The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-10
THE CORONER'S INQUEST
FIXES NO BEAsF vros PoLrcEMAy
ALTfS.
The Presiding Magistrate WIN Render a
Decision To-Day ODicer Avis Testi6es
In His Own Behalf
MaSlnE.srIfe RunE.g E & T TINS


remains OF Anthony and Charles Murray
the two brothers who we're killed by ON
Ger A. A. AIvis. Saturday night while re-
sisting arrest and attempting 10 kill the
officer.
Squire c. 4. Jones acted as Coroner and
he had tho following as his jury Lee H.
Clements. c. W. Eaton and W. d. Toier
white, and O. VIM. Moore, 4. A. Davis
and Wilson Howell colored.
hr. Phn. V. Cogbll. Commonwealth s
ATTORNEY Of Chesterfield, was also IN at
Tendance 10 look after tho interest OF mo
Commonwealth. while Mr. w. Hay Gar
nett represented Mr. Avis interest
BE IAN TO CURSE.
william Webster. coOred, the first wit
ness. and friend Of the Murray brothers,
SAID ne was In the store OF Mr.. T. l.
Cerslcy's when the Murray brothers came
IN and began 70 curse They were ordered
out and Mr. Ccrsloy sent for Mr.. Avis TO
take them away.
They left the store but when they rot
about twenty-five feet from the main en-
trance TO the store, MIR. Avis told them
that he did not want any fuss and Then
arrested them. They resisted and had a
scufre Mr. Avis shot Charles and An
thony then said you have killed my broth
or and now you will have 10 XIII me. Mr.
Avis then shot Anthony.
Or. W. r. Mathews being sworn, stated
that he had been summoned TO attend
the men. He found on his arrival that
Charles was dead lie then paid attention
10 Anthony. who fingered until Sunday
night Dr. Mathews testimony was strict
~ professional.
Archie shvaf, colored. being sworn. tes-
tifed as follows: That he was in shoe
shop and heard a fuss. he went out In the
road when he saw the deceased. the oihcer
ana Mr.. Turnly scuf1ing The men re-
sisted arrest Avis handed his club 10
Mr.. Cuddle and then shot the two men.
Anthony Murray. after he was shot In
sisted on his brother John, TO go home
and get his gun so thet he could Kill the
policeman. but John told him he would
send him coffin in the morning. He
did not see Anthony Murray draw pistol
on Mr.. Avis.
OTHER WITNESSES
Luther Green, colored, testified: was IN
Mills shoD and heard fuss on the road.
| went out to investigate, saw the men
in a tussle and Mr.. Criddlen told MT. Al
Wis 10 shoot the men. The oiicer ineh
shot the two men. Charles first then An
th1ny. Did no, see Anthony Murray have
a pistol or put his hand behind him as
N I'm the act Of drawing a weapon.
Charles w Jones. colOred. gave about
the same testimony AS the witnesses VINO
testified previously. but said the dead men
had done nothing and were shot down
without doing a thing.
Madison Mills. colored gave the follow
ing testimony: I was sitting In my shoe
shop and heard a fuss. When ] heard
there was "a fight ] stepped out and was
within six feet Of the men when Anthony
said. I will not go anywhere, until | get
my hat. Mr. Avis then stepped back
fifteen feet and said | will TX them. With
that he shot them both down. The only
words ! heard Mr. Avis say was to take
my billy. I will fix them"
Horace Bateman. cOlOred. gave the fol-
lowing testimony: On Saturday night he
WIS in Mr.. Cersley's store. lie saw the
dead men and their brother John in the
store They had a row in The store. MI.
Cersley struck Anthony over the head
with a bung starter. Mr. Avis was sent
for TO arrest the men. lie did 50 and the
two men resisted arrest. while on the
road. ! heard Mr. Criddle say. Shoot the
d. negro. Mr. Avis then handed his
club TO MT Criddle and shot Charles
Murray and then his brother Anthony
Murray. | was ten feet away at the time
and did not see the men do anything to
the officer but resist arrest.
ALL THE SAME.
Horace Bateman Madison Mills. Luther
Green, and Charles w. Jones. all negroes.
followed with their testimony. which was
pretty much along tho line Of the first
witnesses
Mr.. Geo. ID. Cole. constable Of Swans
boro. said the doctor had instructed him
10 take the dying mans ante-mortem
statement OF Anthony Murray. which was
that the brothers had been I'm Cersley's
store drinking, when they got to the store
door they were met by Officer Avis. who
placed Charles under arrest j told him
that x.sac t,x 1,raf hgr aud he oHcht NOT n
be arrested. Then a pistol dropped from
Charles pocket and then Mr. Avis shot
Charles down. l told him he had shot
my brother and he then shot me.
ADMITTED DRAWING THE PISTOL
DIR. Mathews was placed ON the stand,
who said that Anthony afterwards stated
10 him that he drew his pistol and then
was shot down by the officer When he
saw his brother shot down that anger flew
into him so that he drew his pistol 10
shoot Avis and was then shot down.
At l:i5 the jury was adjourned until
o'clock.
At the afternoon session Thomas Taylor
testified that ne did not know anything
about the shooting; that when he ar
rived the bodies Of the men were being
Mr.. L. T. cersloy testified that John
Murray came into his store and INDUCED
in some loud talking with his brother
lie afterwards got 20 fighting with his
brother, and he (Cersleyl had 10 use
stick on one OF them. They then went
out. but came back and jumped on his
counter, and asked why he had hit him
on the head, when Charles Murray said
"a Anthony: "Why don't you take your
gun and shoot him. lie then 90. his gun
and sent for Mr.. Alvis. The Murrays
were out when Mr.. Avis arrived
IMPORTANT TESTIMONY.
Y. r. criddle who testified next. said
that he was present during the shooting.
but did not know whether he saw ali that
occurred or not / was standing at Mr.,
Sersley's back door. and heard Mr. Alvis
say 10 the Murrays that they must not
have any disturbance in the store: that
he would arrest them. Afterwards Mr..
Avis attempted TO arrest them. when a
struggle ensued. and Mr.. Cersley came 10
his assistance, and took the stick out Of
they succeeded In getting Mr. Avis down
upon his knees. when AR. Avis fred the
first shot: that Anthony was striking at
Avis when the latter shot him. He
further testified that when Charles Muir
ray was shot he had his right hand be-
hind him, he did not see any pistol, but
during the scufflc between the officer and
Murray he saw Charles Murray holding
Avis when Anthony was striking the po-
liceman
lie denied having said anything about
shooting before II occurred, bvt said ar
forwards that Avis did perfectly right
The witness reiterated that he wrested
The baton from the hands OF Avis and
Murray. who had hold OF fl In . scnfflo
G. Luther Taylor testified that II was
ABOUT SID o'clock when he heard a noise
az tefsleNs store and heard Mr.. Avis
say 10 Anthony Murray, Consider your