The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-09-28
DAVIS TELLS HOW
he BLOCKED ROAD
Constable Denies Responsibility
for Accident Which Caused
Martins Death.
TO HOLD INQUEST TO-DAY
Coroner Taylor Determined to
Clear Mystery Of Motor
Truck Upset.

At the inquest which Coroner Taylor
will hold over the body Of William
Henry Martin this morning, 1t Is eN-
pected that the seeming mystery which
has shrouded the young mans tragic
death from injuries received when the
motor truck be was driving turned
turtle on the Williamsburg Road
Wednesday night, will be cleared up.
While the account given by Constable
r. A. Davis, who attempted to arrest
Martin and his two companions for
speeding, and that given by Joseph
Otey and c. c. Moore disagreed In mat
tiers of detail. it is probable that cor
rect. reason can be assigned for Mar
tins death, after the testimony has
been taken.
Constable Davis. who constructed the
barricade at Sevent Pines. which was
said by Otey to have weakened the
axle Of the car, so that it probably
caused the accident, gave to report
err for The Times-Dispatch a complete
story of his part in the chase OF the
speeders Wednesday night.
Davis says that he was standing on
the front platform of a Seven Pines car
in company with Vernon Hicks. when
ed bv at stop %. The offlcer noticed
the speed the machine was making
and asked Motorman Newton to ad-
vance his controller SO that he might
keep within sight
Tells About Barricade.
The speeders stopped for a short time
in front Of Mrs. Amelia Giles's resi-
dence, and the trolley passed them
standing there. Constable Davis stop
ped at station 80. about thirty YARDS
from the standing automobile. ana
called on them TO surrender Ihey
started their motor. however, apd went
by him. He says that despite his ges-
ticulations. they would have run over
him had he not jumped out OF the
way.
After this incident, Davis boarded
tho trolley again and remained Until
Seven Pines was reached mere iio
manfred of negro as to whether the
cav had PASSED or not, and learned that
If had gone further down the roa"'
Then it was that the officer win the
assistance Of Vernon HICKS ana joe
Robbins, pulled the buggy into the nlu-
die of the road and placed plank on
boxes at the rear end OF IL 10 eoAi'
plete the obstruction. The three 'ae'i
then waited the arrival OF the car
o+ev stated that the location OF the
barricade was in one or the naE nest
spots Of the road. and that neither NC
nor his companions saw II until Ii.s
were directly in front OF It. Constaoie
Davis says that 1t was light enough u
see the objects easily.
O,ey. who gave il as his opinion
Thursday night. that the axle
weakened by the impact when the ma
chine struck the buggy, so as 10 cause
the accident. was not so sure OF iiis
ground on this point yesterday. ne oiN
no, remember the details OF the pas
sage through Seven Pines very cieai
1y. 49,. a
Constable Davis says that 'ne iia
chine paused before II came 10 INK
harrfcade. and that when IL was iui
" thirty feet off, he advanced iil''
middle OF the road. and called On 'ne
.-in r. stop. The car continued 10
move he says. ana wen. P"'
buggy in front of the snaf's'
II. says tina. only the outer nus 10
these were hit by the car ana 'na. -"
feels sure no harm couio nav
do,e bv III. impact. He further aHeiS
-, 49, driver of the car had time TO
af,sr he shouted had he been OF
a mind TO do So
Fired rs They Went BY.
.s The car passed. the officer came
,-ound The other side of the barr.eaoe
,na fred his pistol in the air Iheh'
seeing that the machine was ABOUT ~
90, away. he caught the rear end anu
nnIled himself aboard D~v!s says ne
nIaced the men under arrest ana eN-
acted a promise from them to appear
before Magistrate Puryear the follow"
ing morning at IL O'Clock. Otey says
he never gave such promise. al
though Martin may have done SO.
Moor. fails 10 recall wha, happened
about that time.
The officer dropped from the car after
carrying out his purpose. and II went
on TO its doom. He says that abusive
language was hurled back at him, de-
spite the fact that the men had ad-
rlitted they We're in the wrong wheh
he questioned them.
The language he heard incensed the
constable. and he caught the last car
from Seven Pines to the city and pro-
cecded at once to the plant OF the Pur-
Ity ice Cream Corporation He waited
there until the party arrived In the
ca
when he learned OF the accident did
what he could to aid the suffering
man.
Funeral Tomorrow After10OD.
Davis will make NJ effort to serve
rapers on Otey, for whom a warrant
has been issued. until after The inquest
and the funeral OF Martin
The family OF the dead man has ar
ranged TO have the funeral Tomorrow
afternoon from the Christ Episcopal
Church. Rev. Morris :. Eagle. the rec
tor. Will conduct TIE service. The body
Will be buried In oakwocd Cemetery.
All q Martins relatives are deeply
touched by their loss and a: the pres
eat moment have some feeling that the
oficer who yursued him was indf-
rcctly tn. cause 90 his death. Their
course VIII be largely dependent OF.
the "G'ccu. 4 the coroncr's inquest
tk,s morning
e. &" Moore the ;h!Td ngure tn the
accident. - stili confined 80 his rom
-.