An Unprovoked Murder
March 15, 1902
Summary
A white man “accidentally” kills a black man as he tries to “frighten some colored boys.” He is exonerated for the unintentional murder.
Transcription
Narroway C.H., Va., March 10.
Mr. Lewis Watson, a colored man employed as a brakeman by the Norfolk & Western Railway Company, was accidentally shot and instantly killed at Jordan’s Bank, a bar room between this place and Crewe, late Sunday night, by James T. Davie (white) a fireman in the employ of the same company.
Davie was firing a pistol out the door to frighten some colored boys who had just left the bar room, when Watson, of whose presence he did not know, stepped into the doorway, and received the ball in his temple.
Davie was much distressed by the accident, and at once went to the home of Sheriff E. M. Jones and surrendered himself, informing the officer of what had occurred.
A Coroner’s jury was empanelled on Sunday morning by Justice John B. Tuggle, and after a full investigation a verdict was returned, holding the shooting to have been accidental and exonerating Davie.
Mr. Lewis Watson, a colored man employed as a brakeman by the Norfolk & Western Railway Company, was accidentally shot and instantly killed at Jordan’s Bank, a bar room between this place and Crewe, late Sunday night, by James T. Davie (white) a fireman in the employ of the same company.
Davie was firing a pistol out the door to frighten some colored boys who had just left the bar room, when Watson, of whose presence he did not know, stepped into the doorway, and received the ball in his temple.
Davie was much distressed by the accident, and at once went to the home of Sheriff E. M. Jones and surrendered himself, informing the officer of what had occurred.
A Coroner’s jury was empanelled on Sunday morning by Justice John B. Tuggle, and after a full investigation a verdict was returned, holding the shooting to have been accidental and exonerating Davie.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Brooke Royer
Citation
“An Unprovoked Murder,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed April 27, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/265.