The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1857-06-24
CORRESPONDENCE THE DIsLATcH''
PETERSBURG, Jane -.

PETERSBURG, Jane ".
At an advanced hour, last evening. three slaves.
employed by Mr. Edward Gill, Of Chesterheaa', ~
his residence near Matoaca, were lodged 10 .hs Ja'
Of this city, under very important, .nu' nsrao
fearful circumstances Their names aFe. resp1v.
lively Rebecca q cook, and Maria tooth ~ n W
Mr. Gill) andJohn, . slave OF Sy s.'.a f.r,;,, 81
Esq For several weeks past, tns en.lT ~uy "
Mr. Gill, consisting Of six Children, ,.s n,,s 80
have been slowly and Rraduahy etS. .S..i.y,
terious diseases, producing aa,na ,srvonsness In
,ha $500 IS lime their youngest child fell VIC
,i,, =, IT, ss,a.v: aud on Saturday last hysicians
var eai,ad to attend tho family, every one OF
wbnro had becon,e prostrated ana were iaoorins
80, jntense pain From the character OF tie
,rn,oms of the atfiicton, suspicious Of poisoning
80 1rousPd, which were subsequently fully
rorroborated by Investigation. Onthe premises OF
The cook which were also occupied by the two 9th
az servants were found parcels of lump and carlo.
nate of lead with vial containing the sugar ofead
These similar and deadly poisons, as every At
teudant circumstance warranted bad been intro-
duced from time to time In the food and drink
served 80 the family, causing slow process OF
death On yesterday (Monday) evening Ella, the
youngest surviving daughter, died under the
ioathe ONE afilicton. The Chesterfield authors
ties were Immediately consulted, all the circum.
stances fully stated and the arrest authorized,
The rest of the family are slightly improving.
In the MAYORS court this morning, George
with shooting pistol at James TAayer. on Nom
day evening Thayer had administered whip.
ping to one Of Booths children, that morning and
was met on "Turpp Alley" West Ward,) in the
afternoon by Mrs Booth, who in revenge for the
damage done to Bobby's breeches, became pug
nacious, broke an umbrella over his head. and
struck him with that favorite war!ike instrument
brick. Her husband then came up, and when
within few steps Of Tbayer, fired pistol at his
head, the contents Of which, honor to bis agility
he lodged The case was committed TO the Grand
Jury, and Booth required to enter cognizance in
the sum of $500. Thsyer was bound over in the
sam of 500
During the temporary suspension ofprofcssion-
al activity with the incendiaries a less destruc-
tive, but by far more cunning craft are at work.
The chamber of John a. Hair, Esq, Washington
street, was entered last night, aud a splendid
gold watch, worth $50, taken from the head
board of the very bed in which he was sleeping.
Richard O Weeks premises on the same street,
were entered also last night, but little booty taken
Several other midnight thefts have taken place,
but are scarce worthy jotting down
Petersburg seems TO have become the central
point fer egularly organized gang Of sharperS -
Among their recent heavy gambling swindles,
may notice one of importance. A highly respec-
table young citizen was led off, day or two since,
to the woods Lorth Of the city, and fascinated into
a friendly game Of bluff" He left just three
thousand dollars out of pocket, note for which
amount was presented 20 his father, yesterday,
who, to save bis hopefel boy from tbs stigma OF
the sharpers style of 'dishonor," pRii it down in
full.
An elopement occurred last night, which has
created the most Intense excitement. James m.
Lees tailor ran off witt Mss M J Stewart, a high
ly respectable yOurg lazy, sixteen years OF age
The parties have gone North. Lee isa married
man.