The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-01-15
.MYsTERrOUs ArD supDRN DEATH.

Coroner Little was notified yesterday
morning that the body Of Samuel Spencer,
suddenly deceased, was lying in house in
Rockets awaiting an inquest. A prelimi.
nary examination brought out few circum-
stances concerning his death, but enough
to justify the holding Of an inquest and a
post naorten examination.
Policeman Connors said that at about
| half.past in the morning he saw the de-
ceased in the street near Gillie's Creek
bridge. He was quite drunk, and very dis
orderly said he wanted to kill somebody
who had spoken against his religion. The
officer asked him where he lived, and he
replied that he didn't live anywere. Con-
tinuing disorderly, he was taken to the
station, when he said that he lived on the
steamer Hatteras, and knew Mr.. johnson
who lives in Rockets" Mr.. Connors then
took him to Mr.. Johnson's, and left him
there. At about half-past o'clock he
was called in to Mr.. Johnson's, and found
Spencer lying on the sofa dead.
Mr.. Johnson said that there was little
party at his house that night, and the Ge-
ceased was there with his wife. The latter
came early in the evening; but Mr.. Spen-
SOl3 WIZ was u ndGCumdh dI GuC lNOW L OIh
wharf-shed, arrived late, having obtained
somebody to take his place on duty. After
taking several drinks Spencer became very
much excited, and wanted the by-standers
to go to the bar with him. Presently he
quarreled with young man named Glib
son, and struck him blow or two. Gibson
hit him back, making slight bruise on
his temple. Mr.. Johnson then went with
Gibson and another young man to the Pc
tersburg depot, as they wanted to go to
North Carolina. Spencer came out and
followed the wagon little distance. When
Mr.. johnson returned from the depot he
found the deceased lying on the sofa, stone
dead. Mr.. johnson said that the deceased
was very delicate man-at least he had
heard so. Was, he thought, in better
health than usual that night. Was very
steady man, but excitable.
Mrs. Johnson says that after he was
brought in by the police officer, Spencer
was rather noisy, and complained that the
policeman had abused him. She did
not think anything Of what he said. He
sat down in a chair by her, and presently
put his hand to his head. She talked to
him. Presently he gave something like q
uSSp uIdWu SISH, oOuuilnS uiuioOii ou tnO
same time. She said, "Mr. Spencer,
don't heave here. Go to the lounge" He
made no reply. Presently he began to get
pale, and she called his wife. Mrs. Spen-
Ger ran in and said it was owing to his
temper; he always felt "strange in
side'' when he got mad or excited about
anything. Some of the gentlemen
standing by gathered around, and, at Mrs.
Spencer's request, moved her husband to
the lounge, where he lay for few mo-
ments without speaking a word. They
rubbed his feet and hands, used camphor,
and did everything else they could think
of, but without the desired effect. He died
at about O'Clock. The gentlemen who
were in the room at the time worked on
the Hatteras, and went off on that steamer
early in the morning. Mr.. Gibson, with
whom Spencer had the difficulty, went to
North Carolina.
No bruises were discovered on the body
except on the temple, where there was
slight discoloration. The blood had been
washed off.
At late hour last night we learned
that the jury had met, and after hearing
evidence as above, was adjourned until
Monday next.