The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-23
EDWARD N. STRkTTON DEAD.
Found in a Dying Condition Out on the
R. T. & P. Tracks,
WITH HIS WATCH AND MONEY GONE.
The Indications AEe Ihat lie Was FouiIy
Dealt With and Then Bobbed-He Was
Gallant Confederate soidicr-Lesves
Mother aud Two Brothers.

from the effects OF blows dealt by some
one having robbery as their object. MI.
Edward NJ. Stratton died sast night. short
ly before o'clock. while being carried
home IN the city ambulance.
The case is enshrouled ia mystery.
There is at least good ground Tor suspect
ing that Mr.. stratton was murdered as
his watch was missing when found.
A piece OF his watch chain
dangling from his vest attracted
attention, and brought this TACT
10 .ight Another theory Is that the un-
fortunate man fell. and was fatally in
jured while walking along the railroad
track. where he Was found. A thlrd the
ory is tnat passing train OF shit
ing engine struck hm. though Coroner
Iay.or. who viewed the remains, ana
gathered such facts as be could in the
case. was OF the opinion last night that
Mr. Stratton was not struck by a tram
or an engine
WAS FOUND UNCONSCIOUS.
Afr. Stratton left his home. No. All
north Seventh street. yesterday after
noon, about o'clock. lie did not say
where he was going. and no one at the
house then suspected that he was going
10 wander away. From all that could be
learned. he walked out on the Richmond.
Fredericksburg and Potomac tracks near
the Exposition Grounds. or was carried
out there for no good purpose by some
one. At any rate. he was found lying
between two tracks behind the Old Pinel
HOspirrl. lie was In semi-co,R Rcious
ondtion. being out Of his head most OF
the time. This was about o'c.ock.
Some of the trainmen ran across the
prostrate form Of tho suffering man. and
AT once sent IN a call fordh ambulance.
n prompt response Was made. and DR..
Lyme, who was IN charge OF the ambu-
lance. was soon examining Mr.. Stratton's
wounds. The lower jaw bone was broken.
and sharp incisiOn had been made under
the chin. This is believed to have re-
suited from sudden thrust Of an eraser
IN Mr. Strattons vest pocket. The eraser
is supposed TO have stuck In his chin
when Mr.. Stratton fell. The anan's left
arm was broken between the elbow and
the wrist With the exception OF a few
bruises. he was otherwise un.njured.
DIED IN THE AMBULANCE.
DR.. Lyme questioned the unfortunate
man closely. bat the latter was Mighty
IN his replies. lie first stated that he
had not been struck by train. and al
terwards changed his mind. and said no
had been so struck. Not much depend
ence was put In what the Injured man
said, for he could not remember the street
and number of his home. and when asked
ir he was "A brother OF Or. Thomas r..
Stratton, he said he was distantly re-
lated 10 that gentleman. whereas as
matter OF fact. he Is "a brother OF Dr.
Stratton.
DR.. Lyme dld all he could TO restore
Mr.. Stratton 20 consciousness. but failed.
and. taking him from the shop where he
had been placed. he put aim ia the am
buiance to carry him % his home. Mr..
Stratton grew exceedingly faint as soon
as he was put into the ambulance. and. in
spite OF the restOratyes resorted TO- he
died when the ambulance was near the
corner or Brook avenue and Broad street.
lie was carried TO his hon e. No. III north
Seventh street. and there the body left
with the family. DR.. Lyme Ghen imme-
diately notified Dr. Taylor. the City Coro-
ner. who went to the house and examined
the remains. lie Will make a further in
yestigatlon to-day. when he viii decide
whether or not to hold ar inquest.
WAS HE MURDERED2
There are several reasons to believe
hat Mr.. Stratton was the victim OF foul
play. The place where he was walking
In "A listless sort OF way IS just such o
Ocality as one would expect TO find after
lark some rather tough characters. Then
[ may have been known that Mr.. STRAIT
ton was paid of by his employers. the
and Ohio railway, Saturday.
IL is easy 10 learn when corporation
pays OF its employees. Mr.. Stratton, II
IS understood, had some money with him
yesterday, but this was missing when he
was found His watch. too, missing. Is
another link In the chain OF evidence.
Had train struck him. Il Is believed that
his clothes would have boen torn. and
hat he would have been cut and bruised
much worse than he was. II Is not at
al unlikely. from the evidence. that could
DO obtained last night. that he was struck
With a sand-bag or something else. and
-Obbed. then left lying between the two
racks, where he was found. No arrests
lave been made, as there Is as yet no one
inspected OF the crime
Several OF the friends Of the family. who
earned OF the tragedy last night. called
Il the home 10 express their xmpathy.
Tho funeral arrangements have not yet
'een made
SKETCH OF HIS LIFE.
Mr.. Stratton was the son or the iato
4. J.. Stratton. who was for years city
AUDITOR Of Richmond. He was hfty-four
ears old. and was born IN Richmond,
where he has lived the larger part Of his
le. lie won't with the Hampden-Sldney
'Ollege boys into the Confederate Army
) a member "A the Twentieth Virginia
regiment. and was captured at Rich
fountain and paroled. when he came 10
lichmond and stayed here a while as
lerS IN his fathers Office. He then en-
sted with John Y. Belle. After his com
land was captured he enlisted in Cen
raj Morgais command, and remained as
eutenant OF artillery until the end OF
he war. He practiced law for a number
T years az Campbell Courthouse. and was
fterwards reading clerk OF the Senate
nder Shelton Davis For fifteen years he
we'd in Texas. where he was for 4 while
ssistant District Attorney
Mr.. Stratton was past master OF Rust
erg Lodge OF Masons. of Campbell Court
ouse. lie was member OF Pickett
amp. Confederate Veterans. At one
me he was connected with the Claim
'epartmnt OF IN Chesapeake and Ohio
.ailway Company and az the time OF
is death was connected with the local
eight department Of that company.
lie leaves a mother and two brothers
II. Thomas r. Str1tton and Captain j.
aylor Strstton.
Mr.. Stratton had many friends IN this
ny, who will deeply regret to learn OF
Is death
IA A = a