The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-14
KILLED IN RO "
OVER A So CALF.
Chesterfield Farmers Fight Bat
tie in Dark: One Dead, the
Other Wounded.
% WITNESSES PRESENT
Slayer in Hospital Formally
Charged by Coroncr's Jury
With Crime.

Details OF tho killing of Joseph
Walker by Clement r. smith, near
Beach, Chesterfield county. Thfifsdny
night, wore brought to light Yesterday
by Sheriff Gill and his deputies. En-
ragged at Walker because he demanded
an indemnity OF Sc for depredations
committed by one of his calves. Smith
II is alleged. secured a pistol from
mis- wife and proceeded to Walkers
homo nearby, at about o'clock in
the evening. ~ fight between the two
mon followed, at which there were no
witnesses. resulting in the death of
walker some time during the night,
ana inc serious wounding of his ad-
versary.
The dead man, who Is forty year.
old and bachelor. occupied small
two-room cabin near Beach, and had
little Intercourse with his neiRhbors,
1t appears that Immediately after tho
shooting no retired to his room. nm
dressed and went 20 bed. dying fow
hours later. Tho body vas found In
a semi-nudo condition Friday morning
by nelghboring farmer named
shuster, who called at Walkers homo
In fulhlmont of an appointment no had
made to drive him that morning TO
Petersburg. He spread tho alarm i'm
mediately, notifying shorin Gill and
Magistrate T. H Martin, who took
Smith Taken to Hospital
Early Friday morning, after snepa
Ing the night at home, Smith who hao
suffered heavy wounds IA the side and
in his left arm and hand, was taken
TO Petersburg hospital for treat
ment Tho wounded man Is married
and has two young cons. Earle, thir.
teen years old. and Gene, r1eive years
old. Ono of Smitha boys applied Fri
-
Jolly for the use OF n buggy in which
10 take his wounded father to Peters
burg. Jolly had heard the shooting
the night before. but attached little
significance to II, as the dead man had
frequent occasion to use nj. gun
around tho house. His buggy was out
or repair and he was compelled to-
deny tho requcat
Relatives OF Smith shortly after
wards appeared upon tho scene and
conveyed him to the Petersburg Hos
pital. where his wounds were dressed.
at the hospital yesterday afternoon
Smith stated to the representative OF
The Times-Dispatch that no shot In
self-de fense, and issued q statement
giving his version OF tho affair.
borrowed Wife's Pistol.
Sheriff Gill, of Chesterfield county
following an examination into the
case, proceeded to the home of Smith
yesterday morning. but found that the
latter had already been taken TO
Petersburg. He questioned tho family
a.: to the shooting. and learned from
one OF tho boys that Smith. on the
night of the killing, borrowed his
wifes pistol and proceeded to Walkers
cabin. The circumstances pointed to
Smith as the slayer. and. following the
verdict of hastily summoned coron
ers Jury to the effect that Walker
came to his death through pistol
shot fred by Smith, Sheriff Gill left at
once for Petersburg to place his man
under arrest.
The inquest was held at the dead
mans home shortly after the noon hour,
and q warrant Immediately issued for
Smiths arrest on the charge OF man
slaughter. The warrant was served
upon Smith at the hospital last night
by Sheriff GILL who engaged Charles
Keys to act as guard over the wounded