The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-11-10
LOCAL MATTERS.

i ward were thrown into a state of excitement
4 Yesterday morning, by one of the foulest crimes
| e,er perpetrated in our city. About half past
| oeicck, the bells sounded the alarm of FIRE and
soon thereafter small wooden building, on the
| southsde OF the DOCK between Mayos bridge and
i'th street, was discovered to be in light blaze
| 'oseph Williams, neighbor Immediately hastened
| 10 u e scene, but before reaching it. saw HENRY
LEcocK, the proprietor of the house stagger ont
| oi the door, and fall into the street Surprising
| 'hat ne had become partially suffocated by the
| smoke Williams raised him up and bore him from
the vicinity of the burning building when he oh.
| served that the unfortunate man had a deem pash
u IN MS forehead, penetrating into the brain doubt
1esS lnfiicted by an axe. Williams then carried
Lecock to his house and sent for DIR. Jackson who
rendered all possible medical aid but with no hone
| OF saving his. fe. The building and its contents
| were entirely DESTROYED
ouange as it may seem, Lecock appeared con-
scious OF what was going on, and when asked if a
White man did the deed answered ives but WAS
unabie to give the name of the person. He also
stated that he went to bed at an early hour and
mat no one was with him in the house.
FROM all the circumstances connected with the
aiiair 1t seems that after the unfortunate man had
renred Tor the night, and while lying asleep upon
nus pack, some one entered the house and with an
axe or hatchet gave him a violent blow on the
,orehead with the hope of producing instant death
The building was then set on fire in various places
tEe murderer thereby expecting to hide his guilt by
burning his victim.
Lecock is an Englishman by birth and a stone
cutter by trade. Until within a few months past
when he lost his wife he had been keepinp
shiaii grocery but since then his time has been
principally employed in getting and selling sand
Al clock on Thursday night Mr. Williams stated
that ne saw two men in the house with Lecock
anu that u game OF bluff was then proposed, at
WHICH liihe ne lett the three together; but the two
men referred to state that they are able to prove
"hefe they were from 10 o'clock until daylight
ana 'hat TO cards were played as proposed. OF
COURSE II they can establish their assertions there
N nf <J,o
gro man named MOSES is also suspected of perpe-
trating the foul deed and for the reason that not
many weeks since I4ecock caught him breaking
INTO his house, and gave him a severe beating
me negro VIII probably be arrested and examined
on the charge
Alter receiving tic blow with the axe Lccock
seemed to have laid il stupor until aroused by
the burning building, by which one of his hands
anu Ieet were completely roasted. This partially
aroused him and he scrambled to the front door,
where he iell and from which place he was taken
by Williams. AS he had no money Of consequence
ana nothing III his house 10 induce rogue to per-
petrae so foul an outrage, the greater probability
is that revenge prompted the inhuman deed.
The police We're engaged the greater part of yes
terday Ill endeavorng to ferret the bloodthirsty
iend; and as murder will out" sooner or LATER we
sincerely hope they may speedily discover the real
perpetrator, and that Justice may be promptly me-
ted out to him
Unexpected Visitor-A few evenings since while
engaged III conversation i'll private residence on
Shockoe Ill., they heard slight rap at the front
door, and one of the fair damsels proceeded to an.
swer the summons. On opening the door she dis
covered n champagne basket in the porch, with a
white cloth spread OVERT which so much excited
her that she screamed aloud for help. As matter
of course the gentlemen hastened to her assistance
and on percelving the white CLOTH proceeded to re-
move it, when to their great astonishment there
lay beautiful little boy, few weeks old dressed
very neatly, and having pinned to his garments q
note. The little stranger was Immediately taken
in and properly cared for, he having an aburd.
ance of wearing apparel with him.
The note requested the lady of the house to take
particular of the little one and gave the assu.
rance that weekly remittances for his support
might be expected. We have omitted names on
this OCCASION for fear of ounding the feelings of
most estimable family, but Broad street mer-
chant, of whom we received the particulars given
above assures us that every word is strictly true.
piolent Assauh.-aTchael NJ. Egan and Margaret
Connerton were arraigned before the Mayor YES
terday morning, to answer the charge of Violently
assaulting and beating William McCarty, on the
22d of October. After hearing the evidence both
parties were held 20 bail to keep the peace and TO
appear before the next Grand Jury, to answer an
indictment for misdemeanor.
Found GuMy-Mary Roman, slave TO Mrs
Wilde, was found guilty before the Mayor of steal
ing clothing from Miss Rosetta Rubber, nymph of
the pave, and ordered to be fogged From This
decision an appeal was taken to the Hastings
Court
Increasing Solary-We are glad to perceive
that the stockholders of the Central Railroad Com
pany, in meeting asseI ibled, have determined To
increase the salary of President Fontaine from
S250O, to $4,000 per annum. Mr.. f. Is wearing out
his very lie in the service of his company and we
gratihed to perceive that his labors are proper
ly appreciated by those who get the benefit of
them
EiAmond Greys.-At called meeting of this
company held last night Mr.. J. V. CRAWFORD was
unanimously reelected Junior First Lieutenant
Fae-On Thursday night last the roof of Mr.. F.
Samanms kitchen, i'll rear of his store. on BROAD
street. between Bird and Sth took fire from the Chin
ney, but the promptness of the firemen extnguish
ed the flames before serious damage was done to
the building.
JFhere are the Netnsen2-For the past week the
streets have been literally alive with dogs, who
howl and growi and fight and bite from early morn
till past midnight. Why don't the netmen make
continued attacks upon them till the whole tribe
are demolished
Edctm Cooke, charged with passing forged paper
knowing the same to have been forged was nut
upon trial last Thursday, and from that time until
late hour yesterday afternoon the Court was en-
gagged in hearing evidence. The case was then
argued at length by the counsel for the defence
and prosecution until a late hour of the night
TIE Mechanics Institute will close its fair in few
days, so that those who have not visited it. can
have but few more opportunities of doing So
Beale's Panorama is now on exhibition at Odd
Fellows Hall, where every body should call and
see it,
McIticing Machines.-Therc are now on exhibit
ton at the hall of the Mechanics Institute two
beautiful morticng machines, which are really
worthy the attention of carpenters.
Catch tie Incsndidyy-The Virginia Fire and Ma
rine Insurance Company have offered reward of
five hundred dollars for the arrest and conviction
of the person iwho set fire to Mr.. John A. Belyin's
large furniture establishment; Governor street
in October last
Hay Trial-Several merchants were summoned
before the Mayor yesterday morning to show cause
why they should not be fined for refusing to have
the Northern hay received by them, weighed ac-
cording to the city ordinance. One of the gentle.
men declared that he did not object to having the
hay weighed, but that he was opposed to allowing
deductions for the wood around the hay. His hon
or continued the matter until Tuesday morning
give time for the Council to repeal the ordinance
if that body felt disposed 20 do so bur informed the
defendants that he should fine each of them if no
change was made.
Naisaace-Edward McAdam was summoned
before the Mayor yesterday, for conducting the
soap business in the city without the permission OF
Al n