The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-01-15
PRICE ONECENT.
LOCAL MATTERS.

NEW KENT TRAGEDY. Cur readers win
remember the details Published by us on the 9Th
inst, OF the murder of JANEs C. GsaST of New Kent
CO., on the night Of I'd inst. while sitting in a
day was the time fixed upon for the Examination
OF the three nsgroes--Riehard and Henry, slaves
to Mrs. Grant, she mother of the murdered man.
and Maj Morris, slave to Dabney Wade. Of IIano-
yer, who are now in JAIL charged with that horrid
crime. In order to give the particulars Of this
outrage, We visited New Kent Courthouse, but
learned. on arriving there, that the examination
had been postponed for two weeks, to secure tho
attendance OF six or eight witnesses. whose testi
mony Ia considered important. We. however,
talked With many intelligent gentlemen in the
neighbsAhood, who knew the Grant family well
and from them CLEANED she following facts:
Mrs Grant, the mother Of the deceased. owned
some three hundred aud fifty acres of land in her
own right, one half of which she decided to her son.
James c. Grant Some months after this she gave
the other half, on which stood the old homestead,
to her single daughter, Miss Catharine Grant aud
when this deed was admitted to record, it ID said
that James became very much enraged with his
sister, and probably Threatened her with violence
In October November, the old homestead was fired
and burned. and Miss Grant at once charged her
brother with being the iucendiary. Mrs Grant
after this, occupied her kitchen as dwelling
house. her son and daughter, though ut de1dly en-
nifty, remaining with Der.
On the night of tbs 31st of December. Miss
Grant says she was shot at by her brother. Wheth-
er this was true or not, no one can say, but Ger
tain it Is, that she left her mothers house
at . late hour that night, in company with
Dick, Zone OF the prisoners.l went to Mrs Crump's
plantation mile or two OF. aud instead of going
directly to Mrs. C.s residence, stopped in the
gro qusrters, where Dick has wie.and seut to the
house for Dr. Crump to visit her, alleging that she
had been shot at and wounded. DR.. G. immediate
y obeyed the summons aud after examining Miss
IT,. au6le, where she said shot had struck her
told her that she had not been wounded by a shot
or ball. DIR. Crump being magistrate, Miss Grant
obtained peace warrant from him against her
brother; and the day after, on learning that
rant bad been issued for his arrest, James c. Grant
swore out search warrant against his sister Cath
crime, in which he charged her with purloipng u
number of his bonds and other valuable papers,
After both warrants were served, Monday, the 4th
of January, was fixed upon for their trial.
On Sunday evening" the Sd inst, while James C.
Grant was at supper, his mother lying on a bed in
one corner OF the room, quite i'll, and his half sis
ter, who is a lunstic, sitting the lire, some
one fired at him through window, putting four
or Ave buCkshot into the side OF his head aud xii.
ling him instantly.
On the 4th inst, an inquest was held over the
body OF the murdered man, but neither the halt
sister nor mother could give aly clue to the
stu. The Coroner, however. from circumstanc
that came to his knowledge, had DICK, Zone of Mr.
Grants servants lodged in JAIL to answer for the
crime. Dick at once declared himself innocent,
but said il he released he would pout out the
murderer. Of course, the justice would enter into
no such agreement, and Dick haty refused at that
time to make any disclosures, but since then has
stated that his brother HENRY received SO to kill
hia master, James g. Graut, but that Henry, to
keep his hands clear OF blood, gave SO to MAJOR
MORRIS to do the deed for him, and that Major
committed the murder. Henry aud Major, as we
have before said, are now under arrest, on the
statement OF Dick, and in order to get witnesses to
esta blish their guilt or innocence, the examina-
tion has been postponed. The neighbors, gene
rally, incline to the opinion that Dick committed
the murder, aud that he was nstgated to it by one
who should have shielded the deceased from barn.
instead of plotting against his life.
| Day before yesterday Catherine Grant appeared
| at the court house. to answer to the search war
| rant under which she was arrested, but as the
complainant was then uAder the sod, the charge
| against her dismissed.
| Before James c. Grant was murdered and with
out the knowledge of his mother OF sister, he made
a will. leaving all his property, of every sort to
Mr.. james Roper, of Henrico. As this willis u ith-
| out a flaw, and will be sustained By tho courts
his dDeetiORate sister will not heir dollar Of hs
possessions. Messrs. j. 2. Pierce and Telemacl,us
Taylor have been employed to defend the priso-
| ners
| The county of New Kent, with but single ex.
ception, has never had her fair escutcheon stain.
| ed with murder 50 foul before About thirty years
| ago, gentleman, named FORD, residing with his
| wife, on York river, was brutally murdered by q
| negro fellow, then owned by Parson Robinson -
| Mr.. Ford, IL is said, owned negro woman who
| desired the fellow husband. Mr.. p. did moi
wish the black ruffian about his place, and to ge
| rid of him. made the woman take ap lodgings in
| the room with his wife and himself. One night
after he had retired, the negro fellow came to TIN
house, knocked at the door, and told Mr.. +. he has
| come to release his wife. Mr.. +. Immediately go
up to order the rufiian off, and by way of intImi
| dating him, took his gun la his hand. As soon a
he stepped into the yard, the negro snaiched th'
gun from his hand, shot hiin dead in his door, ane
| then went into the house, where Mrs. Ford wa
| lying i'll, and beat out her brains. The murderer
| was soon after captured and executed.