File contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Judith McGowan The Richmond Dispatch, Richmond, VA, Friday, June 8, 1888: "A CASE OF HOMICIDE - Death of Crafton, Who Was Struck By Lucas - A Post-Mortem to be Made This Morning and Inquest Held This Afternoon" "Mr. Thomas Jeffries Crafton died at 12:25 yesterday afternoon from an injury received at the hands of Joseph Lucas on the night of May 21st. Mr. Crafton was born in Henrico county on the 22d of February, 1856; was a bricklayer by trade, and with his wife and two children resided at No. 1314 west Clay street. Though he occasionally took a drink he was known as a sober, industrious, and peaceable man. THE BALL. On the night of Whit-Monday a ball took place at Blenner's Park, which is within two squares of deceased's residence, and he was employed as gate-keeper. The admission was by badge, for which the men paid twenty-five cents. One of the patrons was Joseph Lucas, a young man, whose occupation is that of laborer, but who from all accounts never did much work of any kind and led rather a roving life. >From what can be sifted out of the confused accounts of the unhappy affair Lucas went into the ball-room, stayed some time, and came out into the street and gave his badge (it is alleged) to Charles Fleming. Fleming at any rate passed in, and when Lucas presented himself Crafton refused him admission because he could not show his badge. Lucas made some excuse, which was not accepted by Crafton. Thereupon, the two got to words and then to blows, but were soon separated. After the ball Fleming and Crafton got to quarreling and fighting, and in the midst of it-so the Commonwealth's officers think they can show-Lucas came up behind Crafton and struck him down with a granite paving-stone. The block, which is now at the Third station-house, is wedge-shaped, and weighs nine pounds and four ounces. Lucas made his escape, and Crafton was picked up from the ground in an insensible condition and carried to his home, near by. SUFFERING AND DEATH. Crafton lived in a framed house that sets on a hillside on the north side of Clay street, and the ground sloping from the porch to the sidewalk is covered with grass and flowers, while within the rooms are cleanly and comfortable; all evidencing a quiet, good home, where thrift and comfort prevailed. Here he was brought to his wife on the night in question and was laid in bed, and there, after intense suffering, life ended. Mr. Crafton never was well enough to give any account of the affray; and indeed never spoke much more than to call "Emma" (his wife,) or "John," a faithful neighbor and friend, who was by his bedside most of the time. Whenever asked where the hurt was he always said: "My head, my head." The stone struck him on the right side over the ear. It cut the skin open for a distance of about an inch, but whether it fractured the skull can only be ascertained by the postmortem, which Coroner Taylor will make this morning. Mr. Crafton was probably never fully in his right mind after he was hit. At times, however, he was certainly partly conscious. Night before last and yesterday morning, however, he was in delirium, and at 12:25 death came and relieved him from sufferings that were very acute, judging by his moans and facial expressions. Coroner Taylor having been notified of the death at once went to the house, and arranged to return this morning to make the autopsy. At 4 P. M. a jury of inquest will be empanelled, and all the witnesses who can be found will be examined. PERSONAL. Mr. Crafton married a Miss Rodes. One of their children is aged four years; the other is but eight weeks old. Deceased was a member of the Grace-Street Baptist church, but his funeral will take place at 4 1/2 P. M. to-day from Clay-Street Baptist church, and he will be buried in Oakwood cemetery. He was a member of Pamunkey Tribe, I. O. R. M., and of the Bricklayers' Union, and at the time of the difficulty with Lucas and Fleming was employed on the new City-Hall building. His brother, Mr. R. W. Crafton, is the driver of the Brook- avenue steam fire-engine. Lucas's home is on west Leigh street, and Fleming lives on north Twenty-third street. LUCAS'S ESCAPE AND ARREST. As well as can be learned Lucas, after picking up the paving-block and striking Crafton down with it, hurried off to the extreme western part of the city and then proceeded to the Fair-Grounds. There hiding himself in one of the out- houses he spent the night. In the morning he met a man whom he knew, who told him that Crafton would surely die. This made him resolve to leave this part of the country and he struck off towards Atlee's station, on the Chesapeake and Ohio railway, and there got on a train and "beat" his way to Charlottesville. From that point he went to Lynchburg; from Lynchburg to Roanoke. At Roanoke he joined other tramps and in an empty freight-car they beat their way to Danville. A YOUTH'S GOOD WORK. Captain Charles H. Epps, who has charge of the Third police district, in which the affair occurred, was over and over again informed that Lucas was in hiding in the swampy ground on the Fredericksburg railroad, and he had all that country scoured by officers, who were out day and night; but it occurred to him that Lucas might slip through the net-work of police and get to Washington. After a considerable time had elapsed it was clear that Lucas had escaped from the county. Captain Epps, meeting his nephew, young Jimmie Wingfield, who is now employed in one of the Danville railroad offices in Washington said, "Jimmie, do you know Lucas?" "Yes, indeed," he answered; "I went to school with him." "Then you look out for him," said the Captain; "he may go to Washington. If you set your eyes on him have him arrested, charged with murder." "All right," said the youth, "I'll do it." Young Wingfield going back to Washington for reasons of his own took the route via Danville. The first man he saw upon landing at Danville was Lucas. He at once went to a police officer and said to him: "Arrest that man; he is charged with murder in Richmond." Wingfield was a stranger; his manner, he admits, was excited, and though he explained the matter at some length to the officer, that gentleman, exercising a proper and praiseworthy caution, declined to rush into the case without more light. He and others, however, followed Lucas and three other tramps to an empty car in North Danville. Here the officer approached Lucas and said: "The man in Richmond that you struck is dead." Lucas at once wilted, and tremblingly said: "Is he? I didn't mean to kill him." Then the officer knew that young Wingfield had truly represented the case. Lucas was arrested; the Richmond authorities were notified; Sergeant Halce went on and brought the prisoner back here and he was taken before the Police Justice, who, pending an examination, committed him to jail. Fleming, who never left the city, was also arrested and committed in default of bail." USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free informationon the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation.