A Peculiar Case
February 4, 1905
Summary
A judge rules that the shooting of black man by a fourteen-year-old white boy was an “accidental killing,” since the boy mistook the man for a turkey.
Transcription
Toano, Va., Jan. 30. Alphus Chamberlin, a colored man twenty-one years old, was found dead in the woods about six miles from Toano last Friday with two gun shot wounds in his head, and his gun lying on the ground by his right side. There was no cartridge in the gun. This led to suspicion, and a coroner’s jury was summoned, and in inquest held, which lasted two days.
The evidence given before the jury on Saturday pointed to the man’s having accidentally shot himself.
Calvin Davis, a young white boy, and of a prominent family, was the principal witness. He testified Saturday that he was in the woods Friday, turkey-hunting and heard the report of a gun and heard some one hollow: “Oh, Lordy.” He went in the direction of the sound, and found the Negro, Chamberlin, lying on the ground. He then went to the man’s house and told his father that Alphus had killed himself.
The father and three white men were piloted by young Davis to where the dead man was lying, Davis stating that he was about two or three hundred yards of the man when he heard the gun. The body was removed to the father’s house Friday. The investigation was continued yesterday, when several witnesses testified before the jury, and Dr. H. V. Stevenson, of Toano, was summoned and made an examination of the wounds.
The doctor testified that there were three wounds, one in the right temple, a scalp wound, one on the left side, penetrating the brain, and the third in the neck just above the clavicle made by bullets or buckshot, shot from a pistol of a gun several feet from the man.
This evidence killed the theory of accidental suicide. The jury was then taken to the scene of the accident, the witnesses going with them. Gun-wads and an empty No. 10 cartridge were found about twenty-five yards from where the body was found.
Young Davis who was hunting in the same woods and claimed to have found the body, was asked if he did not have a No. 10 gun with him Friday. He said he did, but shot No. 12 cartridges in it, and that he did not have any No. 10 shells. The evidence at this stage pointed to Davis as the guilty party. The jury returned to the house and young Davis was again sworn. He testified that he was out in the woods Friday turkey hunting, and was tracking a turkey in the snow, when he saw some ivy bushes shaking, and thinking it a turkey, fired. He then went to get the turkey and found he had killed a man.
He said he was so scared he was afraid to tell the truth.
The jury rendered a verdict of accidental killing. Young Davis is about fourteen years of age. He showed no sign of nervousness or grief until the time of his confession, when he broke down and wept.
He has the sympathy of the entire community.
The evidence given before the jury on Saturday pointed to the man’s having accidentally shot himself.
Calvin Davis, a young white boy, and of a prominent family, was the principal witness. He testified Saturday that he was in the woods Friday, turkey-hunting and heard the report of a gun and heard some one hollow: “Oh, Lordy.” He went in the direction of the sound, and found the Negro, Chamberlin, lying on the ground. He then went to the man’s house and told his father that Alphus had killed himself.
The father and three white men were piloted by young Davis to where the dead man was lying, Davis stating that he was about two or three hundred yards of the man when he heard the gun. The body was removed to the father’s house Friday. The investigation was continued yesterday, when several witnesses testified before the jury, and Dr. H. V. Stevenson, of Toano, was summoned and made an examination of the wounds.
The doctor testified that there were three wounds, one in the right temple, a scalp wound, one on the left side, penetrating the brain, and the third in the neck just above the clavicle made by bullets or buckshot, shot from a pistol of a gun several feet from the man.
This evidence killed the theory of accidental suicide. The jury was then taken to the scene of the accident, the witnesses going with them. Gun-wads and an empty No. 10 cartridge were found about twenty-five yards from where the body was found.
Young Davis who was hunting in the same woods and claimed to have found the body, was asked if he did not have a No. 10 gun with him Friday. He said he did, but shot No. 12 cartridges in it, and that he did not have any No. 10 shells. The evidence at this stage pointed to Davis as the guilty party. The jury returned to the house and young Davis was again sworn. He testified that he was out in the woods Friday turkey hunting, and was tracking a turkey in the snow, when he saw some ivy bushes shaking, and thinking it a turkey, fired. He then went to get the turkey and found he had killed a man.
He said he was so scared he was afraid to tell the truth.
The jury rendered a verdict of accidental killing. Young Davis is about fourteen years of age. He showed no sign of nervousness or grief until the time of his confession, when he broke down and wept.
He has the sympathy of the entire community.
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Left Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Ryan Shah
Citation
“A Peculiar Case,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed October 9, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/310.