The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-08-17
LETTER FROM PETERSBURG.
Correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.
The Corn Crop-The Chesterflcld Murder
Board OF Exchange.
PETERSRuRG, August I6, ls66-

PETERSBURG, August 16, lS66..
Farmers from several of the neighboring
counties give rather unfavorable reports OF
the condition Of the growing crops. Inc
rains have been very unequal, some sec
tons suffering from protractcd urougn',
while in other localities the weather has
been seasonable. Such, indeed, Is gene
rallv the case during the heats OF SUMMER
when the parchcd earth is seldom re-
fresbedsexcept by showers-scarceiy ever
nv continued rains. In August, however,
change usually takes place, but the MD
d,c of the month has arrived, and there Is
no appearance of it yet. Let us hope
tha, in a crisis like the present the clouds
NAV distill their treasures at an early day,
and that the labors of the farmer, pursued
under unwontcd difficulties, may be re-
warded by bountiul returns from kind
mother earth.
within a few days, Of greeting our former
distinguished townslnan Judge Gholson,
who has been absent from the city for
nearly year. After the general uphca-
val, he removed his family to Liverpool,
where he has been engaged in business
connected with the southern trade. Judge
Gholson is not only man of fine talents,
but of the most generous and estimablc
qualities; and none has more endearcd
himself to the people Of this place, who
have, OH frequent occasions, testified their
confidence by assisting TO put him in eX-
allied positions. He is looking remarkably
well, and will probably remain in Virginia
and the South for couple of months.
You have heard of the murder, last
week, of the colorcd drayman Asbury
Gillian, committed in Chesterfield, I'VE
miles from the city. lie was employed ny
some unknown person on Pretchce vi
going for load of proycnder, and inveigled
into an unfregucntcd place, where ne was
murdered in cold blood, the murderer cs-
Gaping with the mulcS--a palr ol very
fine animalS--and the wagon. Ii was
two days before suspicion was aroused,
atfording ample time for the villain to cs-
cape and DISPOSE OF his booty. No disco
very has vet been made OF the property,
and it is only within a day or two that any
effort has been made for the detection OF
the culprit. Meantime, however, and in
deed from the first, suspicion has been
strongly directed 10 Young man ol most
respectable connections, who rather myS-
tcriou>ly disappeared Oh the morning OF
the dav when the crime was committed.
Mr.. Collier, the Mayor, promptly placed
two policemen at the disposal of the civil
authorities of Chesterfield, who left the
city Yesterday morning in pursuit of tho
suspected individual. 1t is proper To say
of Asbury that he was highly respect
able man, who has followed the business Of
drayman for many years.
4 complete organization of the Peters
burg Exchange was effected yesterday
afternoon by the election Of James T..
Venable as president, and L. II. Osborne
and Andrew Rowan rs first and second
vice presidents, respectively. \ board
of twelve directors, consisting OF promi-
ncnt merchants in the several branches Of
trade, was also elected.
The Hastings Court commenced its
monthly session to-day with Il criminal
docket of seventeen cases before it, thir-
teen of which are new, and four Of them
old ones. SNowDEN.