The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-09-05

are advanced, little or a tangible IA
ture has been adduced. James Dough-
erty was found dead yesterday morn
ing at a boarding house, kept by F. +.
Jones, a brother-in-law Of the deceas-
ed, at 518 Depot street. Sheriff Reed
was notified and the body was removed
during the morning to an undertaker's
shop. Dougherty, the evening before
had, in company with a friend, viewed
the remains of G.. c.. Gentry, who was
killed Sunday evening. He was affect
ed by the visit and, in the absence Of
any suspicious of foul play, it was be-
lieved that the shock and his weak
ened condition had produced heart
failure, resulting in death. There were
no external bruises on ~Dougherty's
body and the authorities concluded
that it was unnecessary to hold an IN
quest.
EVIDENCE OF FOUL PLAY.
Late yesterday afternoon Mr.. James.
the ~deceased's brother-in-law, asked
DIR. Glenn to open the head and lungs
and to ascertain the cause OF death.
The acting coroner complied with the
reuuest later i'll the evening, and re-
moving a portion of the scalp, found
fractures of the skull just behind and
over the right ear, and to the front
of the ear. Sheriff Reed was acquaint-
ed with the developments and an in
quest vas Immediately determined Up
en-. The autopsy last night, conducted
by DR.. Morris ard DR.. Hampton, show
ed that the man had been struck with
a club or other blunt instrument; tha.
the fractures extended fully W inches
-, 1on 9th anI th1t ON tho loft side was
a blood clOt.
A coroner's jury was summoned and
an inquest held about midnight last
night. Mrs. James testified that her
brother came i'll during the night and
went up stairs to his room; that dur
ing the night she heard noises in the
hall and shutting and kicking about,
but paid little attention to 1t.
F E. James testified that he heard
noises in the hall and the floor
and kicking on the floor during the
night: that an hour later he heard a
shufling around. He gave h matter
little attention and went back to sleep.
Yesterday morning, when he arose,
about 6 o'clock, to put out a light up
stairs, he found the lifeless cody 0t
Dougherty. Mrs. Hallyburn, a neigh
Dor. testified that she saw DOugherIy
sitting on a box in front Of the restau7
rant Sunday night; that be was sober
and spoke to her. W. l.. Common sald
that he and Dougherty viewed the
body of Gentry.
After hearing the evidence the cor
oner's Jury returned a verdict that
Douehertv came to his death from a
wound or wounds on the head inflicted
by a blunt instrument in the hands Of
unknown persons.
WAS HE MURDERED?
That James Dougherty was murder
ed is the firm belief of the authorities.
It is believed impossible that the in
juries could have been inflicted by q
fall; the fractures were fresh and al
though the skin was not broken, one
was opened sufficiently to run a broom
straw in the crack. When tound
Dougherty was lying on his face III tae
hallway on the second floor OF ms
boarding house. He was lying facing
his room and gave evidence that Ne
had assembled the stairs and turned
to go to his room when struck. lie
was in his stocking feet and without
coar, vest or hat. These articles OF
wearing apparel were found IN the
| ~deceased's room. The shoes were
| found under the bed while the coa'
| and vest and hat were hanging on ;
| post of the bed. DOugherty HAD either
| been in his room and remoVed these
| articles of clothing or else they haf
| been taken from him and placed there
after he fell.
Sleeping on the same floor witt
Dougherty was n man, a stranger
The man had secured lodging the eve
ming before and occupied a roor
across the hall from Dougherty. Hi
baggage was a grip. Who he was l
not known. Yesterday morning he LEI
the house and the grip. He remalne'
away all day and, returning after
O'Clock in the afternoon paid % cent
for his lodging and remarked that
serious accident had happened Their
the night before. After paying the :
cents and securing the grip he left an
could not be found by the officers
| Whether he knows anything about til
death is mere theory. The coronera an
officials, however, very much desire
him as a witness. That in leaving TN
house yesterday morning the strange
saw the body OF Dougherty is certain
The body was found by Mr.. jaime
/ about 6 o'clock in the morning and wa
not removed until after 9 o'clock. tn
stranger left the house it is though
Il about s o'clock or a little. before.
{ leaving his room and passing alon
the narrow hall to the stairway he va
compelled to step over the remains i
James Dougherty.
The officers are at work on the cas-
but there are apparently no tangib
clues. The whole crime is shroude
in mysery.-Special to Charlotte o.
t server.
-------