THE REPORTER, HENDERSON, KY. MARCH 15, 1881
A SUDDEN DEATH
Lucy Washington Goes to Sleep Friday Afternoon and Opens Her Eyes in the Kingdom Come
Late Friday afternoon Lucy Washington, a rather good looking colored woman, was found dead in her room in the rear of the brick adjoining the Woodruff Hall. The news rapidly spread over the city and Maj. J. M. Stone was summoned to hold an inquest. The colored population were considerably excited, while speculation ran high even among a number of the whites who knew Lucy and had seen her on the streets only a few hours before. Her health, so far as the world knew, and even her most intimate friends, apparently good, and if there were any defects in her physical make up had never divulged the secret nor had the fact ever been detected. Therefore speculation was on tiptoe, many persons predicting that she had been foully dealt with. She was on the street as late an hour as three o’clock and when she returned to her room she engaged until as late an hour as five o’clock, singing while busy with her work. She prepared her bed seemingly as if she had intended to retire for the night, and when found was lying in an easy position with the cover pulled close over her shoulders. Her death was evidently unattended by pain or struggle and was accomplished without a struggle upon her part. Maj. Stone and Drs. Ben. and James H. Letcher visited her room shortly after her death and owing to the lateness of the hour postponed any action until the next (Saturday) morning. Her room was neatly furnished and every appearance gave evidence of care and a taste for keeping things in a clean and comfortable appearance. In her trunk was found her pocket book containing six dollars in money and a memorandum showing a deposit at different times in the Henderson National Bank amounting to thirty-two dollars. This was taken in charge by Maj. Stone and produced to the jury next morning.
On Saturday morning at eight o’clock Maj. Stone appeared in the room with his jury, consisting of the following named gentlemen: W. W. Huston, F. W. Posey, James Norfleet, John Haffey, George S. Webb and Jno. McBride. Drs. James and Ben. Letcher were present and were sworn. Dr. Ben. Letcher testified: I was called by Mr. Priest, chief of police, Friday night to examine the body and did so. He found the corpse lying as it was at that time, cold, with no signs of a death struggle. He could not tell the cause of death and left her in the same position he found her. She was lying in the same position. The Doctor was asked his opinion regarding a post mortem examination and said that this was the only way in which a correct understanding of her death could be arrived at. Dr. James H. Letcher agreed with him. Maj. Stone then submitted the proposition to the jury and by unanimous vote the doctors were directed to go on with the post mortem.
The magnitude of the court and jury retired to a front and adjoining room in the building and proceeded to take proof of witnesses summoned.
Luke Alves, colored, was examined. He stated: I knew Lucy Washington, have known her for many years. She was raised by the first wife of Mr. Charles Elliott in the Walnut Bottom bend. She was about 33 years of age and was married at one time to George Washington, who was incarcerated in the Henderson county jail for some criminal offense. She bore two children, both boys, and both now living. Her husband made his escape from jail some years ago and has never returned to Henderson. I saw her about twelve o’clock on the day of her death and talked with her. It was about 12 o’clock; she then seemed perfectly well. Did not know of any one being in her room on that afternoon. I didn’t know of her having enemies only from what she said. She removed from First street because she feared to be burned out. She had been living in the room in which she died about two weeks. She has two boys, one in the factory and one with Allan on the Maggie Smith. At the time of her death there was a table in her room with three plates on it where people had been eating. She was a member of the Benevolent Society and was in good standing. She was polite and I never heard of her having difficulties with anyone.
Mattie Hughes, sworn testified: I live in the adjoining room and am as far as I know I seen her at 2 o’clock. She was well. I left her and went out in town. I got back about 4 o’clock. After I had come back Sam Webb came up and went into Lucy’s room. I wasn’t in her room after 2 o’clock. That was the last time I saw her till I heard she was dead. She lived in the room a little over a week. She had some trouble with colored people on First street and she was afraid of them. She told me that they would hurt her. There were some men in her room about 2 o’clock.
Julia Tapp testified: After three o’clock Friday Lucy was at my house; we had but little talk; she told me a few days before that she did not expect to live long.
Thomas Washington, son of the deceased, testified: Was at home from factory at dinner time; mother was well and played with me; eat dinner, mother, me and three plates were on the table at the time; didn’t see her any more until 5 o’clock; came in with some shavings and put them back in the room; she didn’t complain of being sick; next heard she was dead.
Sam Webb testified: Was in Lucy’s room about 4 o’clock; found her, as I thought, sleeping; walked to the bed and touched her gently on the cheek; she didn’t notice me; was called down stairs; she was not dead; I have known her for ten years; she has lived the best part of her time in Henderson; she drank beer sometimes right rapidly; she told me she got dissatisfied around on First street and left; never heard of her having difficulties with any one.
Eliza Shelton testified: I don’t know nothing about her death; on Friday evening I heard her in her room at the Maggie Smith calling me; the room was smoking and I called to her to know if her chimney was smoking; she was singing when the boat landed, about five o’clock; there is an opening between our rooms, but it has been fastened up ever since Lucy lived in the room; I never quarreled with her; she never come to see me and I never went to see her; she was singing when the Morgan came up, after five o’clock; I know the time from a clock in my room.
John Gobin testified: Between five and six, maybe after six, I was in Mr. Held’s saloon, below, and a boy came in and called Mr. Held; said Lucy was dead; we went to her room; she was cold; the cover was all in shape, and she looked as though she had gone to bed but a short time before; don’t know anything of the cause of her death; have known her for eight years; never knew her drunk; everybody spoke well of her; she was polite and pleasant; heard that she was out in town drinking with a man and another woman.
Major Stone stated that he found the corpse lying as if she had died easily. From what he knew she was well behaved and polite.
Drs. Ben. and James H. Letcher, having completed the post mortem, gave the following information to the jury: The result of the post mortem examination showed a diseased condition of the pulmonary arteries, heart filled with blood, and congestion of the lungs. The stomach was well filled with food partially digested, and the medical opinion is that death was due to the heart’s failure and congestion of the lungs. There was no evidence of lesion about the stomach, but in its distended condition pressing against the heart had, perhaps, something to do with bringing about this weakened condition of the heart. They deemed this cause sufficient to produce death and made no further examination of the brain or other organs.
The jury then returned the following verdict: “We, of the jury, find that the body before us is that of Lucy Washington, of color, a resident of the city of Henderson, Kentucky, about 33 years of age, and that she came to her death in her room, in the city of Henderson, Kentucky, on the 11th day of March, 1881, from congestion of the lungs.”
JOHN McBRIDE, Foreman.
F. W. POSEY.
JOHN HAFFEY.
GEORGE S. WEBB.
W. W. HUSTON.
JAMES NORFLEET.
J. M. STONE, J. P
