Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-09-06
THE MURDER OF WILLIAM LYLES,
OF PRINCE GEORGE.
TRIAL OF THE NEGROES CHARGED
WITH THE MURDER.
MURDER AND ROBBERY
FULL DETAILS.

murder Of VIM. Lyles, At his residence at
Auburn" in this county, on :he night of the
latn OF July, by gang Of negroes. The resi-
dence Of mr.. Lyies was situated on the south
bank of Piscataway creek, near its junction
MIN tne Potomac, and nearly opposite Fort
Washington. IL was formerly improved by a
nne brick mansion. which was destroyed by
hre early in the war. For this arson several
escaped from Jail before trial-among them
one Of the parties implicated in the m urder
After the nre, Mr. Lyles and his wife lived in
small cabin, originally built as a servants
| quarter, oBnsisting of one room only on the
hrst floor, entered by two doors, opposite each
| other, in front and rear.
The Prince Georgian, in its narrative of the
event at the time, stated that on The night of
the m urder. after Mr. and Mrs. Lyles had re-
tired, there was loud KIN ocking at the rear door
when mr.. Lyies demanded what was wanted.
&c In reply, the parties stated that they Were
travellers, from the neighborhood Of Port To-
bacco, and supposing the house TO be occupied
by colored persons, they had called TO ask for
lodging and to get directions as 10 obtaining
employment. MT Lyles directed them TO an
other "quarter" near by. where they could re-
main for the night, and said that in the morn
ing ne would see what could be done for them
Snpposlng them TO have so acted, Mr. and
Mrs Lyles fell asleep. Sometime afterw
the door was suddenly burst IN by main force
and the four negroes rushed IN, firing toward
the bed as they entered. Mrs. Lyies immedi-
ately aroused, and not finding Mr. Lyles in
bed, and supposing he had escaped, unlocked
secure herself. She was oyertaken nv the
rufiians and brought back Being asked
where her husband was, she replied she knew
not. They then demanded TO know where
were the money and the keys and not being
satisfied on these points, req uired a light 10
be furnished. Mrs. Lyles, still under the i'm
preston that her husband had got ont and
wishing another chance to escape, offered to go
to the kitchen and light lamp. They refused
this, but did allow a small servant girl 10
60, who brought lamp, which was extin-
hold OF Mrs. Lylee and made her go the Kitchen
when another light was procured and a return
made to the dwelling - Mrs. l.. mean while
failing, by various signs, TO make the girl
understand her wish that she should run of
and give an alarm. Mrs. l. was then forced to
stand at the door, one OF the negroes guarding
her with q pistol which he presented, while
the others proceeded with their search They
were about to leave, when the kew to the secre-
tary was accidentally discovered, and thew
proceeded to examine ii, and obtained from
S1,2OO to 81 500 in Virginia currency, an amount
OF greenbacks not exactly known, upwards of
s2Oo In gold, and quantity of silver coin, of
various denominations. They also approx ria
ted some bed clothing, wearing apparel, a new
clock, and several other articles. While they
were all thus busily occupied, Mrs. L. escaped
again unobseryed, and secured a position be-
hlnd large walnut tree near the house
Presently the murderers left with their booty
in the direction of the river, and Mrs Lyles
by changing her position so as TO keep al WAYS
behind the tree as they passed, eluded further
narm. She then proceeded through the dark.
ness 10 the cabin of a colored man, some dis.
tance on, where she sank helpless at the door
The man perceived that her garments were
covered with blood, and caring properly for
her, immediately ran TO the nearest neighbors
10 give the alarm. When several gentlemen
arrived at the house, they found the dead BODY
of Mr.. Lyles lying on the floor. in a narrow
space between ohe side OF the bed and the sec.
retary. Under his body was a pistol OF his
own. which usually lay upon a shelf near the
bed. He had no other wound than a pistol
shot winch entered about the right cheek bone,
ano proceeded upward through the brain. As
no WORD nor groan was ever uttered by him,
ne was OF course struck by the first fire of the
party as they entered; when il is supposed the
shock left him still strength enough to lean
conyulsiyely from bed aad clutch his pistol
but only to sink with it helplessly to the floor
and before his wife hal opportunity to observe
MN or could realize the situation: The posi-
lon in which he fell did not render the body
liable TO be observed by person standing in
the room. The chamber presented a frightfuI
spectacle the floor and bed being covered with
blood and the furniture giving evidence OF
the robbery. Mrs. L., in jumping from bed
and over the place where her husband had
lain, got herself and her garments almost COW
cred with blood and without being aware of
the fact.
Mr.. Lyies was nearly 5s years of age, of
line personal presence, and in vigorous health
he was widely known and highly respected
and possessed many of the qualities that pro-
cure and preserve friendship and esteem. His
nigh position in the community, OF course
murder.
Four of the negroes concerned in the affair
were arrested afterwards in Alexandra. having
money obtained from the premises of the de-
ceased The fifth negro escaped and up 70 the
present time has avoided detection. II seems
the wretches left Alexandria on the night of
the mErder in a row boat, borrowed from Mr.
Richard Warder. They first went to the
Maryland shore, near the Bluff, then crossed
to the Virginia side OF the river. in the neigh
borhood Of Johnston's Spring, where one of
the party cut fish pole, for appearance sake
Towards night they recrossed the river, and en-
tering Piscataway Creek landed near Mr.
Lyles's residence; then going to the house tbev
asked for work, and upon being told To 90 10
the negro quarters and wait until morning
tney went on and did not return until they
came TO perpetrate, and but, too successfully
carry out their villainous design.
The case came up for trial to-day The court
met at 10 a. m. AT II O'Clock the grand jury
presented true bill against William Platter
Henry Luckett, William Henry Jones. Thos
Davis, and Henry Richards, alias Nimrod
Richards. tor murder. The first four have
been In Jail for some time, the latter is still ar
large, as have already stated.
william Platter is large, muscular, and
well-formed negro, Of a dark copper color. He
is y years old, and is about five feet ten inches
high, has a smooth face, and has mis- wooliy
hair cut short. He was born in Chester coun-
ty, Penn.
Henry Luckett is stout and thick set negro.
about - or % years Of age. and five feet four
inches high. His hair like Plater's is cut
close TO his head, nor has he any beard. He
W. r.. X
we'll, of Warrenton.
Thomas Davis is Of light copper color, with
cropped hair and no beard. He is about 10
years old, and is near five feet five inches
high. He is unmarried, and was, previous to
the war, the slave Of Col. jenkins, Of Piscat-
away.
William Henry Jones is a jet black negro,
with small yellow eyes. The little hair he has
on his head is short and woolly. His height 10
about five feet ten inches, and his age is in the
neighborhood of 26 years.
The Hon. Samuel II. Berry is the presiding
iudge, Edw. w. Belt prosecuting, and Messrs
G. c. Magruder and Jos. Roberts defending
Mr.. Magruder asked that he Court would
allow the defense the privilege of keeping the
witness for the State till Thursday, winch
was granted.
The jurors were then sworn on their roir dire
The following are the names of the Jury: Jno
H. Selby. foreman, T. J. Nicholson John j.
Jarboe, J. T. Hardisty, r. NJ. DarneII, r.
Pumphrey. A. p. Hill, X. A. Harwood, Jos.
Walker, John Fry, r. H. Magruder, and c. Q.
Hill
Mr.. Belt opened the case by stating what he
expected TO prove, and was followed by Mr.
Magruder for the defense.
Dr. Edgar r. Hum, witness for prosecution.
testified that he resides In Pisca away: was
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