The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-10-27
THE BULLET IS
Of % CAL|BRE
And Pistols Used Carried
Ibis Kind.
AN AUTOPSY is HELD
In Case of Charles G Smith Murdered
in Depot Here Jury Says Death
Came Frou Pistol Bullet and
al the Hands of Parties
Unknown.

UHkHVWHs
The autopsy and coroner'S inquest
Yesterday on the body of the late
Charles G.. Smith, of Petersburg, shot
to death in a pistol duel in the Union
depot in Raleigh last Saturday, when
Clark or Morris, and Lilleston, Fair
fakirs, used their pistols. brought out
but one unestablished fact.
This is that his death was caused
by a pistol bullet of the 3S calibre
variety The bullet was taken from
the body sent back to Raleigh from
Petersburg, and in size it is a 3S CALI
bre bullet. The bullet is criss-croSsed
on the end as by threads in clothing
through which it passed and is slight
ly flattened. The unused bullet of the
So calibrc stamp weighs 145 grains,
avoiedupoise. while the one taken
from the body weighs 131 grains. 1t
is larger tina ma 30 calibre. which
weighs IS grains and smaller than
the 45 calibre. which is in excess OF
45 grains. This establishes the fact
that the death wound was inflicted
either by Lilleston or Clark, or if not
by these then by some one using Il
3S calibre pistol, but there is no evil
dence that any shots were fired in
the depot except these by Lilliston and
Clark. An effort is being made by
Lillistor's friends to saddle the killing
on Clark or Morris, the man they
term the "Jew.''
The body of the murdered man
which mad been sent to Petersburg
Sunday reached here at 4:30 yeSter-
day morning and early in the day an
autopsy was performed at the under
taking establishment of John w.
Brown, by DR.. James w. MCGEE, Jr.,
the County superintendent of Health,
assisted by Mr. Charles Wilkerson, a
fourth year student III the Medical
College here. A coronerS jury was
empanelled, this consisting of MeSsrs.
Lynn Wilder, c. d. Arthur, James
Mckee. Jr., john Cross, Sherwood Up
church and G.. NJ. Spence. The de-
cision of the jury was announced just
after 2 o'clock and it was 1--WE find
that the deceased came to his death
by Il pistol bullet and at the hands
of parties unknown.
AS the result of the autopsy it was
testified before the coroner's jury as
follows concerning the wound which
caused Smiths death:
lone inch below and one inch 10
right of naval. Puckered wound half
inch wide, closed by stitches. en-
banners wound. On right one cut
three inches long. closed by stitches,
embalmer's wound. On right side
of spine one and a half inches from
spine. midway between crest of illum
and last rib, wound, closed by suture.
Wound opened and probe passed di-
rectly from before backward, about
two and half inches Abdomen
opened, q large quantity of bloody
fluid poured out. Several holes in
intestines. Intestines removed Bull
let found lying loose in abdominal
hT,no q hove right
kidney and posterior to liver. Inter
nal Ccening wound. One and a half
inches from center of spine, directly
opposite external opening. Tract OF
bullet directly from pOsterior to ante
rior right angle TO body. Tip of corn
err Cone inch from tip) right lobe OF
liver opening appeared made by bullet
Pelvis of right kidney torn through
and artery and areter severed. Death
apparently caused by wound in kid
ncY
The Coroner's Inquest.
The inquest was conducted by DR.
Thomas NJ Jordan. the coroner. anC
there was present also Solicitor Armi
stead Jones and City Attorney VIII
liam IS. Snow
The first witness examined was Ed
ward c. Smith, of Petersburg a broth
or of the deceased who was here a
the KlIllnS. HIS ttSllIIoIlS Noo tAiesl "
Saturday evening, October Il, he was
standing in front of the Union depot
and saw Clark or Morris, or whatever
NAV be his name, after the firing o
the pistol run out of the depot, but
saw no weapon. Had known him To-
a week. Next saw Lilliston come out
but don't know whether or not tn
police had him. l knew my brother
Charles G.. Smith, was sitting IN TN
depot and | went in to look for MN
Saw crowd gathered about climbed
up on a bench and saw my brotne
supported by Melvin Wood and c. II
Snyder. They brought him out, pu
him in a hack and | got in and wen
with him to the hospital. There
was i nanother room and some on
said that my brother was calling TO
me. l went in and he said Il can
catch my breath" Soon after he died
Mr.. Smith then told of the body ben'
carried to Petersburg and brought
back to Raleigh without being in
TERED.
During Mr.. Smiths examination Mr.
w. G. Abercrombie, of New York
lawyer who is a friend of the Smitl
family. who questioned the witness
Mr.. w. b. Snow also asked some ques
tions and this told of the between tn
witness and the dead man. Statet
that he had been with his brother Fri
day until in the evening and ha,
then left him. Deceased had gon