The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-12-10
THE 1IENRrCo COUNTY MURDER.
Continuation of Coroner's Inquest.
THE EVIDEN " G E..
The Verdict.
JOHN BOWLER THE MURDERER.

the Westham plank-road, in pursuance OF
1 adjournment on Monday evening. Wegiye
below a resume of the evidence as taken
before the jury:
| Charles G.. Burnett, who resides at Dover
Mines, near Manikin, Goochland county,
was the first witness sworn. He had been
acquainted with Rogers (tffe deceased for
two or three months. Last saw him on
Saturday evening between and o'clock
at William A. Dietrick's store, in Manikin,
on which occasion he said he was going to
Richmond that night. He was in company
with colored man, and they left the store
together on horseback. Rogers took
| drink first He said, a few days before, some
thing about going up the road to make COL
lections.
Mrs. Sophia Bowler testified to seeing
Rogers on Saturday night at about s o'clock.
He said he was going home to Richmond,
and her brother-in-law, John Bowler, who
lived at her house, said he would 60 with
him. She asked him to stay all night, but
he said he was obliged to come, as he had
money to collect on the way. and If he
did not get it that night he might
not get it at all. Bowler also advised
him to stav. He and Bowler left to-
eether, and took q drink while at my
house. The latter had on light-fgured
pants with stripes, black coat, felt hat, and
no oyercoat. The deceased was little
"drinky," but he remarked to Johnny
Bowler before he left that he was not
so drunk that he could not take care
of him Johnny. Do not know that
Bowler had pistol that night, but have
seen him with one "a revolver). Do not
identify the one found upon the deceased as
the one. John Bowler had only eight or
| ~, all tIlt knnyU Of
left. Saw q colored man with Rogers.
George J. Bowler was sworn. and corro-
| borated his wife's statement as to the
amount of money John Bowler had. He
was shoemaker, and worked with him.
| Witness was not at home on Saturday, and
did not see Rogers. Knew that John Bow
ler had more than eight or nine dollars.
Mrs. Gordon, who lives in Goochland
about three miles from Tuckahoe creek,
testified that Rogers stopped at her house
at about 9 o'clock to collect some money
which her husband owed for trees. Mr..
Gordon paid him five dollars and two quar-
ter notes, and asked him how he got along.
He replied that he made good collections,
and repeated it.. There was young man
with him. Heard the latter say "We will
be in Richmond by twelve O'clock" Heard
Bowler name called. They left the house
at about half-paSt 8 O'Clock. Saw no
| colOred man with tic party.
Sarah White, 4 colored girl, who lives at
| Mr.. HOrnerS, ut lIornerSville, said she was
there last Saturday night, and slept in the
house. Two men stopped there the same
night, and one Of them said his name was
Bowler. He looked at his watch, and said
il was three minutes Of II. He said he was
very cold, and asked for drink Of whis-
KEY. They took drink, and Bowler asked
Rogers if he wouldn't have some cigars.
Mr.. Horncr asked Rogers how he got along
collecting. Alr. Rogers said ''Very we'll"
Albert II. Fisher, sworn, testified: live
on the extension OF Main street, just out
side Of the new corporation line of Rich,
mond city. | live in weatherboarded
double house. the upper portion of which
is not finished. II is 4 tenement separated
| by q plank partition. Conversation can be
heard from one side to the other in an ordi-
nary tone Of voice. John Needham and his
wife occupy the adjoining tenement. No
one knocked at my door on Sunday morn
ing. Some person came, | suppose after
Saturday midnight, and hallooed from the
fence. lie halooed for Jack twice dis
tinctly. This awoke me. Needham got up
and Went to the door. He invited the man
in. | do not know who it was. He came
in, and / suppose staid some ten or fifteen
minutes. The only conversation / heard
was that Bowler remarked that Il do not
know that It was Bowler, but it was
the person who came in the rOoml,
=" ] am going away tomorrow; if she don't
90 with me now she may go to hell" 1take
| It that he meant his wife. l only know that
he is married by hearsay. He said also,
"This will do to get you whiskey in the
morning" / take it that he handed him
money. I heard no one counting money in
the morning. Needham's family gave no
account of the affair next morning. In re-
gard to the time of this occurrence / know
this nv wife asked Mrs. Needham, after the
person left, what time it was. She replied,
s'Blr. Bowler says that it is l o'clock ex-
actly." On Monday morning Needham said
Bowler had q slung-shot and l took
it from him, and looked on Sunday morn
ing to see if there was any blood on it, but
I could not see any. Bowler told me that
he had robbed man and Knocked him
down with slung-shot." l suppose that
is the substance of what he said. There is
a great deal more, but don't think it is
necessary to repeat it. The man whom
Needham told me was Bowler came to
Needham's house on Sunday evening at
about twilight. He was knocking at MIR.
Needham's door. I invited him in my
house, as neither Mr.. nor Mrs. Needham
were at home. He came in, and as soon as
Mrs. Medium came into her house he
went there. At the request of my wife lit
the candle when he came into my house.
The man who came in my house was ex'
actly like the Bowler who testified here to-
day, except that his beard was blacker and
his hair longer. lie was dressed in q neat
suit Of dark clothing, (new, out-and-out,) q
nice pair Of boots, and black felt hat. he
sat down on chair with his hat upon his
knee; and when told him of q young mans
being killed up the road, he remarked, :" Is
that so? Where? What was he killed
for ?" I replied, "For money, sup
pose." Said he /: +" 1t is hard thing to
| Kill man for his money" His manner was
Indifferent, When Mrs. Needham returned
he went into her house, and left after re-
naming about five minutes. Shortly after
he left, Detective Craddock and John Need
ham came up. Bowler is said to have mar
ried Needham's sister,. Mr.. and Mrs. Need
ham are persons Of good character in the
/ neiehborhood, as far as, l know. Irecog-
nized from his voice that the man who came
into my house on Sunday evening was the
same who called for Needham OH the night
before.
Joseph Cooper (the colored man with
whom the deceased rode) was sworn. His
| evidence went mainly to show that the de.
ceased was last seen with Bowler about four
miles the other side of the place of the
| murder.
The evidence then being closed, the jury
came to the verdict that the deceased
| came to his death from two pistol-shot
| wounds received in the back part of his
iI head, on the night of the 4th Of December,
1889, at the hands of John Bowler, the said
| John Bowler still being at large" ~ p
The detectives are still on the track Of the
murderer at least according to their OWL
statements. Personally, we: are certainly
hut we do not think that in this case they
acted in manner calculated to reflect credit
1 upon themselves or their motives, as ;detee:
/ tives. We know nothing of the fact but