The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-08-28
VIRGINIA NEWS.

VIRGINIA NEWS.
MURDER OF A CoLonED MAN IN PErEas-
BURG.-We have received information from
our neighboring city Petersburg) of the
murder of colored man named Washing
ton Jones-well-known among the colored
people of this city--by another colored
man named John Thomas Branch. Greasy
Jones and Peggy Jones, the mother-in-law
and sister-in-law Of Branch, and also his
wife, were supposed to be implicated.
The three former were arrested and lodged
in Jail, but the wife escaped.
The particulars we have correspond
pretty much with those from the index of
yesterday, which we give below:
!" 1t seems that colored society meeting
was held OF the house of Greasy Jones, the
mother-in-law of Branch, last night She
resides on Harrison street opposite the re-
sidence of Mr.. John Pollard. During the
progress Of the meeting row occurred, in
which Washington Jones is supposed to have
received blow, or blows, which caused his
death in few minutes. From the negroes
arrested no information could be elected.
Mr.. ]. w. Walden, who resides short dis
retired to bed, was aroused by the noise,
and arose, dressed himself, and went out to
the opposite side of the street from his
house to inquire into the cause of the dis
turbance. ..I ...
"There he met Washington Jones, who
was coming from the direction of the house.
Mr.. Walden asked Jones what was the mat
ter, when he stopped, and leaning upon the
fence, said l will tell you,' in hesitating
manner. Observing that the man was about
to fall, Mr.. Walden caught him in his arms,
when he instantly expired, and MIR. Walden
laid him down on the sidewalk.
"The police did not make q critical ex-
animation of the body, but cursory OBJ
servation showed no bruises or wounds
which could have caused death. Only one
small spot Of blood was found on the hand
of the deceased. A coroner's jury will be
held over the body of the deceased at II
o'clock this morning, when the facts in the
case will probably be elected .....
" It was reported last night that the diff
iculty arose in consequence Of Jones show
ing Branch's wife moro attention than the
latter thought was becoming, thereby arous-
ing his jealousy. They both formerly be-
longed to DR.. John Bragg. Branch, the
supposed murderer, is O very powerful
man." 3"
THE DROUGHT IN THE VALLEY OF VIR-
GINIA.-The Harrisonburg (Va.) Old Conn.,
monuealM says: .."'b
" Nearly all the wells in Harrisonburg,
and particularly those on the eastern side
of Main street, have failed within the past
month. The cisterns, as matter of course,
have also been exhausted. The question
of water has therefore become an impor-
tant one with our citizens. The big
Spring. on the public square, is lower than
it has been for many years. If that should
fail us now, hundreds Of our citizens would
be reduced to the necessity of obtaining
their supplies of water from a considerable
distance, or to the expense of sinking their
wells to the level with the streams.
The rivers and creeks in this county
have not been as low within the memory Of
our oldest citizens as they are at this time.
A gentleman informed US few days ago
that he walked across the north branch OF
the Shenandoah river, near Timberyille,
dry shod, by stepping from one stone tc
another. The smaller steams have gone
almost entirely dry"
THE DRoUGHT IN WASHINGTON COUNTY.
After the hottest and dryest little spell Of
about quarter Of year-after all vege-
tation was either dead or in the " scar and
yellow leaf" we had o pretty good shower
on Tuesday evening, and occasional show
ers since, which may do something for pas
lures, and enable our farmers to prepare
for their fall crops. Too late for corn.
buckwhcat, and turnips-we will have to
let them slide.-Abingdon Viginian OF
yesterday.
SERIOUS AFFRAY.-A serious ARRAY oc-
CURED at River Station, in Warren county,
between Frank Taylor and Madison Fitz-
simmons, hands employed as carpenters at
Weston's mill (being rebuilt at that point)
on the Shenandoah river. A dispute arose
between the parties in regard to the work
on the building, when Taylor struck Fitz-
simmons on the head with large plane
which knocked him down, and from the
effect Of the blow he has not yet recovered
But little hopes are entertained of his re-
coyery; and for fear of arrest, a warrant
having been issued, Taylor has left the
county.-Shenandoah Herald.
A NEW Town IN VIRGIEIA-THoRSToN;
STATIoN.-A party Of northern capitalists
OF the head of whom are H. J. Davis, OF
Boston, and Mr.. Vandyke, of New York
have purchased the entire Thornton estate
containing 1900 acres of land, located at
Thorntons Station, on the Alexandria, Lou
doun and Hampshire railroad, in the county
of Fairfax, for sl5O,OOO. The tract is tc
be surveyed Immediately and divided into
small lots, and town is to be laid off upon
the property after the plan of Vineland, il
New Jcrsey.-Ale1dndrid Gazette.
DEATH FROM LoCKJAw.-The Lynchbure
Republican states that Randolph, youth
son of Mr.. R. G. H. Kean, died of lockiav
on Thursday near Charlottesville, we sup
pose at his grandfather's Colonel Ran
dolph's. What was the cause Of the lock
Jaw is not stated. The father was il
Lynchburg, and was informed by telegraph
Of the sudden death of his son.
WHEAT DEsTROYED.-We learn that thu
entire crop of wheat of Mrs. Mary Shu
mate, who resides in the lower part o
Campbell county, was destroyed by thu
torch of the incendiary On Monday nigh
last. The wheat had not been threshed
and was stacked near the dwelling house O.
the owner, which came near being de
stroycd also.-Lynchtury Ners of yester
duv.