The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-09-18

Salem, Sept. 17.-(Special.)- Lilly Texas
Young, soled dame, about IS years of
age, was foully murdered last might in "a
log cabin on Roanoke river about two
miles west of Salem.
Robert Foutz, who rented the hous.
where the girl lived, together with Mrs.
Frank Darst, reported to officers last
night that IL party of white men were
lighting and firing off pistols at the house.
but they, thinking that it was nothing
serious. waited until this morning to in
vestigate the affair, When it was learned
that IL woman had been killed.
a coroner's jury, composed Of VIM. +.
Francis, &. Jones Ligon, VIM. Fl. Shut,
j. M. Smith, A. II. Whitesell, c.. ID.
DENT and Acting Coroner J. II. Ca,hper.
with DR.. Minor Wiley and The Times re-
porter, repaired to the house Yesterday
morning and found the young girl lying
on her back by the bed. dead.
The girl was young aud comely with n
mass of dark brown hair. An examina-
ton by DR.. Wiley revealed the fact that
there were Commissions on the face and
forehead and pistol shot wound in the
left shoulder. The body was brought to
the Oakley mo'gue, and an autopsy bv
DR.. Wiley showed that the ball had
ranged FROM the shoulder to the second
rib, which it penetrated, thence through
the upper part OF the left lung, lodging in
one OF the blood vessels, causing internal
hemorrhage and death.
AT ! o'clock the jury repaired TO the
courthouse and IA full Investigation re.
venled substantially the following facts:
Jennie f. Young, Mary Darst aud Bob
Foutz were examined. They claimed
that Robert FoutZ came to Salem Thurs
day afternoon on the $40 car from Roa-
noke and went to Jennie Young's, who
lives back of T. ID. Martins feed store, for
his supper, after which Jennie Young
accompanied him (Foutz) up towards the
house where the murder was committed.
When they arrived Mt Hurts slaughter
house on the river they met Mary Darst
coming down the river road crying and
saying that som e men were fighting and
firing off their pistols ut the house and
that probably they had killed Texas
Young.
FoutZ claimed that be had no gun and
was afraid to enter the house, but went
to the gate and, hearing two pistol shots,
he and the two women came back to
town to look up Policeman Johnston.
They were referred by him TO Constable
r. K. Carter and Deputy Sheriff Fitzger-
aid. neither of whom went to tn. house,
as they reported no felony.
They then returned to the house and
found the woman dead, though Foutz
thought he heard. her groan twice. They
stayed there for several hours ard re-
turned to Jennie Youngs
TherHoung woman claimed that when
Foutz first came to her house, that she
took his pis.o! and put it in her trunk
Their evidence was evidently concocted
TO SUIT the cn Urgency, but strange to say
was very contradictory.
Two young men were then examined,
who probably told the true facts AS to the
killing. They were Charles Nichols and
Wade Spangler, who, in company with
Ernest Carroll and Kemper Goodwin
were at the house early in the night, be-
tween 8 and 10 O'Clock.
Their testimony was to the effect that
they were sitting on the bed with Mary
Darst and Texas Young playing cards
One of the hoys asked the Darst woman
why she had the door locked, as it was
very warm in the room. She replied that
she was afraid of Foutz, whom she was
expecting at any time. At this juncture
FontZ walked up on the porch and, look
ing through the window, said, with an
oath: II am here and / will kill every
ID one of you"
lie then fired his pistol through the
window and Texas Young jumped to her
ieet ana SAID: Don't shoot any more,
Bob; you have shot me-"
The bows then scampered off, leaving
III" wounded woman to her fate.
as the evidence of Nichols and Span
gler did not vary in any material facts,
Carroll and Goodwin were not put upon
the Standard the coroners jury brought
in the following verdict:
I'VE the jury find upon investigation
that Lilly Texas Young came to her death
from wound caused by IA ball fired from
a pistol in the hands OF Robert Foutz."
Ne murdered girl was native of
Toms Creek, Franklin county, Va. Ien-
ME Young and Mary Darst are cyprians
OF the lowest order and Cob Fou,z is well
known to the police officers Of Salem and
Ronnoke. Foutz is in Jail and if by
chance his neck does not feel The halter
draw he is apt to spend the remainder
OF his life in the penitentiary.