The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1897-08-05
ACCIDENTAL DEATH.
WAS THE VERDICT OF THE
CORONER'S JURY.
A Post Mortem Examination of the
Body of Dave Reed, Colored, Who
Was Killed Yesterday by the
niSchar0a Of


The h dy Of Dave keed the colored
man vino VAS shot aud killed in
Salem Wednesday afternoon, was
brought tn the j all that evening and
placed in the ha>t ment
There being a Su>picipn or intima-
tiou that Reed WIS III lr,iertd d. COro-
ner Linville Was noti fed that it, would
be advisable 10 hnld an Inquest, which
he did He came over Thursday
and summoned the following citizens
to act with him and render a decision
as to how the colored man came to
his death: Messrs E. c. Clinard, T.
w. Parish, RDbt. Gorrell, T. S
Sprinkle. w. L. Hampton and Henry
kerner
The jury met at II O'Clock DR..
Strickland, the present County PhySi-
clan, N mlde the post mOrtem examina-
tiOn 1t was disc Ivered that the ball
entered the right side OF Reeds neck
and came out on the left side 1t
severed the windpipe and came near
doing the same for the swallow.
The jury adjourned just before one
O'Clock TO meet again at two O'Clock.
Mr.. Hulbrouk, who was the only per-
son in the house, beside the darkey,
when the shooting occurred, was sum
moned to appear before the jury aud
tell what he knew about the affair.
AFTERNOON SESSION
The Coroner and his jury, at the
session this afternoon, heard the evil
dence of Holbrook, in whose house
Reed was killed, Mrs. Hnlbrook, Mrs
Jane Lewis, a near neighbor, and Drs.
Strickland and Thomas
Holbrook was the first witness. He
stated that he employed Reed Mon
day to work for him; that he was in
the room with Reed when the gun
fired; that the negro asked him for
the gan and he (Reed) was fooling
with it when it fell aud discharged;
said he never handled the gun him
self Mr.. Holbrook also testlfi fed that
when the gun fired Reed exclaimed:
Lord I've killed mFself;" said he
jumped up and caught the negro and
was letting him down when b wife
came in the room
Mrs HOloronk stated that she did
no. know which one OF the boys found
the bullet IN Jue house; that she did
not pay much attention to the report
when the qua free, as it went off some
time ago, in the same house, for Mr..
Bryan, one of the neig 0Or bows; Reed
breathed d few times after she went
in the room, anG uttered one or two
words which she did not catch, thought
he was standing up, with his face to
the window when the gun fired; could
not tell which hand he had the gun in.
Mrs. Lewis said she saw Reed that
morning: she had heard no fuss he.
tween the negro and Mr.. Holbrook;
while going out OF her house, after
Reed was SHOT, she heard somebody
say Mr.. HOlbrOok had shot him; she
did not KNOW who made the remark;
ii was not member Of HOlbrOOk'S
family; she and the Holbruoks' are on
friendly terms
DIR. Strickland said he did not think
the ball could 90 through the neck, as
it did, with the gun in the position as
testlff d by the Witnesses, neither was
it probable that he could speak; could
not have breatEed through the mouth
he saw no sign Of powder on Reeds
neck
DIR. Thomas was then sent for. A
messenger was also sent to Holbrook's
house after he gun that killed Reed
DIR. Thomas knew rcthirg about
| the matter except that the negro was
dead when he arrived at HOlbroOk' S
| house.
The gun aud ball were exhibited.
| LII SUIlChihuu u1nuiel Ute lOi lDci "
| show the jury that Reed could not
have shot himself through the neck,
as he did, with the egun in the position
as testlti d by the witnesses
| Sheriff Kdpp took charge OF the
| witnesses while the Coroner and jury
| discussed the case in order TO decide
| upon verdict.
A telegram was received by tht
| Chief of Police from Julia Re- d
| mother OF the deceased, asking thai
| her sons remairS be sent TO her a
| Summerfeld. This will probably b.
| done
The jury rendered verdict at 5:1
Ip III 10 the Hrcb that Reet
| Came 10 his deaIh nY the accidenta
| dischaIgt of gun in his own hands