Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-22
THE NEGRO MAY DIE.
WOUNDED ON THE HEAD AND NowiN
AVERY CRITICAL CONDITION.
Fight Between Brothers Lads to tho
Death Of Their Mother. Over whose
Body Undertakes Contend.

About 10 o'clock yesterday morning
telephone message was received ut Henrico
courthouse calling Sheriff Solomon 10
Roper's Mil. on the Chesapeake and
Ohio railroad, about two miles below the
city. to see a man who had been badly
hurt. The Sheriff. accompanied by Mag
istrate Tyler and Deputy Russell. imme-
dIately repaired to the scene, where they
found n negro who gave his name as
Louis Washington, lying near the track.
with severe wound on his right tenn
pie. He claimed to have been struck by
a train. but his story was discredited by
the officers, who advanced the theory that
the negro had been struck with stick
or some blunt instrument by some per-
son unknown. The unfortunate man
could give no account of himself what
ever. He had been seen by the resi-
dents of that locality wandering aimless-
ly about with head cast down for sew
eral days. and 1t is thought that he Is
insane. The authorities at the aims
house were communicated with, but they
refused to receive him until II was posi-
lively ascertained that he was resi-
dent OF the county. The wounded man
was removed tn the county jail. Dr.
Chalkley found the man suffering from
conclusion OF the brain, and pronounced
his condition critical.
DIED FROM EXCITEMENT.
While Squire Larus was vending his
way home Tuesday night he was accosted
by a negro, who. in an excited manner
informed him that "nigger" had been
killed on Twenty-seventh street. Th-
Magistrate accompanied him 20 No. 1877
north Twenty-seventh street, where he
found William Christian laid out for dead
with a severe wound on his forehead.
which had been administered 10 him by
his brother. Clifton. 1t appears that the
negroes were In their house about IL
o'clock. when they got into dispute.
IL Is said that William had attacked MS
brother with his fists. when the latter
seized the Ratchet, which was lying near
and struck his assalant.
The mother. n very fleshy old woman.
witnessing the fight between the two sons,
was attacked with tit. which eliminated
| I'm her prOstration from nervous aXcite-
ment. She had been In delicate health for
some time and the shock brought on
violent palpitation of the heart, from
which she died several hours after being
taken to bed. Clifton Christian was ar
rested by Constable Harry Voegier on
the charge of assaultng and striking his
brother with the weapon, and was lodged
I in the county jail.
! Coroner I.eftwlch viewed the remains
of the woman, and decided that death
was the result Of heart trouble.
Clifton was released on bail when the
L. n %
] jail.
FIGHTING OVER THE BODY.
| Eliza Christian. sister of the two men,
appeared before Squire Vincent yester-
day and swore out a warrant for the
arrest Of j. +. Brown, colored under
taken. charging him with trying To eX-
/ tort money from her by Illegally detaln-
| ing the dead body OF her mother. Inc
/ charge Is peculiar one. IL appears tha'
n negro. known as Devil Dick. who was
! at the house at the time the deceased
breathed her last, sent for Brown, ana
engaged him TO prepare the body iol
burial. When the undertaken put In MS
appearance Eliza did not like his looks
and sent for another undertaken. Whei
this one arrived on the scene trouble en-
/ sued Brown declined To relinquish ms
claim on the body unless he was pal'
SO and this the distressed daughter posi-
lively declined TO do. The rival funera
director attempted TO take the BODY
and Brown ordered him off. Both arr
keeping their weary vigil over the re
mains. and not until the esquire" rem
ders a decision in the case to-day VIII tn
victor I'm the siege be determined. Mean
while the corpse lies calmly and com
posedly awaiting the result before re
movaI to her final resting place.
BRIEF COUNTY NOTES.
Mr.. Guigon Is hard at work on IN
preliminarfes incident to the trial Of tn
alleged elections frauds at Smthers Pre-
cinct, and says he will have everything
in shape to proceed with the trial mex
Saturday. The promised injunction he
straining the Board of Supervisors o
the county from appropriatlng the 800
to compensate Mr.. GuSon has not We
materialized.
The County Court-Judge Wickham pre-
siding-was engaged yesterday in trylnl
two minor civil cases.
The cases OF the Commonwealth asSins
Messrs. \. r. Courtney and \. W. Pat
terson. practicing law without a license
was nolle prosecuted.