Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-08-31
SlabbIag Of George HeImsr Placed
al DOar Of The Silent
Prisoner.
STORY OF DEAD MANS BROTHER
Stretched Upon Bed, George HeImer
swears That Waterman Did the Cut
ting After ne Had Been Attacked
in smed'ey's saIoon-othcr Wit
nesses Saw No Knife.

We, The coroner's jury. believe
that Theodore Ilclmcr came to his
death by wounds Inflicted with some
sharp instrument in the hands of Dan
Waterman
This Was the verdict reached yester.
day evening by T.. NJ bennington.
j. a. Buxton, c. X Messick, r. A.
Fowler. X. II. l'rushwood and w f.
Messck who were impanelcd as Il
ccroners jury yesterday morning by
Police Justice j. d. c. Brown, acting
coroner To investigate into the causes
of the death OF Theodore lielmer. who
died ut the st. james hospital early
yesterday from slabs received in Il
light in William Smedley's saloon.
1900 Huntington avenue shortly after
O'Clock Thursday evening.
After hearing four eye witnesses
to the fight-Dan Morning, Harry
Campbell. j. j. Maloney and james
Brooks-the jury took an adjourn.
mcnt at the morning session until
1870 O'Clock in the afternoon.
Witness Sent to Jail.
When the afternoon session began,
James Il. IoX, an electrician employed
at the shipyard who was an cye-wit-
ness to the fight, was called TO the
stand. but after asking him several
questions, Justice Brown announced
that in his opinion the witness was
too drunk to testify in the case and
turned him over TO the police to be
held until this morning. After the
jury returned its verdict. however,
the prisoner was released.
The jurymCn were then taken N
the patrol wagon to the home OF
George Is. lIelmcr brother of the dead
man, who is suffering from painful
stab in the abdomen. said to have
been inflicted by Waterman during
the fight Thursday With the jury.
men gathered around his bed, Hell
!. mer told the following story of the
affair.
4. George Helmer's Story.
THE trouble between Waterman
and myself started four or five weeks
ago. One day had been over to
the Exposition with young man who
was visiting me and on our return
we went into Smcdlcys saloon. Wa
terman was there and he began teas.
ing the young man. told him to
stop 1t and one word brought on
another until he finally struck nc
and knocked ME down. | had been
drinking ana was in no condition to
hit him back and let the matter
drop that night. The ill feeling be.
tween us hung on for week or so
ana thought it would blow over.
but about two weeks later saw Wa
tcrman pass my house carrying n
piece of ice and he sneered at me.
Yesterday afternoon my brother
and myself laid off from work at the
shipyard and after doing some shop.
ping down town we went into I.cfko-
witch's saloon. While in there we
met Smedley and he told me that he
had missed me from his place. re-
piled that did not like TO go to
his saloon because did not care 10
have any trouble with Waterman and
then he said that he would give $40
If Waterman would keep out Of his
place.
Later my brother and myself went
to Smedley's saloon. and Joe Maloney,
the bar keeper. said that he was
glad to see MS. and ordered drinks,
but we decided to play three games
of pool instead of taking the drinks.
He Struck First Blow.
| after finishing the games we