The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-01-05
SHERIFF SYDNOR
is ACQUITTED

"Ods Taylor came TO his death
on the 2lSt day of December,
1910, from the effects of pistol
shot wounds inflicted on the goth
day of December, 1910, by VIII
liam W. SydnOr, an official OF
HcnricO county, while i'm the dis
charge of his duty"
RICHMOND, V A, Special
This was the decision of the jury
summoned by Coroner TAYLOR this
morning to inquire into the death of
the negro, Otis Taylor. alias Dave
Johnson. who was shot Tuesday af-
ternoOn by Deputy Sheriff Sydnor, who
was trying to arrest him or the charge
Of having stolen goods from Richard
sons store, at Providence Forge. The
testimony was cOnclus. @ that Sheriff
Sydnor fired in self q License, and the
jury gave its decision without the
slightest delay.
The testimony Of Mr.. Sydnor was
to the effect that he had received word
that Taylor was seeking to dispose Of
a number of pairs OF shoes and a re
volver at the Parish Brick Yards, and
that, after securing the assistance Of
Detective Angle, of the Chesapeake
and Ohio. he went to the place to put
the negro under arrest. At the brick
yards he and Angle separated. He
came upon the negro with two others
and told them to consider themselves
under arrest. Two of them stopped.
but the third continued on his way.
At that moment Taylor grinned and
ran his hand into his hip pocket.
Don't you do it, said SydnOr, cover
ing the negro with his revolver. IN
needing the warning, Taylor tried to
draw his pistol. Catching sight Of the
steel, Sydnor fired. his shot taking eff
feet in the right shoulder. With the
aid Of his left hand the negro sought
to raise his gun and Sydnor fired a
second time. wOunding the negro in
the left chest. Recovering from the
shock, Taylor advanced and again at
tempted TO raise his pistol with his left
arm A third shot stopped him. and
he dropped his pistol, but did not fall.
James Jones, the companion Of Tay-
Tor, testified that Taylor had drawn
a pistol and was trying all the time to
shoot Syd1or, who gave warning twice
which Taylor would not heed.
c. p. Richardson identified the ne
gro as having been in MS store sew
eral days previous and Identified the
shoes as his own.
DR.. J. Z. Bright VINO was sum
nOned 70 the county Jail by Sheriff
Sydnor, after the wounded negro
reached the Jail about twenty minutes
9itcr being summoned. He found
the negro. Otis Taylor, with three
wounds in his body, one through the
left side of the abdomen, the second
through his chest and the third
He stated that he sought to secure
from the negro some statement O
the shooting after he had been tal5cu
70 the City Home. He told the negro
that he was desperately wounded and
would proba' ly 20" but the negro
refused 20 m: r"v statement. save
60 give his nam ana address.
Chesapeake aul t'hio Detective NJ
). Angle was the next witness. He
stated that he accompanied Mr. sgd
nor in his search for Taylor. who was
suspected OF stealing goods and SELL
ing thcr1 tO the employees OF the
Parrish nricl1 yarJS He testified that
he had Acaro thnt the negro was arm
ed. When he and SydnOr reached
the brick yards they separated.
Shortly afterwards he heard a shot
and then two or three more in sue
cessicn. lie rushed in the direction OF
the shooting and reaching the scene
found SYdnor with pistol in his
hand facing two negroes. both stand
ing. lie showed one or the negroes
aside. the wOU,-F"d man being the
pne, f2Ning to the ground from the
blow. WitHcss testified that Sydnor
reached down and picked up the Dis
tol OF the wounded negro. Nee
much questioning the negro gave his
name 10 Angle rs Dave Johnson.
-hc other negro was arrested and
gave his name as James Joseph Jones.
or 3OS East Main Street