The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-03-26
a SUNDAY MoKNlNa mURpEn.
William Henry Barnes, CoIored, Killed
While Going Homo From 81 Dnnca


William Henry Barnes, CoIored. Killed
While Coin g Homo From u Dance.
William Henry Barnes, one of the
coloreo drivers of tho III. @. Ssarkey
Coal Company, was shot between 10 and
! O'Clock Sunday morning in the West
End and instantly killed. The murder
was committed on vacant lot not very
far from the residence of A. 8. Asberry.
The shooting was reported at police
headquarters little later on by q col.
ored woman named Mary Sue Wright
and the police authorities at once be-
gan search for the man who was sup.
|sposed to have been killed; but 1t was
not until after daylight Sunday morn
Ing that the dead body OF Barnes was
found with bullet wound in the left
side. This was followed by the arrest
of Wade Turner and Charlie Wither3
and an inquest by DR.. Lewis, the city
coroner, who summoned the following
jury to examine into the case: j. G.
Davenport, Charles T. Lukens, Henry
Washington, e. l.. Cameron, J. r,
Helm and L. III. Brugh. gssg
The coroner's jury went to the scene
OF the murder and made q thorough ex-
animation Of the grounds, &C., after
which they repaired to the mayors
. office at police headquarters and heard
: the testimony. From the evidence adj
du3ed, 1t appears that Barnes, in COM
pany with Turner, went to dance Sat-.
ur3ey night in PeedeeV Valley, near Glove.
land avenue, in the West End. Both
men were drinking and Turner was
very drunk. A row ensued, and ono or
two blows were passed. The party then
broke up, and Barnes, Wade Turner,
Gill Barlow Hairston, Jim Hsirston
alias Shorty" George Helm, Charlie
Withors and nary Sue Wright started
for their homes.
The men wero all quarrolling, and
when noRr the place where the killing
occurred, some one in tao crowd cslled
to shorty" who WAS in front with tho
Wright woman, to come and give or
lend them pistol.
In few moments two shots were
fired, Barnes fell and the entire crowd
ran, with the exception of the woman
who reported the matter st police head
quarters.
The two Hairs ion's M ade their escape
and have not boon heard from since.
The witnesses all claimed that thew
did not know who did the shooting.
Wade Turner alleged that he was so
drunk that he did not know anything
for several hours later. Withers
claimed that he WAS in front and did
not know who did the shooting.
After carefully going over the evil
dence, the coroner's jury returned the
following verdict: We believe that the
said William Henry Barnes came to his
death at or about 12 o'clock of the night
OF March %, 1895, by bullet fred
from pistol in the hands OF one OF tho
following parties: Charles Withers,
Gill Barlow Hairston, James Hairston,
Alias, Shorty" or Wade Turner, all
colored j. @, DAvENpoRr.
Foreman.
The jury also racomm ended that
Wade Turner and Charlie Withers, who
had been arrested, should be held until
the matter could be thoroughly investi-
gated They will have preliminary
examination in the polio, court this
morning.
Drs. Lewis and Lonncy hold an au-
topsy Sunday afternoon, and found that
the bullet entered tho left breast,
crossed through the heart and lodged in
the left lung. The remains of the MUIR
dered man wore inferred yesterday
afternoon,