The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-12-07
FOUL MURDER IN RENRICo.
CHARLES H. RoGERs AssAss1SATEI
PARTIAL INQUEST
The Supposed. Murderer. etc.

Henrico county has again been made the
scene of most foul murder. a young man
IN the full vigor of life was returning to his
home on Saturday night, after business
tour of week or two, and as he reached
the neichborhood of Westhampton, the
junction of the River and Three-Chopped
roads, about five miles west of the city, he
was shot down and killed, and dragged to,
the side Of the road, where the body was
discovered on Sunday morning.
The details of the affair, as near rs we can
gather them, are these:
Just one week ago Mr. Charles II. Rogers
left this city for Goochland county on a tour
of collection in the employ of Messrs..
Franklin Davis & Co., nurserymen. He had
completed his business, and was returning
to the city. The last that was seen of him
was at Horner's, on Tuckahoe creek, be-
about II O'Clock the same night the inhabl-
tants of Westhampton were awakened by
two pistolreports in rapid succession. No
thing was thought of this ut the time, as the
reports Of firearms are now very common
In the county districts. At about 6 o'clock
n buggy-supposed to have been the muir
dered man's.-passed by Westhampton very
rapidly, and caused the remark by parties
living there that somebody was a buggy less
that morning. Early on Sunday morning
horse and buggy was picked up by Mr., Sha-
fer. farmer residing on the Grove road,
which turned out to be that Of the MUIR
dered man. At about O'Clock on Sunday
morning n workman ut the Westham Foun-
dry gave information to Mr.. BaZzra, fellow
workman, that he had discoycred the dead
body ofa young man on the side Of the road
near Westhampton. That gentleman imme-
diately repaired to the scene, and found the
body Of Mr.. Rogers lying in small ciump
Of bushes, Just at the roadside. He was
lying on his back, and two bullet-holes in
the back of his head showed that he had
been shot from behind by the assassin.
The right arm was extended over the
bead, and the tracks FROM pool OF
blood in the middle Of the road indicated
that the body had been dragged, the mur-
derer hauling it by the right arm. EN-Con-
stable Talley and Justice Austin were i'm
mediately apprised ofthese facts, and at once
commenced to search for the murderer.
Mrs. BaZzra, who bad seen the body,
stated that she had seen the deceased i'll
the neigthorhcpd on Saturday i'll COM
panv with Il resident Of the county. She
named the party, and he was at once az
rested. He was subsequently released, how
ever, being proven entirely innocent. On
this account we refrain from giving his name.
At about II O'Clock Sunday morning JUS
tice Austin held IN inquest over the body,
through which the following facts were ell
cited:
That Rogers left Manikintown, Gooch-
land county, at about S o'clock Saturday
night. At this point colored man coming
in the direction of this city, on horse back,
got in the buggy with him, tying his horse
behind; and went as far as Hornersvlue,
twelve miles from Richmond: The weather
being cold he got out 1T this point TO stay
all night. When Rogers and himself aliSht-
ed they took drink and invited young
man named John Bowler to join them,
which he did. Bowler stated he was going
to Richmond, and was invited to take a seat
in the buggy. They drove off, and that
was the last seen Of Rogers alive by witness,
who resumed his journey to the city yes
terdav morning, and identified the buggy at
Shafers ne be was passing on his way to
town.
The body was found in about two hum
dred wards of the junction of the WeStham,
River, and Three-Chopped roads. Rogers
was Killed few minutes after midnight.
Two pistol shots alone were heard. The
first SHOT vas evidently received by him
when in the buggy. Both shots We're in
the rear Of the head.
From memorandum found on the person
of deceased it was ascertained that he had
$40 on his person. There 5ras found in his
right-hand vest pocket S6.75, and in his pam
falcons pocket thirty-ive cents in fractional
currency and fifteen nickels. His watch
pocket had been turned inside out, but con-
tanned a watch-ticket from Broad street
ieweller. Deceased had in his right-hand
oyercoat-pocket o Colts fve-shooter, one
barrel of which was empty. The bottle
found empty in the buggy was filled with
spirits when Rogers and Bowler started
from Hornersvillc TO come to Richmond.
The horse, after the murder (supposlng he
was tied), must have stood i'll one place seve-
raj hours before he started towards the
city.
The Jury of inquest, after eliciting the
above facts, adjourned to meet yesterday
afternoon at O'Clock. At that time the
iurv met, in pursuance of adjournment.
In Difference to the requests OF the olhcers
of the law who were present we decline
publishing the evidence, as it might tend TO
defeat them in their efforts to detect the
murderer. DR.. G.. w. Z. Brock was pre-
sent, and made post mortem examination,
from which he discovered that two bullets
had entered the back of the head-one dl-
verping from the right, the other from the
left-both lodging in the brain, and either
sufficient to cause death. The inquest, al
ter the examination, adjourned until III
o'clock A. N. on Thursday.
Charles II. Rogers, the deceased, was
Young man not over thirty years OF age. he
came to this city from New Jersey since the
war. His family reside in Morristown, III
that State. He has been lately in the en-
ploy of Messrs. Franklin Davis & Co.,
nurserymen. He was young man much
liked bv those who knew him, and said to
be of good business habits and fine DISPOSE
ton.
His supposed murderer, James Bowler,
is an ex-peDitentiary convict, who was sent
to the penitentiary since the war for horse
stealing. He has just completed his term
of service. He.has wife in this city, with
whom he remained after two o'clock on
Sunday morning. When he got in at that
time he had in his possession about eighty
dollars In money and revolver with some
Of its barrels empty. He said that he bad
been hunting in Goochland. On Sunday
morning he changed his clothing and has
not been seen in this city since. The detec.
tives are sharp upon his scent, and the pro-
liabilities are that ere this he is in custody.
This murder is one of the most atrocious
that we have ever placed on record. 1t is
much to be desired by every good citizen
that the murderer be caught and speedily
brought to justice.
LATER.
| From information received here by tele-
oran last evening it appears that Bowler