Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-12-31
CDROhERs' jury SAYS !.
SMITH WAS MURDERED
Autopsy Reveals Fact That Terrible
Internal Injuries Had
h Been Inflicted.
EVIDENCE POINTS TO aROABNAy
Witnesses Swear They Saw Prisoner
Kicking Smith ia Fight side at
1900 Huntington Avenue Christmas
Aiornlnu-case Set For Nearing
Tuesday.

That Frank Smith. WHO died at
S1a Forty-second street last Tuea-
day morning, was victim Of foul
play &c low accepted as feet and
all Che evidence IN the hands of the
authorities points toward NJ. B..
BreIduax as the man who inflicted
the mortal injuries. A coroner's jury
yesterday afternoon returned g YER
dict to the effect that Smith died on
the morning Of December 26 from the
eifects OF injuries inflicted on De-
cenlber 25 by ''some one, in house
number 1900 Huntington avenue. Be.
cause one or two OF the Jurors were
not entirely satisfied upon the sub
jcct, mo effort was made in the yer
dict 10 charge any person With the
murEler e
| Eroadnax Held In jail
DroS NIX. who was arrested FRI
day ev:si!ng on warrant sworn
out by 5SES7lice oGlcer j. q. carp,
l'was tal:c@ before sIlstica nroHn Ia
the police court yesterday morning.
The case vas continued until Tues
day and Broadnax was committed to
Jail.
The prisoner. who has worked here
for some time as inborer. staying
under the influence OF liquor most
OF the time. Is O. man Of education
| and is said to have been one or the
best pharmacists IN the State in his
day.
Owned Large Pharmacy. =.
He owned and conducted g 1eTge
pharmacy in Richmond at one time
At the age Of SIS years now, he is q
broken and grayhaired man. Although
he has been arrested for drunkenness
on several occasions, the man has
never before been in serious trouble
of any, kind. i.
AS stated in this paper yesterday
morning, it vas generally. supposed
that, Frank Smith was injured by &C.
cidentally falling down a flight Of
steps until friday. night, when, OH
Ger Ea1p and Sergeant Gray arrest
ed .Broadnax. Queer. carp, .bed- been
at work on the case since Tuesday
and had evidence il. hand before
swearing out the warrant. II
Body Was Ex,lumsd.
DR.. 3. II. Gary. the coroner, lad
heard nothing about the case until
he was informed OF Broadnax's ar.
rest by reporter late Friday night.
Yesterday morning the doctor made
an investigation. and ordered the
body of Smith to be, exhumed. The
corpse was taken to Cafiee's under.
taking establishment. where Dr.
Gary conducted an autopsy In the
presence OF Doctors Blakeslee and
Butts, who attended Smith Christ
mas day. In the meantime coroners
jury had been summoned.
internal Injuries Found.
The doctors found that the seventh
rib Of the deceased had been broken,
the liver terribly torn and other in.
teTnal injuries inflicted, Severe blows
upon the right side must have caused
the injuries.
After the autopsy the coronoT's
jury consisting Of Messrs. C. j. Phil
lips, w. A, Howell, e. c. Leach. W.
w. Washburn. Abe Horwitz and p.
Y Selee, convened at the Eagles
Home, corner Of Huntington avenue
and Thiriythird street. and the in
quest began. i,
DR.. Butts Testimony. /.
DR.. Butts, the first witness, stated
that he was called to attend Smith
shortly after noon last Monday and
found him In state OF collapse,
his condition being such that he did
not respond 70 stimulants. No bruises
were Yisihle at that time When Tho