The morning times., 1896-11-05
.F|ND[EY HELD FOR MURDER
Prisoner Declared He Shit in
Self DefanSe.
RESULT OF THE INQUEST
Killing Was tie Outcome Of
Fnctional Feud-Many Shots We're
Fired In the Fight and Findley
Says He Was the Target-JaiIed
at Alexandria.

An inquest over the remains OF John
Pollard, colored, who was shot and killed
by John Findley, also cOlored, near Airing
ton Junction, Va, as already told in The
Times. was held at l O'Clock yesterday
afternoon at Roches Springs by Coroner
Burch of Alexandria county.
Flndley, who was captured IN Washington
on Tuesday and turned over To the Virginia
authorities. was brought up from the Jai
in Alexandria to be present a the inquest.
a large number OF witnesses testified con
cerniiI; .uc suou.ing. a,.I TOR the iirSJ time
the facts concerning the murder were
brought out; hocnes Springs, where rot
lard lived. is a small cluster of shanties
half n mile beyond Jackson City.
Feeling runs high in koches Springs
against all invaders from the city and the
unwary ones who venture into that locality
from Washington are apt to fare. badly.
Yesterday at the inquest this sentiment
was shown plainly in the attitude OF The
crowd against the prisoner and several
in his behalf.
NO DOUBT OF HIS GUILT.
Early in the hearing Prosecutor John
son, who examined The witnesses, brought
Upon this point all the witnesses agreed
but as TO the other facts there was vast
difference in their statements. In view
OF the fact that Findiey claimed self.
defense, Mr.. johnson closely questioned
each witness as to whether Pollard had
a pistol or made any threats against the
prisoner. Throughout the greater part UI
The hearing Findey sat staring out OF the
window, seeming To take not the slightest
interest in the proceedings.
When william olard. brother OF the dead
man, was called To the stand, Findley eyed
him sharply and listened with close at
tention to his testimony. After several
witnesses had testified To minor points
concerning the affair, young Pollard took
'ieSvan ana told his version OF the shooting.
he said thai his brother had come to him
earlier in The evening and told him thata
man had threatened him with a pistol.
The TWO brothers went To Lewis house
where Findley was and found him in q
large covered wagon in the yard with
party OF friends from the city. Findley
started TO leave the wagon when Findley
pulled out his pistol and began shooting.
me witness swore that Findley fired three
shots, but that he was unable to state
which one hit his brother. During the
commotion which followed several
men in the crowd began shooting and in
the melee Findley escaped.
a. the conclusion of the testimony the
prisoner was sworn and told his story to
The jury. He said
PRISONER ON THE STAND.
Il came over here with a party OF friends
| In a wagon last NJ fonda night and we Went
| TO Uncle jim Lewis house to a dance. A
girl named Bertha Barnes wanted to come
with us but We ran away and left her.
| She came over ON the electric cars and
ro,lard I'd prnnght her NJ q the house I.
| we got 10 talking aDoJt II told him We
| We're much obliged for his kindness but
we were sorry That Bertha had come.
| That began the trouble. He got mad
at what said and told me he would nA
me He went home and came back with
MS brother and Il crowd of men and found
| me sitting In the wagon with Lucy Bell
Bob Oliver and Bertha Barnes Pollard
came in and began 10 curse me and the
crowd outside threw sticks and stones
| ,h'o'IsnLu NInu''c~ ana p-Dl- al the ela :.
| In the Thar vpIlaI n nd suil .laf.
| Kill MIN, 1nd | flOn-ut tiey were going
to do me. Pollard backed OFT of the door
oil the wagon and pat his hand on his hip
! pocket and Thought he WAS going 20 shoot
| just then they threw lot Of stones into
the wagon and Some OF them hit me and
l had to get out.
Il went to the door and when 1 saw
his pocket / pulled my gun. He made n
motion To draw and then fired. and the
| crowd parted and let me through l
dropped m pistol nd my hat and ran. and
they began to shoot at me. / got ava y
and came TO town. and that's all l know
| about it,
IDENTIFIED HIS PISTOL.
At the conclusion of his statement Find
lay identified the pistol and hat in the
| possession of the coroner as his. Both
| articles had been ound at the scene of the
shooting The barrel OF the pistol was
been discharged The jury, after a few
moments denDeratiun reformed a verdict
TO the erect that Pollard mad come TO his
death from pistol shot wound inflicted
by the prisoner Sheriff Palmer who was
present, at once took Findlay back to Alcy,
nndria jail. The sherir said that lie
wished to deny the statement of William
Pollard, who told the Washington police
Mr.. Palmer had said he was too busy
with election matters To hunt for Findla Y
on Tuesday. MT Palmer said he was moi
informed OF the murder until late on Tues
day and that he did everything in his
power to assist In capturing Findlay as
soon as the affair. was brought to hi,