The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-06-02
THE ROANOKE TIMES. SATURDAY, JUNE 3
Pu,UAHoNrAs PENCILINas.
An Gnprovoked Murder Commattcd-Poii-
tics and Coal Mining News.

PocAHoNrAs. June 1.-For the first
time in three years, Pocahontas was the
scene of an unprovoked murder Monday
night. The parties to it were both
CO ored, and the killing grew out Of a
game OF cards, IL " m,y be said to have
grown out Of any occurrence at all.
The negro killed was William Hop
kins, and his slayer was either Charles
Beach or Neal Faulkner. All the
parties wero from Elkhorn, down in
Virginia, and came here after pay day,
as is the custom Of many Of them, to
"blow in" what money they have left
OF their months earnings after paying
their expenses. The killing took place
in a room in tho roar Of James Miller's
barber shop on Church street. Here
eight or ten negroes were collected and
indulging in game they called "skin,"
until about o'clock In the evening.
The room was small and the sports were
increasing in number, so Miller found
it desirable to get rid of the crowd, and
told them they would have to go down
stairs il they wanted to gamble any
more.
As preparations were being made 70
go, Hopkins threw the cards down on
the table, thereby tanning out the
lamp light, which was chimneyless.
OUC9 III uhEk HeSS UuCIO was d SudIp TO-
pors Of q pistol, and Hopkins ran from
the room crying 'Oh, Lordy! Beach has
Shot me" He got as far as the street
and fell lifeless.
Some said Beach did 1t and others
said it was Falkner. No empty pistol
was found, and both wero arrested. The
testimony before the coronor's jury was
strongly against Beach, but yet il was
not clear that he WAS the guilty one. So
both were senton to the grand jury.
Beach in his testimony states that he
WAS a member Of Baldwin's dett Give
agency, operating in West Virginia.
He has not very sayory reputation
here.
The National Association OF Miners
are lOath to give up the at,em 1T TO in
duce strike in this region. Two mere
emmissaries were here the first OF the
week, but they met with no encourage
ment and soon left Really 1t is not a
very healthy place in these p.rts for
walking delegates " The last two.
Ike the others, left quietlyoos peace
ably, but pcaceaby only because they
listened to wise counsel.
Chief Engineer w. w. Coe End his
assistant, Mr. Schicb, have bteu here
several c7Js OF the past week.
Tyler Hartman, who shot ard killed
GfnuS EttLuaH lew WGCAS HEo. los
surrond red and yesterday morning vas
taken to WEIGH, Mcdowell county, w
Va, where the murder WAS committed.
He has employed Messrs. Henry &
Graham to defend him. This is the
ablest firm in this section and hard
fight may DO expected to clear him.
IL is now pretty we'll settled that ?. P.
Dillon, the defeated candidate for mayor,
will contest the election held hero on
the cath. The grounds OF contest will
be illegal voting and the further fact. as
alleged, that one Of the clerks or judges
OF election is citizen OF West Virginia.
1t is not believed he can make out
case.
Speaking OF elections there is very
warm contest going on at the neighbor-
ing town OF Graham, where an cleo :ion
will be held next Monday There are
three candidates In tho field and the
fight Is waxing warm. There ls no po-
litical significance attaching to The
contest, it being free Tor all race.
IN