The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-09-02
VIoIryr ASSAULT AND ATTEMrr AT Ron

VIOLENT Assault AND ATTEMPT AT Rob-
Berry AND MuRpER.-Yesterday morning, about
O'Clock, one of our old citizens, Mr. NATHL. HIVES
was on his way to his residence In the Valley, and
while upon the bridge over Shockoe Creek IN rear OF
the Laucasteran School, 18th street. ne was assai
edsand knocked down by two men, and SO badly beaten
that his life is thoughtto be in jeopardy Mr.. hves
says. that on reaching the bridge, he passed two
white men, one tall and the othera low one, dressed
in black {te tall one having white hat but not
suspecting danger he paid attention TO them and
he sapposes that he had gone three or four yards,
when he was knocked down by violent blow upon
the head, apparently with q slung shot. He cried
murder, and remembers receiving the second lick,
but has ne further recollection of the affair. Fort1-
natey, for him. his cries were heard by wa.chmen
VIM goze and Jude, twho were then at the brow OF
the HILL the of 18th and Clay streetsl who,
supposing that the alarm proceeded from the city
JAIL FASTENED in that direction speedily as possible.
On getting the bridge the assassns having taken
fright and fled at their approach they found Mr. Rives
upon his hands and knees, badly beaten and very
bloody. They took him home and sent for DR.. Pat
teson who dressed his wounds and did all he could to
relieve his suderings. On examination, it found
that he had FIVE cuts or Commissions upon his head,
produced by blunt instrument.
we ever knew, and no other reason can be assigned
for the attack than robbery, he generally carried
money about him. The timely appearance of the
watehmen frustrated the design of the highwaymen
who were thus prevented from securing their booty
ATTEMPT AT RoBBERY-On Wednesday
night last, about half-past nine O'clock whilst Mrs
Elizabeth Smith sitting in her front room en-
gagged in conversation with William H. Whipple and
another man, she heard noise in the back ROOM and
fearing that the dog endeavoring to get upon the
table, asked Mr. Whipple to step in and what it
was, she being at the time engaged with her sewing.
Mr.. Whpple did as was requested, but returning,
said he could discover no cause for the noise and
sumed his seat. In short time after this the noise
was again repeated, and Mrs Smith took the candle
in her hand and entered the room to ascertain the
cause. After looking around, she heard her puppy
bark underneath her bed and supposing that stray
dog had gotten in the house, looked under her bed
and there found, snugly slowed away. negro slave
named William, the property of George Duggans of
Goochland. Knowing the fellow well, she called to
him and asked what he was doing there, and he
Piled that having fallen asleep while sitting upon the
chest, he had unconsciously tumbled under the bed
Whipple, having heard the conversation, then
tered the loom, and finding the negro, began ques
ton him as to how he came there, but received no
satisfactory answer. Mrs. Smith, remembering that
her front door open, went into the next to
close it, and while she in there the negro made
effort to follow her, but seized by the shirt bo
by Whipple who in his effort to retain posses
sion of his prisoner, tore his shirt bosom open when
down poured upon the floor several rings, pins and
other jewelry, and money, which the fellow
had stolen from Mrs Smith, which was locked in her
her he'd d.,,bi he had
and robbed of all that was valuable. Seeing the evil
dence of his crimnality before him. the negro kicked
the candle from the hand of the who was hold
ing it, gave Whipple a severe stab near the bridge
of the nose released himself from Whippe's grasp
and hosting the window escaped into the yard Mrs.
Smith, finding that the robber about to escape,
gave pursuit, and on coming up with him, he turned
upon her and told her he wished to do her injury,
but if she followed him he would kill her. Nothing
daunted, she seized him, (Whippe having given the
alarm,) and es watchmen Mccormick and his partner
up, the negro had clothes pole raised and was
in the act of striking Mrs. Smith with it, the watch
preventing the blow by timely tap upon the side of
his head with a club. The watchmen then took VIII
liam into custody, and returned with him to Mrs.
Smiths house, where they found Whipple in gore
of blood from the stab he had received. Upon the
floor scattered the jewelry, money, &c, that
had fallen from the prisoners bosom when his shirt
torn open.
Some three weeks before this occurrence, Mrs.
Smith asserts that bunch of seven keys belonging
70 her stolen, and her chest then entered and
robbed of Sl45O. With the articles in Williams
possession was found one of these identical keys.
The accused was brought before Justice Farrar
yesterday morning and after undergoing thorough
examination, the above facts were elected. The pri
soner was ordered TO receive thrty-nue stripes for
the larceny committed in stealing the money and
jewery the value of which was less than $50; and
then commmitted for trial before the next term of
the Hastings Court, which sits on Monday week, to
to the charge of stabbiug cutting William
H. Whippe.