Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1906-04-20
DIED FROM HIS WOUNDS.
Mr. D. N Kyle Held for the Grand Jury
Charged with Killing Mr.. VIM Ryan.

died Saturday afternoon at the King
Daughters Hospital, where he had beef
taken for treatment. Sunday post
mOrtum examination was held and thu
corners jury returned the following
verdict: That the said VIM. RyaI
came to his death by reason of blow
on the head from some blunt instru-
ment in tue hands of d. M. Kyle oil
April II, 1906 Mr.. Kyle who was out
on bail was re-arrested, and his pre-
liminary hearing took place before
Justice Glasgow Tuesday morning.
There were six witnessed introduced
by. the commonwealth and three by The
defense.
DR.. j. B. Catlett testified that be
waited on Ryan, and the cause of death
was injury to the brain. He first saw
Ryan ubout p. m, Wednesday,, and
found him in a comatose state. He
found wound on the side Of the head
about an incn long, a confused wound
made by some blunt instrument. He
performed tue operation to relieve
Ryan, and afterwards assisted at the
autopsy. There was fracture on the
left and one on the right side, clean
fractures. with no depression, each
about two inches long. There were
also a couple of tract ures at the base
of the skull, there were no other out
side wounds. Death, he said, was
caused by injury to the brain. He
FIRST saw Ryan about ) p. III. Wednes
day and operated something after
o'clock. Ryan was unconscious then
and remained so up to death. He
opened wound On the left side first
there was no depression in skull. TheIe
was not q great deal of difference IN
the fractures. The blow was struck
on the left side, where there was sclap
injury. very slight. There WAS a slight
mark on the right side, which be ad
mitted might have been an old scar.
He opened left side first. There was
no outward sign of fracture, symptoms
indicated it. Found no skull depres-
sion, no blood clot, but found slight
disintegratiOn OF brain on the left side.
Went to right side because lack Of
pulsation showed there was still pres
sure. Found fracture on right side.
opened and found edge of clot which be
followed up. Clot was large as hand =,
caused by breaking of an artery. On
cross examination DR.. Catlett was told
that soon after the blow had been
struck Ryan 1t would be shown did
some very heavy lifting, helping to I'M
load some bridge ties, and helping two
other Iuen to load very heavy range
into a wagon, and afterwards he and
two others unlOaded it and carried it
down a steep bank. He was asked il
this might not have caused the rnp
turs of the artery. Heavy exertien,
be said, being in that state, may have
caused the breaking of the artery. But
for the breaking of those arteries it is
possible he might have gotten well.
He admitted many have gotten we'll
with much greater injury to brain It's
sue than Ryan had. Hemorrhage of
the arteries produced the unconscious
ness.
There was a very slight clot at the
base OF the brain, but not enough to
do any injury. Thinks exertion had
something to do with death. Thinks
eliot il most responsible for death. Clot
was caused by = blow. He and DR..
Parkins assisted DR.. Rodgers in per.
forming the autopsy. DR.. Parkins
making the notes. Doctors Rodgers
and Parkins assisted at the original
operation.
James Jonss-Was present in stable
yard when the two had the difficulty.
Didn't know of any difficulty or words
between them before. Mr.. Kyle didn't
want to drive express wagon, this
brought on row. After they had quar-
relied they quit and Mr.. Kyle went to
his stable. Mr.. Ryan renamed in the
ward. The fussing lasted only \ few
minutes, about five minutes; he was IN
hearing all the time. Didn't hear any
names called. Mr.. Kyle staid at sta
BILE about Is minutes, was cleaning out
stable, carried manure on fork to heap
came on back with fork in hand te
cutting room whore forks were kept
Mr.. Ryan was standing near, nothing
| in hand, and Mr.. Kyle passed bstwesr
him and Mr.. Ryan, got little beyOnt
latter when he stepped back and salt
to latter: "Mr. Ryan, you called me I
liar this morning and l don't inten(
to take It," He then made two me
lions to strike, MI. Ryan said mi
KYLE, don't hit me with the fork.
Then Mr.. Kyle drew back and holding
fork with both hands str uck Mr.. Rya
on left side of head. The latter fel
down on hands and knees. but not q
way to ground, his head down. Nj
Kyle dropped fork and jumped an
caught him, when be interfersd an
took hold of Mr.. Kyle and told him nc
to strike him any more. MIR. kyl
then said "Mr. Ryan, l am sorry
struck YOU" Mr.. Haney helped M
Ryan up. The difficulty occurre
about 20 minutes to seven O'Clock
There were four or i've different pee
pie there besides Kyle and Ryan: MI
Haney, Mr.. Doom, Braxton Fry, co
Ored, one other white man and one otf
er colorsd man. In answer to quei
ton be said it was customary for M
Kyle to bring bis fork down every morl
ing and set it in the cutting room
Kyle made two motions to strike Ryal
and the third time struck him. Rya
stood still, didn't move bis hands, stoe
= still, Just careensd his head llttl