The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-11
WAS TRYING
TO ESCAPE
That the Burden of Evidence
in Taylor Case.
A VERY CAREFUL INQUIRY
Good Coroner's Jury in Manchester
Seeking to Thoroughly Investigate.
Case Likely to Continue All
Through To-Day
A VERY CAREFUL INQUIRY

Evidence presented before the coroner's
Jury In Manchester yesterday tended to
show that Luther Taylor was shot in
his frantic attempt to escape from his
guard. after having been repea tedly
warned TO halt, and while he was beating
his horse in the effort to get away after
he had either pushed or caused to fall
out Of the buggy the soldier who had
started TO the station house with him in
charge.
These facts came out in the testimony
Of some Of the most reputable citizens
of Manchester, including Messrs. Robert
r. Taylor, William P. Gillian, j. j.
O'Brien Fl. B. Owens. A. B. Macrone,
r. L. Patram. and others.
While there was an apparent feeling
against the soldiers in the testimony of
nearly every Witness pronounced In some
Of them, the facts remain as referred
to above.
Clear Statement.
The testimony OF Mr.. Macrone was the
most Important. and carried with 1t a
clear statement. while that of Mr.. Pa
tram was equally as calm and bore the
stamp OF conviction.
In number Of instances there was
apparent conflict. that of the men who
were arrested with Taylor being particu-
larly So One of them, Bass. distinctly
stated that none Of the party had been
drinking, while the statement Of Glenn
ents was to the effect that they had
taken drinks at various bars. and An-
drews specified the places where drinks
had been taken. This directly contro-
verted the statement made by Bass
| With one or two exceptions all the
witnesses testified that Taylor was COM
maaded to haiti! n number Of times,
and one witness said the first shot fired
was, apparently, directed to the heavens
above, and another said that It was his
impression from the DETECTION OF the
| flashes from the guns that most of the
| firing down Cowardin Avenue was toward
| the earth beneath.
| No two men who were placed on the
stand testified to having heard the same
number of shots fired Some OF the wit
| nesses stated that the soldiers were as
! thick as leaves. while one. at least. said
| that when the first ball was fired the
man who shot was the only soldier in
| sight.
That the testimony confllcted in many
| OF the details was readily seen. and 1t
was apparent that the excitement at
tendant upon the occasion had played
havoc with the memory Of some Of the
witnesses.
| In many minds the feeling against the
soldiers was intense when they first ap-
peared In Manchester, and that feeling
was intensified after the shooting, Cap
tain O'Brlen. one of the witnesses, said
or the stand that he had never favored
/ the bringing of troops to Manchester.
and that he felt there would not have
been any trouble had they not come.
Mr.. Pages Intentions.
| Commonwealth's Attorney Page was
! present at the hearing on behalf of the
| Commonwealth. In many of his dues-
tlons it was apparent that an effort
| would be made to prove that the soldiers
who figured in the Incidents that led
up to the shooting were themselves In
| toxicated and went beyond their power
| in shooting Taylor.
Some of the jurymen questioned wit
ness in this particular and some of tho
| witnesses took occasion to say that they
| had observed some Of the soldiers In a
drunken state. Captain OBriea nnd Mr.,
Macrome said as much In referring to
| a soldier who had directed them 70 "move
on" when they were In Cowardn Ave-
nue. Immediately after the shooting.
Move on" said the soldier.
eve are afraid to go down there. where
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