The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-10-13
COROkEU'S JURY
PROBES SHOOTING
MISS DANIELS DECLARES HE WAS
NOT LYING DOWN, THAT BOTH
SAT Down TO WAIT FOR
THE OWL CAR
RIG MON vA.-special.-

4
liams, who was killed Tuesday morn
ing after midnight by Special Officer
Benjamin +. Puryear, OF Henrico
county, while Miss Mabel Lee Daniels,
whom he was escorting, looked on,
intend to push the case against the
special officer was made manifest
when special counsel, represent
ing the Williams family made his APP
pearance at the coroner's inquest.
l. I. w. Marye has been engaged
for this purpose by the family. and Mr..
Marye's presence at the inquest served
to bring out many points of Importance
in connection with the case that would
otherwise have been omitted from the
records.
Miss Daniels was, of course, the
star witness in the proceedings
and will be until the case is finally
disposed of. Her story was not heard,
however, until after Squire T. J. Pur-
year, brother OF the slayer, had given
his version of the affair, which is the
story relied upon by the defense.
Miss Daniels is a strikingly hand
some young woman OF beautiful face
| and figure. She told her story with
out hesitation. and it was one in which
she had nothing to conceal. She told
of the rage OF her companion when
she was accosted by someone, whom
she could not recognize, with as much
|
she and her companion happened to
be sitting on the roadside in front Of
a clear field in full view of the scores
| of passersby.
Her demeanor was perfectly candid
and made a strong impression upon
| the spectators, who crowded into the
| small office of the coroner. She flat
ly contradicted the statement that had
been made by Magistrate Puryear to
the effect that Williams must have
been lying down when he first spoke
10 her, as he did not see him until
he sprang up, by saying that Williams
| was sitting by her side in full view
and at the time was about to light a
cigarette to smoke.
While Williams was attired in dark
clothing and she wore a white shirt
waist yet they could distinctly see the
others, who were in dark clothing and
| there was no obstruction between
Magistrate Puryear and Williams.
| Other testimony brought out at the
| inquest was TO the effect that Will
liams was in a good humor up to the
time he and Miss Williams We're re-
| fused passage on Special car.
| which was the last scheduled to leave
| the grounds that night, and it would
be necessary for them to walk to
| Broad Street to get an owl car. Ii
was also brought out in the TESTIMONY
that Williams had not taken a drink
since 10 o'clock in the evening, ana
that he was not drunk, but had evil
IDENTITY been drinking. These points
were brought out through the ques-
tioning of Mr.. Marye.
Magistrate Puryear was the frs,
witness. He was accompanying his
brother at the time of the shooting.
He stated that the shooting occurred
on the Boulevard about half way be-
tween the Richmond Iron Works and
Broad Street, in Henrico county.
We left the Fair Grounds about
II o'clock-myself, my brother, Of
ficer Rogers and two prisoners with
Mr.. Shelton and Mr.. Edgar English
Special Officer Wade and some
where we saw this couple sitting on
the side of the road. Officer Rogers
said to me: Tom, see what that is
: Il saw woman sitting by the side
: of the road, but did not see anyone
else. 1 recognized it as woman BY
her white shirtwaist."
Squire Puryear here stated that he
; was not sure whether Rogers said
See what that is" or See what's
the trouble"
Il stopped and Mr.. Rogers walked
on. 1 walked towards her and ask
ed, What is the trouble l was with
In four or five feet of her at the time
and she made no reply.
AT that moment the man jumped
up and sprang into the Boulevard al
me. He was evidently lying down al
the time and she made no reply.
| At that moment the man jumped
up and sprang into the Boulevard al
me. He was evidently lying down at
the time: This was the first time !
noticed the man.
He said, Damn you, what the hell
have you got to do with it? I'll fix
YOU. He was advancing towards me
and l was retreating. 1 retired en-
tirely acrosts the Boulevard and he
followed, striking at me and 1 called
for assistance. I was afraid to turn
around.
My brother ran across the road TO
my assistance and grabbed the man
and said, i arrest you, or Consider
yourself under arrest
My brother wore a metal badge
and ribbon badge, which could be
plainly seen, though the night and
place were dark.
When my brother told him he was
under arrest, he Immediately turned
1rCm me and struck my brother, who
fell his full length on the ground. His
heaG struck the ground at my feet.
The man continued his attack and
was standing over my brother, strik-
ing at him. as my brother was get
ing up. The man never let up in
his attack"
could state what Williams said and
vas told to do so.
Damn you. I'll fix you" or xiii
you, don't know which,"
ASKED what he was doing while this
attack on his brother was being
MADE, Squire Puryear said he was
Gaining for help. No help came.
| My brother partly rose and I heard
a shot. He was rising when the first
shot was fired and was on his feet
When the second was fired. The man
was advancing when the second shot
was fired"
Coroner Taylor here asked how the
man could have advanced when he
| had previously stated the man was
standing over his brother at the time
or the first shot. He explained bv
saying that the man fell back when
the first shot was fired and then came
back
The man fell and said, What are
you shooting me for?' From the time
l spoke to the woman to the mans
falling did not take more than a