Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1904-09-24

fact that he has been employed in the
quarries as a plaster, and is thoroughly
familiar with the use OF dynamite and
knew where he could obtain suDply.
This, together with bis threat to blow
up the house occupied by his mistress,
lead the police to believe that tley
have the right man in custody. { fficer
Hollis also arrested James Thompson,
a colored man who was released from
the Jail here on Saturday, and who
is belived to know something of the
circumstances attending the explosion.
Thompson was placed in the city lock
up. where there could be no communi-
cation between him and Holland.
The latter has made no statement aud
refuses to talk of the matter.
COLORED PEOPLE AROUSED.
The coloreG people of the citv were
greatly excited and indignant over the
crime, but made no threats OF violence
against Holland. Harris. the man
killed. was one of the best-known
and most popular members of his race
in Martinsburg He was the janitor
for the local lodge of Elks, and for
merlv held the same position at the
First Methodist church. and also
worked for M. L. Dorm. He met the
Higginbotham woman on the street
Saturday night and accompanied her
to her home, where ne intended to
spend the night. He was quiet and
well behaved and generally we'll liked.
He was aged about 80 years.
OTHER HOUSES DAMAGED.
The force of the explosion was so
great that many other houses in the
neighborhood we're damaged. Nearly
every house bore some evidence of the
force of the dynamite, showing broken
windows. smashed mirrors, and pic
lures knocked from the walls. The
entire neighborhood was aroused to
a wild pitch of excitement and terror
over the deed. and many feared that
the work would be resumed. Sunday
morning the scene of the crime was
visited bv thousands of curious per-
sons, people from all over the city
viewing the demolished house and
specializing how any one could have
escaped from the RUNS alive.
JURY ACCUSES HOLLAND.
After an investigation which has
extended over the greater portion of
two days, and the examination of a
number of witnesses, including the
women Julia White and Katie Higgin-
botham, who we're injured in the ex-
plosion, the jury of inquest, headed by
Coroner Colston, Tuesday returned its
verdict on the death of the colored
man John Harris, who was killed at
the home of Julia White early Sunday
morning by charge of dynamite.
The verdict is as follows:
"we, the jury of inquest in the
matter of the death OF John Harris.
colored, find that he came to his death
as the result of an explosion of dyna-
mite, or other explosive, which had
been placed under the house of which
the said Harris was an inmate on SUM-
day morning. September IS, about
10 AS O'Clock: and we farther find that
circumstances point to one Joseph
Holland rs the perpetrator of the
deed"
Aside from the efforts of the coroner
to uncover the details of the CRIME
Of Sunday morning. Officer Riordon.
who was instrumental in the arrest of
Holland, aud officers Heck and Blake
have been working up the case and
have discovered some circumstances
which have not yet been made public,
but which strongly confirm their pre-
vious suspicious. Holland has not as
yet made any statment. and it is not
known definitely when his preliminary
! hearing will take place.
Lis EVeuluR 0Oiiu IS Al Ictclpt VI
communication from gentleman
named John By for whom Holland
worked for two months recently. Nr.
Byers defends Holland from the accus-
alton, and SAYS that the colored man
was reliable aud that every one spoke
in the highest terms of him. He
further states that he doesn't believe
that Holland is the guilty man. He
says that, as far as he knew, Holland
Imam .,ath;,,c. Of tho uea Of d,-r,a m itc,