Coroner's inquest.
--At four o'clock yesterday afternoon, the adjourned examination before
Coroner Little, M. D., into the circumstances of the murder of
James Clarke, of the Twenty fourth Virginia cavalry, took place at his office, on Eleventh street. On the opening of the case, the
Coroner stated that at a previous examination, held on Thursday afternoon at the residence of the deceased's mother, on Fifteenth street, near Poplar,
Mrs. Clarke testified that, on Wednesday morning, a man came to her house and inquired for
James Clarke, the deceased; said he had stolen his gun; that he was a s — n of a b — h; that he (
Clarke) had a furlough for twenty days, but that it would not do him any good.
Witness testified further that a man named — came to her house that morning, and she remarked to him that her "baby" was killed.
He remarked, "yes," he knew all about it; was present and saw the difficulty.
Since that time, the
Coroner said he had had arrested certain parties, who were then present.
The first person examined was a young man, named
George W. Deas, member of the Twenty-fourth Virginia cavalry, who was arrested on Thursday afternoon by
Constable E. W. Robinson, of
Henrico, on the charge of committing the murder.
He testified as follows:
I fell in with the deceased on the evening of the occurrence, near the
Old Market; he was in company with some five or six men, but I did not know any of them.
Heard words pass between him and one of the party; had reason to believe he would be killed, and tried to persuade him to go home.
He would not do so, but continued on down the street.
When in
Rocketts, left him, but had only gone across the street when I heard a pistol, and knew the cause of it. On going to
Mrs. Clarke's, the mother of the deceased, next day, was told of the occurrence, and remarked that I knew all about it. Did not tell her that I knew who did it; but distinctly told her I did not, and could not recognize him if I saw him. Heard before the occurrence that
Clarke was in company with one of
Kershaw's men. The difficulty occurred in
Rocketts; but as to the exact place, I cannot tell.
I was under the influence of liquor, and think that
Clarke was, also.
Corporal A. F. Clements, of the Tenth Georgia, was next sworn and deposed: I was on duty at
Rocketts, for the purpose of examining the papers of all soldiers, by order of
General Kershaw. --While going along the street, met
Clarke and told one of the sentinels (
Mr. Neal) to halt him.
Neal did so, and asked him for his papers.
Clarke refused to show his papers, whereupon the sentinel called me there.
When I got up, I asked
Clarke for his papers, informing him that I had authority to arrest all soldiers passing that way who did not have proper papers.
He asked me to show my authority.
I told him, unless he was a commissioned officer, I could not show him my authority, as I had received instructions not to do so; and also informed him he must show his papers or go to camp, or I would have to carry him there.
He still refused to show his papers, and said.
I should not take him to camp.
I took hold of him and tried to pull him along, when he struck at me. I then jumped back and cocked my gun, when he put his hand in his breast-pocket and said:‘"Damn you, if you take hold of me again I will hurt you."’ Told him not to draw any weapon, but to go along quietly.
He then took his hand down, at which I attempted to lower the hammer of my gun, but it slipped from my fingers and went off, killing
Clarke immediately.
I was not more than five or six feet from him. After the occurrence, I went back to camp and informed the commander what had taken place.
Did not see any weapon in
Clarke's hand, nor do I know whether he had any. I did not intend to shoot him; it was entirely accidental.
The affair occurred in the middle of the street, at
Rocketts, about half-past 6 o'clock.
A. H. Neal, sworn: Was on guard at
Rocketts, and with
Corporal Clements all the time.
I entirely corroborate what he has testified to. Told
Clements he ought to report the matter to the
Provost Marshal; but he thought it best to report to headquarters, and immediately started there.
Lieutenant J. C. Bent, of
Phillips's Georgia Legion, sworn: Am temporary
Provost-Marshal for
Kershaw's division.
About eight o'clock Wednesday night,
Corporal Clements came to camp and reported to me what he had done.
I immediately took him to the
Major for investigation.
My instructions to the guard are never to show their authority for demanding papers of soldiers unless they are commissioned officers.
The testimony being concluded, the jurors were interrogated as to their opinion, when each one rendered as their verdict, that
James Clarke, the deceased, came to his death from a gun-shot wound, accidently fired at the hand of
A. F. Clements while he was in the act of lowering the hammer of his musket to the tube.
