The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-03-11
THE TRAMP'S BURIAL.
Unwapt, unhonored and Unsung, Walter
Blackwell Sleeps In Potter'S Field,
ALL THE TRAIN CREW E%xHOAORATED
T7,c Verdict or lf,e COroncr's Jury
Says the Pistol Was Fired By An
Uuknnwn Hand, ANA that Con-.
durtor ana brakeman should be
Icld Gn!IilcSs.

Held Gn!Iilcss.
Suffolk, Va. March lo.-tSpecinl)-
Beneath q little mound OF earth III
the potter's field, lie the remains of Wal
ter Blackwell. the tramp who met death
at Kilby station night before last,
while he was trying to shoot the con
ductor and brakeman because they
wouldn't let him ride.
The burial took place this afternoon.
There was no long funeral procession,
wooden box and contents to their dcpos-
tory In the pnuper's last resting place.
No one was there to read n line from the
Scripture or to sing a simple hymn.
It was
Rattle his bones over the stones,
He's only q pauper whom nobody owns"
DON'T KNOW WHO DID IT.
Although there is little doubt In the
minds OF those who participated III the
battle between the %trainmcn and tranlps
as to the person who fred the ball that
pierced Blackwell's stomach, the coro-
rer's jury failed to satisfy themselves
on the point. Fired ny parties un-
known to the jury" they say. Mack
Rose, whose exhibition Of nerve saved
ilan who fired the fatal shot. He said
SO before the jury today. He pointed
his gun and pulled at short range but it
was q little too dark for anybody to sec
the ball when it entered. He was brave
enough to risk his life and honest
enough to acknowledge the intent. lie
was tried on the charge yesterday and
e~xonerated.
THE JuRY'S VERDICT.
Acting coroner, a. S. lGley convened
the jury to view the body and heal cv-
idence In the county jail at 10 O'Clock
his morning. Capt. John c.. Judkins. j.
". Nunnally ana Mack Rose, members
or the train crew, were examined. The
Jury was composed OF I. W. Artman,
foreman; j. II. Norflcet, Wilson Nor
fleet. Cornelius w. Wright and N. G.
Ncrileet. Here is their verdict:
I'VE, the jury, believe that Walter
Blackwell cnlne to his death from the
eN gets OF n pistol shot wound, said pistol
being fired by parties unknown to the
jury.
wv the jury, further believe from
the evidence before us that Ohm c.
Judkins. Mack Rose ]. w. Nunnally
and w. B. Benle, the train crew, should
be eSonerated from all blame IN the
matter. and that they acted entirely in
self-defense."
. COUNTY MARRIAGES.
There were w marriages In Nanse,
mend county today. Tie principals
MStS SHiitS {. JtuunlFpc 10 MISS iona
Holland. daughter OF Willis T.. Hollond.
and Charles w. Byrd to Miss Mary Hol-
land, daughter Of Henry Holland.
PRESIDENTIAL AUTOGRAPHS.
Very few people here know that there
are in Suffolk genuine autographs Of
two former Presidents. Still it Is true.
MIR. F.. e. Holland has them. He didn't
know it himself TIL a day or two ago.
when he was looking through some old
papers. The signatures OF John Adams
and James Monroe are affixed to old
parchments, yellow with age, but still
legible. Monrne's ink was the better.
1t was black jet.
y SURGEONS NATE.
One of the %parchments is a commits
sion to DR.. John Murdaugh. Mr.. Halls
srandfather. as surgeons rate, and is
dated July IS, 1899. It Is worded in part
IKE this: Know we that reposing spe-
cal trust and confidence in the patri-
otism, valor, fidelity and ability Of John
Murdansh, | do appoint him surgeons
mate III the navy OF the United States"
II was written in Philadelphia
There Is n marginal note on the com
MISSION declaring that DR.. M%urdaugh,
VINO was afterwards surgeon, was In n
hard Tough battle, and for the valor
there displayed his widow would he
entitled to large bounty ands. They
WHO WAS LIGNUEL LANE?
James Monroe's% signature was at tn,
potion OF q grant Of $50 acres Of land
IN henderson county, III, to Lenuel
Lane, in pursuance of the nets Of Con-
sress a~pprorpiating and granting land
70 the late army Of the United STATES
passed on and since May 6, 1872" II IS
!urther aid that n warrant in Lanes
iaVor. numbered 1888. had been demos
iteu IN the General Land Onice.
Lane was n private in D~avenport,s
company. OF the Sth regiment Of infon-
Try. Nobody in this community knn,ye
anything OF the grantee further ihnn
tnls. 1t IS not known where the old
parchment came from.
WHO WANTS 500 WoRTH7
Local baseball affairs are ass,mine
shape TOO slowly 10 please the aycraro
rooteT. NOW that the town has entered
the southeastern Virginia Leaeue ;ha
people want to see some action INDIA
tive OF q good fat percentage in thn III
sembling Of ar aggregation that vii, no
Klnd 10 SuTolk's record in amateur ain
letics: II Is well enough to assert thn.
we VIII nave a good tea III, and to ,ecita
me names OF star players needed m,
TINS quality OF supine prospecting unlp..
accompanied by action Is not SIGNING
payers. It Ia not getting together thot
sine qua non OF basebal!-cash. 1t takas
money 10 sign players. Il takes monnv
Lor equipment. and maintenance aftnr
~SHatu are procured.