Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-17
IS STILL A MYSTERY.
THE MURDER ON THE NORFOLK
AND WESTERN COAL-TRAIy.
The Victim Identified nv william VI.
Wood, of Washington. ID. C.-The
Testimony ut the COroner's In
embellishments Arrested.


cial)-The unfortunate man who was
found so dreadfully beaten and uncon-
scious IN an empty coal-car on the Nor
folk and Western railroad in this city at
a late hour last night died shortly after
2 o'clock this morning, never having
shown any signs Of consciousness. That
the man was murdered and robbed there
seems 10 be no doubt. All the circum-
stances surrounding the case so TO prove
this. though no clue stronger than suspi-
clon has vet been developed by the police.
IDENTIFIED.
Papers establishing the identity Of the
| deceased were found this morning. IN
derneath the car in which the body was
discovered was picked up Il certificate
that william NJ Wood had given satisfac-
tory evidence that he was a skilful mate
Of steam vessels, and upon other infor-
nation gained through the certificate
TELEGRAM was sent TO Washington and the
following reply was received: -.
| WASHINGTON, ID. C., october TO- 1873.
"Dennie Parkinson, Chief OF Police, re
tersburg, Va: ,.,-,-
Mr.. Hess viii arrive in PETERSBURG thls
afternoon 10 identify and bring the BODY
D
civilian c. TlPPEN."
THE INQUEST.
The inouest, which was held before
Coroner Ii. G. Leigh this afternoon at
tracted a large crowd, but for reasons
hest known to himself ne decided not to
admit any spectators, and only to allow
one witness to be admitted INTO the
innuest-room at time. The witnesses
examined were: Captain David HardlhB
and James Boisseau, conductor anu en-
gineer Of the train upon which the Dohy
was found; Davis Fitzgerald and DaVy
Jones. two colored brakemen OF the
train: DR.. James w. Claiborne. jail phy-
stefan: y. r. Blick, jailer; Oincers Rag
land and Crichton. of the police force
ana David NJ. Hess, of Washington. ID. {.
The testimony Of the train men was
that they left Norfolk yesterday after
noon at 2:3O o'clock; that at Jerico. three
miles below Suffolk, where they TOOK
a siding, four white tramps. were put
of the train Again, at what is known as
the 3g-mile siding west Of Norfolk Con-
ductor Harding and Brakeman Jones
put off four more white men. two OF
them being sailors; that Is, they were
dressed in sailor dress.
HAD MISSED THE BOAT.
One of them begged to be allowed to
x.
ing that they hal missed their boat In
Norfolk. and that if they I2t to New
York in three days they would meet their
boat there and be reirstated. Captain
Davis refused to let them ride. but could
not say when the train started again.
whether the sailors boarded 1t or not,
as 1t was dark, and his train consisted OF
70 empty coal gondolas, and was not
searched any more that night fer tramps.
90. .
their OPINION that the man had been
murdered by being struck on the head by
a heavy missile, and that when found
last night by them and reported to the
authorities the blow had not been long
struck.
MR.. HESSS TESTIMONY.
Mr. d. NJ. Hess. of Washington, testi-
fed that the body lying before the jury
was that of William May Wood: aged q.
and employed on ocean htoamers as chief
mate. The last place Re had been en-
ployed was in Boston. Mass, where he
had run on the big excursion steamers
Of that city as chief mate. Wood was
a resident of Washington. and generally
carried money about with him MIR. Hess
was confident that Wood would never
have tried to steal ride in a coal gon-
dola, as he could easily have gotten
money by telegraphing 20 friends In
Washington. Mr. Hess further stated
that Wood was sociable; was thoroughly
honest. and a capable and conscientious
man when at work
The Jury rendered a verdict that VIII
liam May Wood came to his death on the
18th Of October from wounds on the
head inflicted by parties unknown.
The murder is still the talk Of the town.
and every effort Is being made by the
authorities TO find an available clue.
The body Of Wood was turned over TO
Mr. Hess, and was taken TO Washington
tonight for interment
SUSPECTS ARRESTED.
William Brennan and Henry Turner,
clad in the full uniform OF United states
marines and claiming to be from the
United States cruisers Minneapolis and
Raleigh and Adolph Lyons, German
emigrant, were arrested at the Union
Depot tonight on the charge Of being
the murderers of William NJ. Wood.
Brennan acted as spokesman for the
crowd. and made the following statement:
Turner and l left Norfolk on Tuesday
evening, stealing a ride on a freight. We
had overstayed our leave OF absence. and
hearing that our vessels had left for
Brooklyn TO coal, we thought we would
try to get to Brooklyn by the time that
she did" This was the freight train
upon which the body Of Wood was found)
AT Suffolk Lyons got on the train. Some
distance below Suffolk the train went
on a siding. and a white man came up
TO the car we were on. and made US get
down. remarking that the rules OF his
company did not allow any one TO ride
on a freight. / explained our position,
telling him If we did not get TO New York
in time to catch our boat we would be
declared deserters. He made us get
down. and We walked down the track by
the side OF the train, and as soon as IL
started again we boarded her. We rode
as far as Waverly. and being cold we
jumped off the train and spent the night
in the woods We came back 70 Waverly
early yesterday morning. and finding that
we could not get a train walked to the
next station, where We boarded freight
train. and came 10 this city. We waited
on the outskirts until IL was dark, and
then came through when we were stop
ped and locked up. / think We were
the only men on the train Tuesday night
beside the trainmen. as l saw no one
get on at Norfolk. and saw no one leave
the train up to the time of our arrival
at Waverly. / heard nothing about a
murder having been committed do
not know any one by the name of Wood"
The men were sent TO Jail tonight,
and will he brought before the Mayor in
the morning.