Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1907-07-13
STEP-S0N SHOT DOWN
THOMAS M'DANlEL
Damaging Evidence Brought Out
at Coroner's Inquest at Tappa-
hammock Slayer Was on a
Drunken Carousal.

FREDERICKSBURG. vA.-Special.
One OF the most deliberate and cold
blooded murders which perhaps has
ever occurred IN this section or the
state was committed late Friday az
fernoon within a few miles OF Tap
nahannock. Va. on the kappahannock
River. but. owing 20 the remote
place. facts have peen marc 20 SEE
N seems that Mr.. Thomas Mcdaniel.
one OF the most progressive farmers
anil citizens OF that section. was de-
fbarateIy shot down by his step-son,
who IS now confined in the jail az
4 Tappahannock. charged with the Of
Tense.
SIR. Mcdaniel went 20 the adjoin-
Ing farm. which Is owned by his wife.
the dwelling on the place IL occupied
by his step-son. Mr. rockenbrousn
Wright. Mr. Mcdaniel found his
step-son in company with two other
men. named Sherwood and carpenter.
all three OF whom were very much
intoxicated. Mr.. Mcdaniel remon-
strated with them. and told them 10
leave the place as they were OBTAINING
his step-son from his work. and as
long as they stayed there he would
stay drunk. The two men departed.
when but a short distance trom tne
house they called Mr. Mcdaniel 10
them and apologized Tor their con-
duct then turned and started TO leaFe
p the premises.
Ar Mcdaniel started 60 so into a
I field. but changed his mind. and re-
"a turned 20 the house. he had hardy
D entered when a shot rang out from
a within. Sherwood and Carpenter. who
= had hardly gotten outside the gate. re-
= turned 10 the house. where they founc
4 the body OF NJ. Mcdaniel lying on tht
r. floor with a shotgun beside him
g Sitting on a box I'm a far corner o
. the same room was Wright with
= loaded shotgun IN the corner behin'
him.
h. Wright testified before the coroner
fury that the gun which inflicted ~
70 fatal wound was leaning ak tlnst tn
L door. and was accidentally discharge
r. by Mir. Mcdaniel with the above r.
o. suits Carpenter and Sherw GOD swor
5 that when they LETT the house bot
j. guns were together IN the cornel
y Wright was the only person found D
the house after the shooting
e. Or. W. b Robinson. who performe
m an autopsy on SIR Mcdaniel. gave yer
ar damaging testimony from medic.
be standpoint which tends 90 criminal
IS. Mss. Mcdaniel was JUST Ia tho Prim
g. OF Nfe. he was grandson OK On
o. nephew of Captain r. c. CroNton. d
IN. Inc United states army M McDani
.n. was widely known throughout az
be state. having travelled The best 20
- lion of same for the McCormick Ia
90 vester Company.
ul standing AZ the death OF HIS fathe
he which occurred couple years ago.
10 came IA possession Of a conslderap
sum OF money. which ne has spent
M liquor .
ler The coroner jury rendered q N'lH'
ln this morning holding Wright respous
BILE for the murder. lie was arrest
soon afterwards and given "a nearii
before Nagistrate r. j. Duke. who se
the case on 10 the grand jury OF {
TT county Circuit Court. which conVcn
IL in August. Wright was reuardet. "a
IS now confined in the jail AZ Iopl
hammock 40 application was made
the bail II Is said that Nrisnt mas u
af- thoroughly sopertu .P anu o",s
nal rea4-Ae Set l-e ci''' may "t 1873 ~