The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-10-20
HOMICIDE IN HENDERSON.
An Unfortunate Occurrence Which
Has Brought Sorrow and Sadness to
the Conmunity-r1r. K. j. 1arston

the Connunity-l1r.R r. j. narston
the Victim. -
Between hall past four and five
O'Clock Saturday afternoon difficult
ty occurred between Richard J. Mars
ton and a man named J. ID. Homer
which resulted in the death of the
former some hours afterward.
Homer lives with his family in the
front part (rOoms formerly used as
the office of the Owen Davis ware
house near the Oxford depot. Mr..
Richard Marston. father of K. j.
Marston, went there to see about
some lumber he had spoken to Mr..
Davis about. He went in the front
entrance, passed through the CORR
dor Or passage and walked to the
back part OF the warehouse, salts
fled himself about what he had gone
Tor and came out the same way he
went in. He saw a table with IL cover
on it but thought the Kings
Daughters were going to have some
| kind OF an entertainment there and
he walked around it and went on.
While he was in the warehouse he
saw some women in there but as he
dld not know any one occupied the
place as living apartment he had
no idea he was intruding or tres
passing and paid little attention to
them
A short time thereafter Homer at
tackled Mr.. Marston about the mat
ter and charged him with having in
suited his wife and splitting on the
floor. Mr.. Ma-ston denied both &C.
cusatiOns emphatically and under
took to explain the situation. But
Homer would not accept any expla-
| nation and cursed and abused Mr..
Marston roundly applying the vilest
epithets to him at the same time at
tempting to assault him with a dead
ly weapon carpenters steel square,
Homer told Mr.. Marston that if he
ever went to his place again he would
shoot him and said his wife would
have shoot him herself il it had not
been for the presence of another wo-
mon who was visiting her at the
time. She had a shot gun and she
could use it he declared
MI. MulSUOll COlu lib SOl dDOuU
the matter little thinking of the
tragedy that it was to lead to. The
latter expressed a determination to
make Homer apologize for cursing
and insulting his father. He was ad-
vised against this course and told to
let the matter drop.
Late Saturday afternoon Marston
got in his buggy and drove down to
Homer's place. 1t appears that
Homer was standing on the sidewalk
when he drove up. They had some
words Homer says Marston told
him he had insulted his father and
he was going to whip him with his
buggy whip. MarstOngOt out OF his
buggy land started toward Homer
who went in the house. He took up
an axe and told Marston to go back
not to come any further. When
Marston reached the door Homer
struck him and knocked him down
on the sidewalk The blow was
stricken on the side of the head and
the skull was fractured all the way
round. Homer claims that he had
the axe in his hands and struck Mar
ston with the helve. No outward
sign OF the lick was visible.
Mr.. Marston was helped up and
assisted to his buggy. He drove
back to his place Of business and got
out and started to assist in unhitch-
ing the horse. One OF the men en-
ployed at the stable noticed that he
did not look exactly right and asked
him what was the matter. Mr.. Mar
ston told him he and Mr.. Homer had
had some words and the latter hit
him but he did not know what he hit
him with. Mr.: Marston appeard tC
be in dazed condition and hesitateC
in his speech as if he could not collect
his thoughts. He went to the bacl
part of the stable and fell in stall
where he was found few minutes
afterward. He appeared to be asleel
and was breathing heavily like hi
was snoring. He was removed tt
e the office and laid down on som
4 buggy blankets. 1t was known tina
Mr.. Marston had taken two or tire
e drinks and those at the stable sup
e posed the effect of this was what h
was suffering from.
About two hours later he wa
taken home and a doctor called II
The nature of the case was then az
d certained. The man had received
s fatal injury about the head. Th
e skull was cracked and he was suffel
: inc from conclusion of the brain. A
that medical and surgical skill coul
suggest was done for him but will
out avail. He died about So
|" O'Clock Sunday night never havln
regained consciousness.
4 1t was a very sad and unfOrtunat
~ occurrence and has cast a glOo
= over the community. Mr.. MarstC
~ was a we'll known and useful citizt
and was very popular. He was
II | whole souled, generous natured ma
~ full of human sympathy and chal
;s tably disposed and was greatly llk'
10 bv those who knew him intimatel
-, He was not a fussy man and on t
10 contrary was friendly disposed al
~ he'd 90 as far as any one to accol
- modate friend or relieve sufferil
and distress if in his power. Ii
or had been perfectly cool and sober
ty is not believed he would have pr
er yoked trouble with this man Or a
NJ one else. Had the insult and ind
nity been offered to himself it wou
70 have been different. Mr.. Marst
Of was a loyal son and devoted to
father who is an old man with
. one arm and that he should be ours
and abused and offered such indig
Its ties, without due cause, worried a
noaded him to take the action
: did. 1t is all very sad and unfor1
nate indeed but is one OF those
currences the end OF which could Il
Mt have been foreseen and which
,al liable to happen in any commun
W. under similar circumstances.
Dr. The finding of the coroners