The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1894-08-30
COL. WINSTEAD'S DEATH.
HIS BODY HORRIBLY MUTILAT-
ED BY THE FALL.
Interment-Friends of Deceased
Disbelieve That IT Was Suicide.

Disbelieve That It Was Suicide.
The particulars of the sad death OF
Col. J. NJ. Winstead of Greensboro,
which occurred in Richmond Wednes-
day Aug. 23rd, are given in a telegram
from the Richmond Dispatch to the
Greensboro Record.
Gel. Winstead arrived in Richmond
Wednesday afternoon, having just re-
turned from business trip to A tlan-
ia, Ga. He stopped at Ford's Hotel.
Early yesterday morning he entered
the City Hall and inquired the way to
the top Of the tower of the building.
He was told that it was not customary
to allow visitors to go there so early
in the day and was referred to Thomp-
son, of the fire alarm office, who had
the tower opened for him and he was
allowed to enter alone.
Scarcely three minutes Is supposed
to have elapsed between his entrance
and the fatal fall of 101 feet. The
body caught on the palisades which
surrounded the building and was
dreadfu1ly mutilated. He had remov-
ed his hat and shoes which, with his
stick, were found subsequently in the
tower room.
He had on his person, when picked
up, gold watch, two notes for So, 500
each, draft on New York for 81 800,
some small change, pair of specta-
cles, knife and keys, and a telegram
from his brother making an appoint
ment to meet him in Richmond yes
terday.
Many are Of the opinion that Col.
Winstead'S death was premeditated
by him. Others express the belief
that after reaching the tower he had
an attack OF vertigo, to which he was
subjected, aud fell headlong to the
ground below.
Col. Winstead was one of Green's
bOrO's most prominent citizens. He
was a native of Person county. He
was faithful member of West Mar
ket M. E. church. A wife and three
step-children are left to mourn his sad
death.
REMAINS BROUGHT TO GREENSBORO.
George w. Hinshaw returned this
morning at 1l:20 o'clock from Green's
boro where he went to meet the re-
mains from Richmond. He said all
the business houses of the City closed
and the people Of the town gathered
at the depot to meet the corpse,
which arrived there at $40 o'clock
this morning.
Mr.. Hinsnaw says the people of
GreenSOOr are indignant over Une In
timation, by the Richmond papers,
that Col. Winstead's death was sui
cidal. They say that the circum-
stances of his death are not at all
suggestive of suicide to those familiar
with Col Winstead's habits.
1t has been his custom, they say,
for several years to remove his shoes,
coat and hat whenever he became
very warm. He was so fieshy and
peculiarly afflicted that he became
over-heated more easily than most
people.
On this occasion he had just climb
ed up the tower-a tireSome under
taking for man of his siZe-and
according to his custom, removed
coat, shoes and hat to catch the morn
ing breezes while he enjoyed a BIRDS
eye view of the city from his elevated
position.
The cause of Col. Winstead's fall,
they think, was purely accidental, oc-
casioned by his leaning forward to in
spect some part of the building
below or a distant object. Vertigo
may have seized him in this act.
Mr.. Hinshaw said the face of the
dead man was quite natural and was
not mutilated by the fall. Only a few
slight bruises were visible.