The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-03-19
NO BLAME ON OFFICER MURRAY.
While Discharging His Duty He Shot
the Negro Wood.

Coroner Taylor held an inquest yester-
day at noon over the remains or Cephas
Wood. the negro youth who was shot
some weeks ago by Officer Cleveland a.
Murray. of the Third Police District. At
the time of the shooting the negro was
not supposed 70 be seriously ijured. and
when captured was at least twelve blocks
from the place whore he was shot
Messrs Herbert Funston and 4. r.
Guigou. respectively the agent and ten
nant Of the property whore The larceny
occurred 80 1913 Grove avenue, testified
as TO repeated dcpredations ON these
premises Captain Guigon stated that
the house had been five times burglarized
by thieves who stole lead pipe. water
fixtures and other things. lie estimated
the total damage caused by these offenses
at 500. and stated that ne had urged The
police I'm vigorous terms TO check the
evil
Several other witnesses were exam
ined concerning minor matters i'm the case
after which Oficer Murray took the
stand and freely save the details or the
shooting. lie said ne had been directed
90 watch tho house in question, and that
Just prior 10 the wounding of Wood he
saw four colored youths go into The back
yard and attempt 10 enter the stable on
glass indicating that the thieves were
attempting 10 enter the basement Of the
house. A moment later one of the mis-
chicvous quartette crossed the alley into
another yard with the intention of steal
ing u pitcher Of milk 4 lady in the
house who saw the intruder called out
TO him and this frightened him and the
other three negroes away. officer Mur-
ray then entered I'm pursuit Of the thieves
calling on them 10 halt, and threatening
20 shoot If they failed 10 do so. one OF
the negroes was quickly captured. but
Wood and a companion darted down an
alley. The officer when some one hun-
dred yards or more from the tuBitlNe'
fred upon them without taking dehIi''
aim. II was his intention merely TO IN
timidate and halt the negroes 10 "as
not until an hour Afterwards ihd' W.
knew he had hit Wood. for the negro con-
tinucd running, and subsequently zen
into the hands Of officer Amos.
officer Murray had mincte Instructors
10 closely watch the house IN Whi'n ln'
thefts had been committed, and sald ne
acted as hes, he could under the clrcuin-
stances. Captain Gnigon and Mr.. run
stem stated that they appeared Noiuh-
tarily before the jury. as 'hey were ahA-
ious TO show how they had suHeree 40
tie hands Of petty pln'-H'' .''t'7 ''i-' f''''
Nj. u. $ Gates submitted 10 the luiy
~ a,,o-wo,ten statement Of Wood who
ac,ted complicity I'm the Offcnsc. but adj
.,t.,.d maj ne was on the premises
wood made no reference I'm this state
ment 20 the shooting or any Incidents
connected herewith. From officer Muir
rav's testimony. however IL was obvious
mai the negro. as well as his compan-
IONS was on the premises with felonious
intent Indeed some OF the pipes were
found 10 have been cut that very day
and two of the negroes carried large
bags with them.
The jury after brief consultation.
rendered a verdict that Wood met his
death from "A pistol wound caused BY
Officer Murray while In the discharge OF
his duty. and that the negro ~ the time
of the shooting was engaged in commit
ting n theft.