The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-07-28
7 HE KILLING
OF TAYLOR
Grand Jury Holds the Soldiers
Blameless.
REPORT MADE YESTERDAY
Same Thing Might Have Occurred
With the Police Force Under Like
Conditions-Two Indictments
Brought In.
REPORT MADE YESTERDAY

The grand Jury OF the Corporation
Court OF Manchester YESTERDAY COM.
pleted its inquiry Into the death Of Luther
Taylor, recently fatally shot BY troops
on duty In that city. The report made
to the court places no blame upon any
person or persons, but eplores the neces-
sty for the presence of the soldiers and
the sad result therefrom. The action
OF the grand jury Is not unexpected, the
law in the premises, as laid down with
great clearness and force by Judge John
Fl. Ingram. clearly foreshadowing such
q conclusion as to the legality of the
unfortunate shooting. This report means
the end OF the matter, 80 far as criminal
action Is concerned.
The grand jury reported true bills for
felony against leslie Craig and c. /.
Coxen. who were charged with throwing
stones at cars near the end OF the Free
Bridge. Inquiry into other charges Of
attacking and interfering with the opera
tion of cars was made, but the testimony
was not sufficient to warrant other In
dictments, The jury will continue Its
deliberations to-day, taking UP the regu-
lar docket of criminal cases certified
to 1t from time to time.
GRAND JURY'S REPORT.
Here is the full text OF the report of
the grand jury in the Taylor case to
Judge John II. Ingram:
To Hon. John Fl. Ingram, Judge OF the
Hastings or Corporation Court OF the
City of Manchester:
In compliance with the instructions Of
your Honor as to the killing OF Luther
TAYLOR on the night of the 4th Of July.
1903. in your charge TO the grand jury,
after rigid and thorough investigation
| of the matter, the following facts have
! been established by the evidence pre-
| serted.
1st. That under the conviction o. its
| necessity the Maylw issued call upon
the Governor of the State for the pres
ence of the State militia to assist In the
preservation OF order and the protection
of the lives liberty and property OF cltl-
zens of Manchester.
| Cd That In assuming authority by VIZ
tue of said application and under the
order of the commander-in-chlet, the
colonel commanding in the field issued
orders to his command looking to the
preservation of peace and order IN the
community; that said orders embraced
the recapture of any escaping prisoner,
| even to the extent Of shooting to XIII, to
| ensure the desired end
THE SLAYER UNKNOWN.
Sd. That in the execution Of said orders
in the opinion of the subalterns of said
command, Luther Taylor was placed In
arrest for conduct prejudiclal to good
| order, and in the attempt to escape after
having been frequently commanded to
halt, was fired upon and killed by some
member of the command unknown to
himself or to any other person.
While deeply deplorins the necessity
of the presence of the armed forces OF
the Commonwealth in our midst and the
sad result therefrom, yet under like cir
cumstances, like results might nave FOL
lowed under the ordinary police protec-
tion of the city. Hence. the grand jury
finds no good reason for placing plamf
unon any person or persons for the death
OF said Luther TAYLOR,
Respectfully submitted.
G. S, M'RAE, Foreman.