The news & observer., 1905-09-07

OF the Escape, Capture and Death
of the Patient, Nall.
AS a result of an autopsy held on
the body of Thos. II. Nall and a final
taking of the testimony before the
jury which for SEVERAL days has been
investigating the case, J. c. King, J..
r. High, Jack Peele and w. f. Dur
ham, attendants at the State Hospital
for the insane, are in Wake county
Jail, charged with having beaten to
death patient under their charge
who was attempting to make his es-
cape.
rhe arrest of the four men was
made about seven O'Clock at the Hos
pItal by Deputy Sheriffs Walters and
StelL The men made no resistance
and the officers state seemed sur
prised that a warrant should have
Deen issued against them. They would
not talk of the case in any aspect
but quietly accompanied the officers
to Raleigh and later summoned IS
G.. Ryan, Esq, to confer with them
ds to their deIense.
The verdict and warrant of the
jury operates as a commitment with
out balI and the only course open TO
the defendants before they answer to
the charge at the September term of
court is to petition in hapeas corpus
proceedings. 1t is yet too early to
state what course they may be expec-
ted to take.
The body which had been previous
ly exhumed near Pittsboro mad been
brought to Raleigh and the formal
post-mortem conducted here yesteT-
day
The warrant, which Incorporates the
verdict of the jury, was given to the
Sheriff at about six o'clock in the af-
ternoon, and immediate steps were
taken to have it served. The findings
and commitment are as follows:
The Warrant and Verdict.
"State VS.. j. C. King, l.. r. High, Jack
Peele and w. T. Durham.
ITO the Sheriff of Wake county,
'Greeting::
Whereas on the 9Th day of Septem-
Der, 1905, an inquest over the body
of one Thomas H. Nall was held by me
i'm the city of Raleigh, N. c., and
"Wbereas, jury was duly sum-
moned and sworn according to law,
to make said inquest; and
Whereas, said jury rendered as
their verdict that Thomas H. Nall
came to his death as result of blows
inflicted by j. c. King, l.. r. High,
Jack Peele and W. f. Durham:
Now, therefore, you are command
ed forthwith TO arrest the said j. G.
King, Jack Peele, l.. X. High and
w. F.. Durham, and them Sa1ely Keep
in the common Jail of Wake county.
so that you have them at a court to be
held in the county of Wake on the
25th daV of SeDtember, 1919.
"Witness my hand and seal this 9th
day of September, 1905
"(Signed) THOS. NJ. JORDAN, (Seal)
Coroner for Wake County
The following citizens composed the
jury: A. NJ Powell, l. C. Blair John
Ward. C. J. Parker, a. R. D. johnson
and j. II. White.
The Defendants.
The defendants are all young men.
C. King being a son of j Inn Il"
King, living near Rogers store, in Oak
Grove township: w. r. Durham. a son
of l. r. Durham, of St Mary's Town
ship; Jack Peele, residence in Colds
boro and l.. r. High. formerly of Will
son.
No Details of the Autopsy.
The escape and capture of Nall
which resulted in his death. either
through oVer-exertion on a hot day
which is the theory of Superintend-
ent Mckee or through blows inflicted
by the attendants as charged in the
verdict of the jury. occurred on Thurs
day the cath of August The investi-
cation by the Coroner began on Fri
day last following the publication of
the details of the chase and capture
of the insane man and the letter Of
Governor Glenn to Superintendent Nc
Kee suggesting and the letters of the
latter to the Coroner and Solicitor
asking a thorough investigation. The
evidence at the Fridays hearing,
which was public has been fully re-
ported; that since adduced has been
secret, no one being in the room with
the Coroner except the solicitor. the
jury and the witness under examf-
nation. 1t is therefore impossible to
give the details of the evidence as TO
the post-mortem examination and tes-
timony adduced from witnesses other
than those examined at the first hear
ing i'm the investigation.
1t is known. however, that DR.. Jor-
dan left Raleigh for Pittsboro on Sat
urday night after a conference with