Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1897-11-13
4 DOUBLE MURDER.
TWO COLCRED TEN
THE VICTIMS OF A
WHITE TAN.
The rien Had Done Moth
ing.
A Severe Blow on the Head.
Mr.. Jones' Statement.
A PECULIAR VERDICT.
The Dead Brothers Laid in the Tomb.


Last Saturday night intense excite
ment prevailed in SwansbOro, occa-
stoned By the shooting of two brothers
Charles and Anthony Murray by po-
lice-ofacer Albert A Avis. The bru-
tai manner in which these two colored
men were treated will in all probabil
fly 20 down in history as one of the
lowest and rnost diabolicsl deeds ever
committed upon an inofrnsive peo-
pie The people are now quiet 10 that
section and no race war in minent az
heretofore stated. The people will let
the law have its course but to read of
the cowsrdly tragedy makes the blood
curdle in the veins Of any justice low
ing people.
BEoIEEfNG OF THE TROUBLE.
Charles Murray and hi, brother An
thony had been drins ing rather freely
in the store owned by G l.. q. rsl~y
(Nhitel. They were abusing each 9th
er ami became little boistrrous Ia
th-ir conversation when the proprietor
ordered them out, ard on their refus-
ing 20 do so, he struck Antbony on the
back OF the head with q bung starter
The blow made him go weas that h.
fell 70 the haor on his knees, but sooi
got ~ and went 80 the outside, whore
the two brothers commenced talking
of the affair
sAoT DOWN LIKE DOG.
The police officer, Alvis. was sent for
and he soon arrived, placed th- m l.
under arrest and while carry ing
Cuarles HE lCharIs - hat hsppeneu
fniI OF. The Ctiic. refused to let him
get it, but urged him on. Charles in
sisted on getting his nat ami said, ~
wont 20 any where 'tili get my hat
ard then commenced cureing. The
officer thereupon turned him loose
anu wit in few feet of hIm iired the
fatal shot. which pierced Charles
heart. He fell 10 the ground gasping
for breath with n strs am vf blood oez
ing from his breast. He died almos
instantly.
ANTHONY SHOT NOTHING.
Anthony, who had told the officer
not TO arrest has brother that ne don
nothing heard the report Of pirtoi,
saw has brother fall, writhing IN hi
own biOC d. rushed to tn eide OF hs
Hfeless brother and exclaimed, ~ ia
have shot my brother, now you will
have to shoOI me The officer then
turned has gun and fired at Anthony
she bali entering his abdomen.
SAD sPESrAcLR.
The men lying side-hy-side In the
road, one dead ana the o'her almosI
dead was = sad object To behold. ht
liberal minded white people in that
vicinity who looked upon the forms OF
these gigantic men ssy 8 coTArdiy deec
has been committed.
AN EYEWITNESS.
Mr. Charles w Jones, an eye wit
ness of che tragedy says:
cit happened between the hours of s
and Q O'Clock. was on my way dow n
town in company with Mr. rhOmAs
Branch. Ny attention was called to
q crowd standing in front of Mr. MILF
shOe-shop. The white men urged Al
V:s to arrest Charles and Anthony
Murray, 80 / started 70 go over and
try TO take the young men home, bu'
Tom said . iGo, don't so GU there, you
may get into trouble YOURSELF Just
SAt that time Alsis pulled out his pistol
and shot Charley"
Continuing TO que stion MIR Jones. he
said, His brother, Anthony said. You
have shot my brother. now you viii
have 90 snoot me- The officer then
t0rDed his gun on Anthony and shot
him.
After he had fallen he crawled to
his brOther,s side and said, Are you
dead CharIeyf' / then went TO ALVIN
while be- lAlvIsI was relOading his pis-
Gol and eeked him ''was that right GO
shoot those men. YOu gave your club
up and then turned roun0 anu sh"'
them he didn't Say anything, but
turned to John Tunley (whlIe) Gnc
asked Hmm If he hsd - PISTOL. Tunlry
said, No. lhe officer and his crowd
then went slowly nway-Ieavlng CAar
ley aud Anthony there"
Our query. Did you see Charley OF
Anthony with pistOl2
Answer No did not"
Did the officer strike Charley or did
Charley striKe the Uffioer7
IL dOn'I know"
Mr. Jones statement was corroborat
ed by Mr. William Webster, who va,
present at the time.
Alter thanking the gentlemen To-
this informatIUn, We Dade them Adieu
AT ME-. KILLS. sHoK-sHoP.
Mr.. Madison Mile. prominent sho,
maker Of esEansborO who is much Pat
OlaaANAAA
ter stating our mission, said:
WRKRR THEY wERE MURDERED.
at happened right there, (Oointin
towards where tbs tragedy was com
mitCed) about i've feet from my dooI
right ia front of It. Mr. AlvIs ha
Charley and Charley Was cursing. say
tng, he wasL'G going anywhere until h
get his haC. SIR. Avis turned hiE
lOOse. A white man, VINO stood nea
said, shoot the damn niger Nj
Alvis snOC Charley and then shot Al
thOny. It happened about nine O'cloc
Saturday night"
We asked him IL he saw either on
Of the brothers nave n pistol.
He sal 1, III they hao u pistol the
did not draw it
We're any blows passed.
AZ didn't see any. They were onl
souf1ing."
WILLIAK wKBsRkR's STATEMENT.
''I was in the store Of 7. L. Cersley
when the Murray brothers came al
began to curse They were ordsre
o0s and Mr Crrsley sent for Mr.. Alv
81 take them away. They sefG th
store but when they got about twenty
i've feet from the main entrance {