Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-10
THE ALyIS SHOOTING.
DOUBLE INQUEST HELD IN SWANS
Bono, ny SQUIRE JONES.
The EVIDENCE SHOWS SELF-DEPENCE
All the witnesses Agree
That the Officers Life Was In Dan
ger-Fnrmers to Consider the beet
Industry-Other Mnnchester News.


ray and Anthony Murray, came to their
death from pistol shots Saturday night
at the hand Of Albert A. Avis, police
officer of Swansboro'"
This was the verdict rendered by the
Coroners jury at Gas o'clock yesterday
evening. sitting In Inquest upon the two
negro men killed in Saturday nights
tragedy, in Swansboro.
The inquest was held at the colored
school house, the following persons COM
posing the jury: c. W. Eaton, H. III.
Clements. and w. II. Toler (whiie), and
Wilson Hewlett, Edward Davis. and
William Q. Moon (colored). full half
hour before it was announced that the
inquest would BE held an immense crowd
of white and colored people had gathered
about the school building. Squire
Charles T. Jones, who conducted the in
quest, thought best, however, to admit
only about thirty persons. In whom both
races were equally represented. Mr. ".
Hay Garrett, of the Manchester Bar.
appeared as counsel for Mr.. Avis, with
Mr.. Phil. V. Cogbill, the Commonwealth
Attorney of Chesterfield, representing
the prosecution. The jury lost little
| time In getting upon the tedious work
before them.
TESTIMONY OF WITNESSES.
The first witness called was William
| Webster. who testified that he was about
| ten feet off when the shooting occurred
saw the officer scuffing with the men;
| heard Mr. Avis place the negroes under
arrest: saw Mr. Avis after the struggle
with the men step back and shoot both
men down.
| The next witness was DR.. w. r.
| Mathews who attended the men after
| they were shot. He testified as to the
injuries, and showed by diagram now
| the shots took effect. Witness said That
the deceased came to their death from
the shot wounds.
| Archer Stoval (coored). said he saw
| Officer Avis and Mr.. TURNKEY scuffling
! with the men; heard Charlie Murray say
he would not CO. saw Mr.. Avis hand his
| billet 10 some man he did lot know
| and then step back and shoot.
| Horace Peyton (colored) testified TO
| about the same as Stovall, except that he
heard Mr. Criddle say shoot the - -.
Charles Mills (colored) was next called
| He heard the noise in the street
in front of his door, and it sounded as If
PARTIES were fighting. He ran out and
| saw officer Avis have hold of Anthony
| Murray He saw the officer release Muir
| ray and hand his billet 10 Mr.. Criddle.
| then step back fifteen feet and shoot.
| He heard Anthony say TO his brother,
| John. after he was shot: Go home and
| bring nv pistol. / want to kill the white
49,: but John replied: Il will bring
| you n coffin"
| Luther Green (colored) was the next
| witness examined. He testified to about
| the same as the witnesses who had pre-
coded him. as did also Charles w. Jones
| (colored.
| Mr.. George ID. Cole followed. He tes-
| tilted as to taking the ante-mortem state
ment of Anthony Murray, which has
been published that he was not attempt
| ing to iniure Mr.. Avis, but only
irving to get his brother home. DR..
| Mathews was recalled. He stated that
Anthony Murray had made further
| statement TO him. and the words An
| tbonv had said were: After 1 had been
| shot il seemed as anger came 10 my
soul and I wanted to kill the officer ,
| Witness said further that deceased had
admitted TO him that he drew a pistol
on Avis.
SESSION AFTER DINNER.
Recess was taken at o'clock for an
hour to allow the jury to get dinner.
| Promptly at O'Clock the jury resurneu
| it's consideration Of the testimony. HOW
| ever only three more witnesses were eX-
| amined.n ,,
Emmett Criddle said he was standing
near the men during the struggle, ana
when defendant handed him his billet ne
had to wrench 1t from the hands or one
of the negroes. ,,,
The second witness, Luther Taylor sald
he saw a pistol in the hands OF one Oh
the negroes, he could not tell which, De-
fore officer Avis shot at all.
The testimony closed with the state
mant OF Defendant Avis himself. his
narrative was the same as was puoHsheu
i'm Sundays Dispatch, declaring that ne
ala not shoot until overpowered ana coii-
neIled to do so TO save his own lie.
THE Jury retired at o'clock, and, re-
turning at 6:45. rendered the verdict ABOVE
quoted.
BEFORE THE MAGISTRATE.
II was agreed among the counsel
Nessrs. CogbilI and Garrett, that the
testimony before the jury should DE az
cented as evidence in the preliminary
hearing before the Magistrate. The case
was submitted TO Justice Jones without
argument. the Justice, however, taxing
n under advisement until this afternoon
at 2 O'clock. 1t is highly probable that
Mr. Jones will send 1t on 70 the grahu
iury. and It is understood that MT. AVIS
will ask this, in case the Justice were
10 lean to the shorter course.
Mr.. Avis was again turned over "
the custody OF Captain Lipscomo, Chiel
of Police OF Manchester, and taken again
h,, tbat oficer 10 his home.
The family of the unfortunate oIice.
remain undlsturbed at their pretty h'tle
home. in Swansboro'. but as long as 'neie
remain threats OF violence 1t viii be I'M
der the surveillance Of the police.
CONVENTION OF FARMERS
meeting of the representative farm
ers OF Chesterfield. Charles city, and
prince George counties will be held at
chester to-day TO look into the advisa-
tility of introducing the sugar-oeet IN
dustry I'm this section. slmuar meet
ing was called some weeks ago AT .he
same place. but the Indictment weather
of the day prevented good atendahce,
and the meeting was carried over uhlil
To-day. Mr.. w. II. Rowland, editor Oh
the chesterfield Chronicle, who mas Deeh
the pioneer in the interest OF the ne"
industry in this section, VIII make I.
nronosition to the farmers, WHICH IL
they will accept. will doubtless De
fruitful of a large beet-sugar plant TOT
one of these counties. MT. Rowland
wants the farmers 10 assure MN 'ha'
they will supply a good plant with Dee's'
: and he thinks he can assure them OF a