Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-18
Negro Points Out First
Trail From Death Shan
ty at Wharf.
JOHN ARCHER SAW AUTO
LEAVE lLL-FATED SPOT
Sped Away, He Says, About 10
O'clock on Night of
Crime.
HIT FIRST WITH BILLIARD CUE
LARRY Scny Relieves Watchman
Wns Struck Down With
This Instrument.

ktchmond police today arc work
Ing on their first real clue which may
!ead to the Identities OF the men who
murdered John Minson, night watch
man at tho "and wharf. below the
Iredcgar Iron Works. on January s.
following statements made yes
lay by John Archer. a negro who
ives IN a cabin short distance from
thc Shanty in which the aged man
was slain Archer declares that Sat
Grday night about 10 o'clock he heard
III automobile short distance from
me shanty. but when he looked ont
had disappeared.
With tho statement of Archer bc.
iorc them tho police today will comn
upon 4 new trail and arrests arc ex-
pcctcd to he made during the co,,rs.
The day. Not since the body of
Ainson was discovered early sunday
morning. January .. have the police
3n as good II clue to work upon as
hat divugcd In the statements or
Archer yesterday. Detectives on the
case VII bend every effort TO find out
who was in the automobile. which
Archer alleges approached the shanty.
'''St 10 src MtnSOn Alive.
Information divuiged by Archer
yesterday point to the negro being
'he last known person TO see Minson
alive. He declares he went to the
hanty late Saturday afternoon to in.
quire OF Mnson as to his health.
Archer declares the watchman stated
he was not feeling very we'll. The
negro asserts he then left the shanty
and went home retiring rather early.
Many theories and clues have been
Diaced IN the hands OF the police
since the finding or Minson's body.
ihese nave been carefully investi-
gated and run down. with the result
that not one of them has furnished
information which might lead to tho
identity OF the person or persons re-
sponS!h!e for the death Of the watch
man.
Proposals that the city offer re-
ward fer the capture of the murderer
were regarded as impossible ycster-
day ny Mayor -\irslic. The Mayor
stated in conference with Captain
Alexander $. Wright, head Of the
detective bureau in Richmond, that
the city had no authority TO offer a
reward. Relatives of the dead man
are reported to be willing to offer the
sum OF $500 for the capture OF tho
horderers. but this offcr has not been
placrd before the police. Governor
NcStnoreland Davis yesterday de-
'"af"d that no reward would be Of
tcred by the State unless lie was ap-
preached on the subject
Hit First With Cue.
That Minson was struck first hv
ms slayer with the billiard cue. which
was found broken, was indicated
Yesterday when it became known
mat Minson was not in the habit or
using the billiard cue at ALL Harry
;. Seay MiHson's employer. said that
ne himsei; found the billiard cue and
sci II ur in corner to the rear OF
the snack ana that there IL remained.
ihat being the case, the fact that all
"i the circumstances show the attack
on the aged man was made in the for
ward part of the shack convinces
that the murderer seized this first.
Ii is not thought that the murderer
would have struck the man with the
lighter :Hstrumcnt after hitting him
with the Ak
1t has been pointed out that Min
son. probably. when he found no was
being attacked. threw up his left arm
and with the other drew his revolver.
which was taken by the assassin. n
the slayer gained possession OF the
gun II is regarded rs altogether
probable that he would have used the
butt end OF il to hit his victim. es-
necially IL he found that the billiard
cue had broken with tho first blow or
with ones Immediately succeeding the
hrst The stock OF the pistol would
have been sufficient 20 have knocked
out the old man. after which the cir
c'imstances would Indicate he was
finished With the az. In support of
this II is pointed out that, II AIinson
had been attacked first with tho AK
Jagged cuts would have appeared on
his arms and hands made by the sharp
edge Of the instrument.
Harry ). Scay, the employer OF Min
son and also OF Archer. said that
Archer was n valued cmploye and
had been working ut the sand wharf
for many years, Archer said he heard
no sounds from the direction OF Min
sons shack the night OF the murder.
The rushing of the river and tho
blowing OF the wind would have been
sniicient 20 prevent any cries from
reaching tho negro at distance OF
100 yards, 1t IS believed Mr.. Seay
today exploded the theory that the
keys carried by the watchman hnd
anything To do with the murder. Ho
said that Minson had lost them abou,
4 month or so ago.
Mr.. seay also corrected accounts as
Continued on Second Pase.)
Why ae5 when you can get 1o%.