Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-29
KILLED WITH 4 STICK
+. e. WRIGHT SLAIN BY JAS. .
woMACIx NEAR LYNCHBURG.
THE TWO HAD A QUARREL.
Worked Together at S. a. Wrisht,s
Planning Mil on the Southern Su
burhs--IInd Exchanged Hot Words
Over = Trivial Matter.


LINCHBURG, VA, November IS
Especial -Another terrible affair occurred
this morning in the southern suburbs OF
this city, when ]. Edward Wright,
young mechanic. was struck and fatally
injured by a stick in the hands of James
]. Womacll. a fellow-workman.
The scene Of the homicide was the
planning mill operated by S. A. Wright. in
South Lynchburg, on the line Of the
Southern railway. Just short distance
this side of the cotton mill.
HOW IT OCCURRED.
The sad affair occurred about 10 o'clock.
and was described by one of those who
were present about follows: Wright
was at work near the rip saw. in the
lower part Of the building, and was
throwing back some plank on the scrap
pile. Womack was standing near to
him, and little to his right. 1t seems as
if Wright threw some of the plank on
Womack's feet, which angered the latter.
and he picked up stick and got on the
pile OF lumber. Wright seeing him there.
told him, with an oath. not to hit him
with the stick, and, at the same time,
moved back from him about eight feet.
Then Womack struck Wright with uTE'E
stick, but the latter did not receive the
full force of the blow. as it glanced off
yet he sort Of staggered. and as he
did SO Womack hit him again with the
stick, but this time on the back of the
head, causing him to fall face forward
on the lumber pile.
LAS soon as WomacA saw Wright fall
he threw down the stick, went upstairs
got his clothes, and went in the direction
Of his home. The woTkmen in the build
ing seeing that Wright was in bad shape
laid him out on the pile of lumber anG
sought TO restore him to consciousness.
by bathing his face with cold water and
with spirits of camphor. All their efforts
We're in vain, however; and seeing that
he was growing rapidly worse, and that
his breathing was becoming more labored
they carried him upstairs into the Of,
ce where they laid him on the floor
He died shortly after. or about fifteen
minutes after he was struck. from the
blow on his head, which fractured his
Skull DR.. ]. E. Vaughan had been sum
Tnoned. but Wright was dead when he
arrived
WOMACK SURRENDERED.
When Womaclk left the planning mill he
went straight to the residence of Justice
Vernilion, near the watering branch. but
finding that he was not there went by his
own home, and then finding the justice
told him what had occurred, and gave.
himself up. The magistrate then sent
Womack to the city in charge of Special
Constable e. ". Pickett. who took him
TO Jail. As the deputy did not bring any
commitment paper with him, the jailoi
refused to receive the prisoner, and So
the deputy. with Womack. went to the
Law building &c seek the aid of Judge
Stephen Adams, of Campbell Court, in
the matter The judge was at Amherst
Circuit Court, and the two men then
called upon Mr.. w. w. Murrell, Common
wealths Attorney for the county, who
made out warrant and sent the pris-
oncr back to Watering Branch for pre-
iminarr hearing before Justice Vermilion
REGARDED AS A GOOD NAN.
Womack was seen by reporter, while
IN the city, and asked if he cared to make
I statement. He replied that he did not
at this time, but wanted it known that
Immediately after the affair he had gone
straight to find the magistrate, and had
and several children, and has always been
Both ne and Wright had been working
at the mill for some time past, and were
considered steady workr.en. Wright was
Is years of age. was recently married.
and, had no family. He was nephew
Of Mr.. S. A. Wright. the proprietor OF
the mill
After Justice Vermilion had sent Wo-:
mack to the city In charge of Deputy
Constable Pickett he went over to the
mill and viewed the remains, deciding
that as so many saw the occurrence
an inquest was unnecessary. He then set
10 O'clock Tomorrow morning as the
time for the preliminary hearing of Wo-
mack, who was sent TO the ca, Jail until
then. Wonlack has engaged Lee & How
ard AZ hts counsel.