Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-07-18
TILE MURDER OF WILLIAM LYLE.S.
SHORT HISTORY OF THE MURDERERs.
TEE STOLEN MONEY RECOVERED Up TO DATE.


William Platter, Thomas Davis William
Henry Jones and Henry Luckett, the tour ne
gro men arrested in this city yesterday, by OH
GERS Davis, Padgett and Webster, by order OF
the Mayor, upon information furnished him by
Messrs. Lambert and Marbury, the Cashiers OF
the Bank. Of the Old Dominion and Farmers
Bank, Of this city, for numbering the late Viii
liam Lyles, esq.,, and robbing his wife, are now
safely confined in separate cells IN the County
jail, awaiting requisition for their rendition to
the Sheriff of Prince Georges county, Mary
land-who is now in this city-from the Cover
nor of that State. Three of them, Platter,
Jones and Davis have acknowledged compiled
ty in the murder and robbery, but assert that
Henry Richardson, who is yet at large, was
the only one Of the party armed with pistol
and is the actual murderer.
From the evidence, bearing upon the case,
educed by the Mayor 10 his critical and search
ing examinations up to this time, the follow
inc facts have been elected. Jones, who was
intimately acquainted with his former masters
premises, and was aware that Mr.. Lyles had a
was a lot of specie, locked up in his secretary,
impaired his information to Davis, whose old
master lived but short distance from Mr..
Lyles' the secret was then made known to
Platter, Richardson and Luckett, and the five
together, Matched the plot which has resulted
so fatally.
Platter, on Friday evening last hired, for
fifty cents, from Mrs. Richard Warder, the
boat of her husband in this boat Platter,
Davis, Jones and Richardson started for the
scene Of their villainy, but returned in short
time, because Luckett had not met his engage
meot,end they were afraid he would not prove
true. On Saturday evening, however, the
whole five were on hand at the appointed time,
and started from the ship yard, in the same
boat they had the evening before. Going d.
rectly across to Susquehanna Greek, and then
coasting down the Maryland shore past Fort
Foot, where they stopped and got some water,
they went as far as the point of the bluff, from
which point they recrossed the river to John
ston's Spring, where Platter cut fishing pole.
Waiting at this Spring till nearly dark they
again took to their boat and crossed the river to
the mouth Of Piscataway creek, up which they
rowed until opposite Mr.. Lyles house, when
they pulled into the shore and landed. 1t was
now quite dark The five then went to within
hundred yards of Mr.. Lylcs' residence, which
consisted Of a log shanty, containing single
room-his family mansion having been destroy
ed by fire during the war-aDd haing the
house, were answered By Mr.. Lyles, who asked
what they wanted They responded they were
looking for work Mr.. Lyles then told them to
90 to the negro quarters and wait until morn
ing when, as he had some meadow land ne
wanted cleared, he would see them and let them
know whether they would suit him as laborers.
They went to the quarters as directed and wait
ed there unit! about midnight, al which hour
they proceeded to the immediate vicinity Of the
house, and, unitedly, rushing against the
door, bursted it open. and four OF the
five-for Jones, afraid OF being recoguiz-
ed, remained on the outsidc-immediatel
entering. commenced shooting at Biz Lyles,
who had sprung from his bed as the door fell
iu The door, upon being burst open, fell upon
a little negro girl, the only occupant Of the
room except Mr. Lyles and his wite-who was
sleeping upon the foor-snd she, screaming in
her fright, ran out across the yard-one OF the
party crying out "shoot the ID b-h.' The
first ball fred pierced the head Of the bed
stead the second went into the wall Of the house,
but the third, fired close to the head Of the
murdered man, for his face was blackenod with
powder, entered his left cheek, just under the
eye and passed through his brain. lie fell
instantly-neyer spoke after he was shetland
was caught in his fall between the bed posta
wall of the house, where he was found the next
morning by the neighbors who assembled there
at the cries of his wife, with pistol graspcd in
his hand and hid by his night shirt. After muir
dcring Mr. Lyles, Davis attempted to strike a
match, but not being able to ignite one, Platter
took Mrs. Lyles by the wrist, aud dragged her
with hiI1 to the negro quarters, where he com
PEELED her to procure him lamp. He then
led her back to the house, but as soon as the
key of the secretary, which was lying upon It's
top, was found, Platter released her, and rush
ing with the others to the open drawers they
commenced an indlscriminate plunder OF their
contents Mrs Ly!es availed herself of this
opportunity to escape, so Instantly running out
of the house, she hid herself behind a large
walnut tree in the yard, where she remained
watching the murder ers until they left, screening
h erselt by gliding around the body Of the tree,
so as to keep it between herself and them, rs
they went off, Alter ransacking the house,
and selecting what articles, besides the money
the amount of which stolen WAS about 5000
they wanted, among which were ham, a hat
I l I--1o