Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-10
AGED MAN HACKED
TODEATH W|THAXE
AT WHARF SHANTY
John Minson Struck in
Head Twelve Times by
Assailants.
BEATEN BY BILLIARD CUE,
AND BEARS KNIFE WOUNDS
Police, Throwing Out Dragnet,
Arrest One Negro on
Suspicion.
WAS WATCIIMAN FOR SEAY
Slain Man Rcputcd to Have Car
ricd Large Amounts OF
Money on Person.
BEATEN BY BILLIARD CUE,
AND BEARS KNIFE WOUNDS
WAS wATCnMAN FOR sEAY
Slain Man Rcputcd to Have Car
ricd Large Amounts OF
Money on Person.

With his head crushed as the re-
suit OF being struck twelve times
with an AK and his face battered al
most beyond recognition from blows
inflicted with a billiard cue. the body
Of John Minsou. n night watchman
at the sand wharf below the Trede-
gar Iron Works. was found mur-
dcrcd yesterday morning by his en-
pioyer. Harry Seay. when he went
there TO examine the books.
According to the police. Minson is
the victim of one of the most brutal
crimes committed in Richmond for
years. Beside being struck with the
AK and beaten with billiard cue,
his body was mutilated as the re-
suit of knife wounds, three of these
having been discovered. Jordan
Spiccr. n mddie-agcd negro. has
been arrested by the police in con-
nection with the murder. Five others
have been arrested in Petersburg by
railroad detectives on charges of
trespass and will be brought here
today TO be questioned.
Captain Wright on Job.
After finding the dead body Mr..
Seay Immediately notified the police,
and Captain Alexander S. Wright.
accompanied by Detective Sergeant
William, Tolcr. went TO the scene.
Finger prints were taken from tho
AK and billiard cue. Coroner Whit
field was notified in the meantime
| and after examination pronounced
| death due TO murder. He stated that
the man had been dead from six to
eight hours.
| hn mn iy-a frr
yet known. Whether the man had
any money in his pockets before tho
crime was committed could not be
ascertaincd. but it is understood that
| he was in the habit OF carrying a
] considerable sum about his person at
times. 1t is said also that he sold
a parcel of land some time ago for
| $500
The negro who was arrested in
connection with the crime had not
| been in Richmond for about six
months before his return the other
| night. According TO the police he
/ Ia said TO have called at the shanty
of Minson and asked for admittance,
which was denied. but was told to
call around the next day. Knowing
| these facts the negro was placed un-
| der arrest by Detective -SerEcants
Smith. Duffy and Bertucci. who are
handling the case.
| From all appearances Captain
| Wright said. the man was struck
from the rear and was given no
| chance to defend himself. No traces
of any scuffle could be seen about
the shanty. So violent the attack on
the man that blood was scattered
all over tho room and the force OF
one of the blows on the head was so
great that his false teeth were found
five feet from where he sat
Every Detective on Case.
From the appearance OF tho
shanty and the statement of tho
coroner. the murder was committed
about midnight. The dead mans
lunch was found beside him about
half-caten and his pipe had been laid
on the table beside him. Every de-
tcctive in the city has been called
out on the case and every effort Is
being made by the police to bring
the perpetrator of the brutal crime
into custody.
Minson is said to have two vicious
watchdogs which he kept tied out
side his shanty and which he used
to help guard the property over
| wich he watched. 1t was his habit
TO loose them each night at 1890
| Continued on Second PaCeO