The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-09-03

HOMICIDE on THE MECHANICsvILLE TURN
PIKE-A NEGRO THIEF SHOT AND KILLED.
On Tuesday evening the dead body of q
negro man was found lying in ditch on the
premises of Mr.. John B. Davis, about a
mile and half from the city. The corpse
was not disturbed until yesterday morning,
when Justice Nettles, being informed of the
circumstance, directed Constable Robinson
to summon jury of inquest.
The jury found the deceased lying partly
in the ditch, his head resting upon his right
arm, which lay upon the bank. He had
evidently breathed his last in this position.
The body being turned over, two buck-shot
wounds were discovered-one under the
right arm and the other in the right breast.
Modification had already set in, and the
flesh about the wounds was but a loathsome
mass of corruption.
The following is an abstract of the testi-
mony elected in view of the body:
Cary Braxton, Woodworking negro, re-
siding in the neighborhood, said that on
Sunday night last at about midnight he
heard somebody in his corn-feld, and went
out with his SOILS to see about it. All three
were armed. Witness soon discerned two
or three men pulling and husking corn.
Watched some time, and presently saw
them put their plunder in bags. Then fired
at one, who seemed to have on light coat.
The thieves broke, and ran in different di-
rections. Somebody hallooed "Oh, Lord :"
Witness told his sons to shoot, and they did
so, after first crying .'Halt I" The man
was fifty yards from witness when he shot
Didn't know the color of the thief or any
thing about him. Went to the spot and
found two bags, with nine dozen ears in
each, all husked and ready for market.
This was more than quarter of mile
from where the dead man was found.
Matilda Fleming (negress) identified the
body as that of her husband, Burwen Flem-
ing. They lived at French Garden. On
Sunday night deceased was lying down,
when a fellow named Sam Brown came in
and asked him to 60 somewhere. After
some persuasion he went she didn't know
where, but was afraid fer no gCcd. Next
morning Sam Brown came back alone, and
seemed frightened out of his wits said Bur-
well "would be back presently" Witness
suspected something, and threatened Sam
with arrest if he didn't tell. Then he told
the whole story. Said they went after corn
on a negro mans place, and had been shot
ut didn't know whether Burwell was hit.
Witness then came out to look for the body
but couldn't find it. Sam is a bad character :
is q huckster in the Second Market for
merly lived in Petersburg.
Edward Fleming (negro), a brother of the
deceased, said he advised BurHell to stick
to business, and not go off with such fellows
as Sam, but he would 60. Sam has left town
to avoid arrest.
Upon this evidence the jury &C. Scher-
merhorn foreman) found that the de-
ceased, Burwell Fleming, came to his death
by gunshot wound at the hands of some
person unknown" Cary Brazton was ar
rested on the complaint of the relatives of
the deceased, and was held to bail in the
sum of $500 for his appearance before the
County Court next Monday. A warrant
has also been issued for the arrest of Sam
Brown.
Great complaint is made Of the depreda-
tions of thieves in the neighborhood Of this
ccurrence-Braxton' corn-feld was in
vaded three times last week. His act is
considered perfectly justifable.