Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-11-02
EXTRA.
THE LYLEs MURDERERs.
Their Execution.
THE PARTICULARS OF THE MURDER
CONFESSIONS OF THE PRISONERS.
A RESPITE FOR JONES.
FULL DETAILS.

FULL DETAILS.
-
tSPec al Correspondence Of the STAR
UPPER MARLDosoueH, Prince George Counts y,
Nd, Nov. I, 1s66.--Ed. Star: Tomorrow ,s the
day named by the Governor for the execution
OF the negroes VIM. Platter, Henry Luckett,
VIM. Jones, and Henry Davis, convicted OF
the murder Of Col VIM. Lyles, near Piscata.
way, in June last, and of VIM. Henry Jones, OF
rape on the person of Mrs. Anderson, of Silver
Hull. ...5.
THE MURDER.
The particulars Of the Lyles murder were
given at the time in the Star The residence of
Mrs. Lyles was situated on the south bank of
Plscataway creek, near iis junction with the
Potomac, and nearly opposite Fort Washing
Ion. IL was formerly improve by a fine brIc
mansion, which was destroyed by fire early in
the war. For this arson several of Mr. LyIes'
own negroes were indicted, but escaped from
Jail before trial-among them one of the parties
implicated in the murder. After the fire Mr..
Lyles and his wife lived in a small cabin,
originally built as a servants quarter, consist
ing OF one room only on the first fioor entered
and rear.
On the night of the murder. after Mr.. and
mrs. Lyles had retired, there was LOUD knock
Ing at the rear door, when Mr.. Lyles demand. I.
cd what was wanted, &c In reply, the par
ties stated that they were travellers, from the
u,
the house TO be occupied by coIored persona
they had called to ask for lodging and to eet
directions as 10 obtaining employment. Mr.
Lyies directed them to another quarter near
oy, where they could remain for the night and
SAID that In the morning he would see what
could be done for them Supposing them to
have SO acted, Mr.. and Mrs. Lyles fell asleep.
Some time after yards the door WAS suddenly
burst in by main force, and the four Legroes
rushed in, firing toward the bed "a thew enter
ed Mrs Lyles Immediately aroused. and not
had escaped, unlocked the front door and went
out, endeayoring to secure herself She was
overtaken by the ruffians and brought back.
,n,,nd be,ng askso where her husband was, she re-
Know where the money and keys were, and
not being satisfied with her answers reauired
light TO be furnished. Mr.. Lyles, still under
the impression that her husband had got ont
and wishing another chance TO escape offered
TO go the kitchen and light a lamp The me-
groes refused this, but alio wed a small servant
girl TO go, and the latter brought lamp. which
WAS extinguished when near the door.
They then took hold Of Mrs. Lyles and made
her 60 10 the kitchen, when another light was
procured, anc return made to the dwelling
10 make the girl understand her wish that she
should run off ana give an alarm Mrs. L.
was then forced to stand at the door, one of
the negroes guarding her with a pistol which
he presented, while the others proceeded with
thelr search. They were about to leave, when
the key to the secretary was accidentally dis
covered, and they proceeded to examine il,
and obtained from SI.20O to $3.50 in Virginia
currency, an amount OF greenbacks not exact
~ known, upwards OF $500 gold, and q
qdanuty OF silver coin. Of various denomina.
uons. Ihey also appropriated some bed -clo.h.
ing, wearing apparel, a new clock, and several
other articles. While they were ali thus busiIv
occupied, Mrs. L. escaped again unobseryed,
nna ,raa aeeurua S position behind large walnut
Ieit win their booty, in the direction of the
rver, ane Mrs Lyles, by changing her po-
sition SO as to keep always behind the tree
as they passed eluded further harm. She
then proceeded through the darkness to the
cabin OF colored man, some distance Off
where she sank helpless at the door The
man man Pereeived that her garments were COW
ereo with blood, and caring properly for
her, Immediately ran TO the nearest neighbors
TO give the alarm. When several gentlemen
arrived at the house they found the dead body
space between one side OF the bed and the sec.
retary. Under his body was pistol of his own
which usually lay upon shelf near the bed
He had no other wound than O pistol shot
which entered about the right cheek bone ard
proceeded upward through the brain As no
word or groan was ever uttered by him, he was
OF course struck by the first fire OF the party as
they entered; when, Ii Is supposed the shock
left him still strength enough to leap conyuI.
sively from bed and clutch his pistol, but onIy
70 SINK VITA Il helpiessiy 70 the floor, and be-
or could realize the situation. The position ina
which he fell did not render the body liable to
be observed by person standing in the room.
The chamber presented a frightful spectacle,
the moor and bed being covered VI ith blood, and
the furniture being covered with blood, and the
iurniture giving evidence of the robbery Mrs
L., In jumping from the bed and over the place
where her husband had lain. got herself and.
her garments covered with blood, and without
being aware Of the fact.
Mr.. Lyies was nearly f,y leigh. years of age,
OF hne personal presence and in vigorous
health. He was widely known and highly re-
spected, and possessed many OF the qualities
that procure and preserve friendship and es-
teem His high position in the commu nity. OF
course. greatly added to the indignation OF his
foul murder. a .H.
CONFESSION OF THE PRISONERS.
The accused were tried for the murder on the
5th and 9th Of September, and after aa Impair
tial hearing convicted. There was another
One-Henry Richards alias Nimrod Richards-
indicted, but he succeeded in evading arr.st
Subsequent to conviction the prisoners made
the following confession: % = -.
i, William Platter, being one of the parties
who have been arrested and accused OF being
concerned ia the murder OF William Lyles, do
make the following statement. TO wit: : =
That That at It tie G time Of and prio- 70 said murder
tween Fairfax and Royal streels. at the END of
the Foundry lot; that on Sata rday, the l4th
day OF July. 1866. got into abost at Alexan-
who are jointly accused with me. aud that we
proceeded in said boat to a place called John
sons Spring, on the Bend; ut that place Will
iio" 1cuIy JOucs duQ Genly Luck0u got
board We then proceeded to the farm Of Mr..
William Lyles, on Piscataway Creek Arriv-
ing there we hauled the boat on shore and
proceeded on foot to Mr. Lyles' residence On
reaching the residence i knocked at the door
and asked Mr.. Lyles whether he wished to
hire any hands. He told MS TO 60 to guar.
ter near by and he would answer us in the
morning We did not 60 to the quarters, but
laid down, all i've OF us, on the grass. near the
dwelling house, having agreed on the word
.Rush," to be given by said Richards, ithat.we
would all start mp and burst in the door Of the
house, for the purpose Of efecting our inien-
tions. There were three pistols in sthe marty,
which we're held by. the said Richards, said
Lueketts and myself Before the actual as.
sault gave my 1istol to SAID Jones Al about
II o'clo mienight the said Richgryp gave the
word '.Rush." whereupon all five Of us started
up and precIpitated ourselves against the door
OF the dwelling, which was immediately
oursted In; whereo pom three or afouI shots
were fired by some OF the party, one Of which
esulted in the Immediate death Of the said
William Lyles. l am not abe TO identity
W hose shot was the fatal one. We were ali
nve In common conspiracy. / am equally
guilty with the others, but no more guilty than
any one Of the other four, and Henry Ricn.