mitchell and told hiIa to go with him to
jail, which Mitchell did, after saying
or h inn Oh ~
open. On his way he said ne did not
intend to kill Dyer and seemed sorry
that he had killed him. When he
reached the jail he 'phoned to some
one, do not know who, TO close up the
store for him, that he had killed man.
On being searched by the jailer knife
was found in his pocket, which he said
he did the cutting with
Mr.. Reed here recog nized the knife.
Witness said Mitchell clai ned that
Dyer had struck him twice and showed
small red place on his forehead and a
spot on his neck which he claimed was
caused by Dyer's blows. He didn't say
at this time that Dyer used any harsh
words
j. L. Kelley was examined but his
statement was corroborative and didn't
bring out any now facts w. c. Pate
sell swore that he had often seen
Mitchell show how Quick he could get a
knife out CT his pocket already open,
and remark that he could protect him
self SO readily with it. He could take
the knife out of his pocket open as quick
as anyone else could with the knife
shut.
This concluded the testimony, and in
few minutes the jury rendered the
following verdict:
COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA,
CITY OF ROANOKE:
IAN inquisition taken at the office OF
Oakley Il Woolwino on October before
Dr. 5. e. Staples, a coroner of the said
city, upon view Of the body of N. c.
Dyer, then lying dead, the jurors sworn
to inquire when, where and by what
cause the said N. G. Dyer came to his
death, upon their oaths do say that he
came to his death by means of wound
inflicted by q weapon in the hands of
ID. H. Mitchell. In testimony whereof
the said coroner and jurors hereto set
their hands"
The funeral of tho deceased will be
conducted from tho First Presbyterian
Church, with which he would have be-
come united soon had he lived, Sunday
morning by Rev. Or. w. c. Campbell,
and the interment will take place after
wards in the city cemetery.
1t is rather Il remarkable condolences
that this tragedy took place within o
few yards from where Thomas Smith,
the negro, was lynched on the morning
of September Ell