The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-04-08
Charles KeEdIlch Lodged in jail! Accused Of
Having Killed Rufus Williams.
he SAYS THE. DEAD MAN WAS DROWNED
EH HIS Statement ITO Alleges that HI
Was Off A.nInbert's Point in -
boat with she Negro When They
Were Cnpstzed BY Tug and
tho 10y Drowned.

name, it has been learned, was Rufus
Dunklns, was found floating In the river
at Lambert's Point Tuesday. There
was wound in the back Of the neck
Of the corpse, supposed to have been
inflicted by bullet fired from pistol
The man was employed on a trucking
boat plying between Norfolk and the
farm Of Mr.. D. w. Holmes, on Western
Branch.
Tuesday the body Of a colored boy
about 10 years Of age was found float
Ing in the water at Lamberts Point
and an inquest was held by Justice Lo-
per- Upon examination q gunshot
wound was found on the body. Upon
his person was shipping receipt for a
trucker. MIR. D. w. Holmes. residing OH
Western Branch.
Yesterday warrant was sworn out
by the boys mother, In which she
charges a white man named Charles
Kendrick with having murdered her
son, whose name is Rufus. Kendricll
was taken to jail last night.
He was visited by The Virginian rep
resentative in his cell. and the follow
Ing Is his statement:
HENDRICKS STATEMENT.
ION March I went to the Boston
wharf. in company with the colored boy
Williams. on sloop belonging to Mr..
Holmes on Western Branch. I'VE ship
PED the kale we carried and then got
orders to come to Portsmouth after q
load Of boxes, which was lying on the
wharf over here. Night caught u.s. and
we telegraphed to Mr.. Holmes to know
If we should bring the boat home and
1hen come back in the morning. We
received reply to remain at the wharf
all night for fear that he would be fined
Later the boy said he could not re-
main all night because he had no money
to buy food. borrowed rs cents and
gave 1t to him.
Later he suggested that we take the
sktH and go home and come back in the
morning: We agreed and started. When
we got off Lambert's Point and started
across the channel we saw the N. 7. ;,
+. &. N Cape Charles barge No. com
Ing up the river.
THE BOY DROWNED.
II advised Williams not to attempt TO
cross her bow, SO we slowed up and
passed her without any trouble but
swell upset the boat and the boy was
drowned. I chung to the rudder chain
and was pulled on board Nothing
more was seen Of the boy until he was
found yesterday. The captain OF the
barge knows that I never shot the boy.
and that came near losing my own life,
and that Is all have to say"
The Firginian man then asked Ken
drick how he accounted for the bullet
hole In the boys neck. II cannot tell
the prisoner replled; II am sure I never
shot him. as l had nothing to shoot with.
we had always been friendly ana had
worked together for about a year"
HARD TIME PROVING TT.
The reporter asked him If he thought
ne would have hard time proving what
ne said No, sir; not If the captain Of
ehe barge will state what he knows of
the circumstances he replied.
:hendricS said he was terribly sur
prlsed by his arrest; that he never
dreamed of such a thing. He was asked
II he knew that Williams had bullet
wound in his head
I cannot believe It," he replied, '.be
cause he was pulling the boat when
she upset and certainly no one could
nave shot him after he was drowned"
THE PRISONER WAS COOL.
Kendrick did not seem the least ex-
cited, and said that his friends have
gone TO see the captain Of the barge to
ger evidence to acqult him. He expects
;Httie Difficulty in establishing his inno-
cence.