Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-08-12
THE lYLES MURDER,
EXECUTION TO-DAY OF HENRY. ALIAS
"NlNROD" RICHiRDS.
The LaSl Of the Five Aurderey Executed
PARTICULARS OF THE MURDER.
Especial Correspondent. OF The Star.l

July, leG6, suffered the extreme penalty of the
law, having been executed on the gallows in the
presence Of a very large concourse of persons
nearly every part Of the county being ropre-
sented.
THE MURDER.
Colonel VIM. Lyles, of Auburn, was vel
known in this city and throughout the SUI found
ing country, and was above 5s years of age. He
had resided on his place, known as auburn, y
for many years, and was one Of the leading meu
Of the county. Platter, one of the murderers
previous TO his execution, November %, 1855
made confession, duplicating the whole part '
of tive, naming Rich hsrds the principal. Ac-
cording to his statement Nimrod kichards Thos
Davis, and himself. left Alexandria in a row boa,
pulled down TO Johnsons Spring, about miles
oelov, when Henry Luckett and VIM. Jones
got into the boat and rowed TO the farm OF Col.
Lyles. Disembarking, they hauled the boat
ashore, and walked 20 the log-hou.e occupied
by Col. Lyles and wife after their residence
had been DESTROYED by fire. Here they
answered 10y Col. Lyles, Platter asked, Colo,
mel. do you want 70 hire any hands," Col. l..
answered, - This is not the time Of night to
S attend no TO- 10 that business; but you can sleep in
morning. They left the door. but, instead OF
going to the quartz = designated, they laid down
IN the grass, having arranged that later in the
night they would commit the deed, and that
they would throw their strength against the
door ard force their way I'm, on the word
Rush" being given by Richards. About mid
night the signal was given by richards when
they rushed against tie door, bursting il open,
and, on entering, fired three or four siots one
OF which took effect i'm Mr.. Lyles' cheek, the
ball passing mp into his hrain, killing him in
stantly. lt is supposed, from his position when
found w lth his pistol in his hand, that he was
awakened when the dash was made ayainst
the door, and that he was about to nre
at them when he received the fatal
shot. Mrs. Lyles was IN bed at the
time, but she sprang up, and missing her hus-
band, supposed thar he had escaped, and she
attempted to run away, hut was overtakcn aud
brought back BY the murderers, who demanded
thas she should show where the money was
This she endeayored to evade, aud in order to
get another opportunity TO escape, she offered
70 60 10 the kitchen 20 get ht to look Tor the
money. They, however, refused to allow her 70
go out of their sight, and went with her 10 the
kitchen, where the light was procured. In the
meantime she had given signs TO the small SER
want girl TO run OFF and give an alarm. One of
the gang now stood guard over her with pis-
tol, while the other four overhauled the secre-
tary and took out from twelve 10 fifteen hun
dred dollars in Virginia bank bills, about 500
IN silver, silver spoons, some bed clothing. sc
While they were engaged in overhauling the
secretary Mrs. Lyles managed TO escape from
them, and getting behind a large tree succeed
ed IN concealing herself until they had left the
place with the booty, when she made her way
TO the cabin of q colored family in the vicinity,
and sank fainting on the floor. The colored
man noticing blood on her clothes, gave the
alarm, but not soon enough to cause the appre-
hension OF the murderers.
When the horrible tragedy became known
there was much excitement through the county
and in Alexandria, and the neighbors and the
friends OF the deceased made active efforts TO
reward of $500 for the Apprehension aud con
viction of the parties, and similar reward wa
onered by the civil authorities.
THE ARREST OF FOUR OF THE MURDrRRRs.
Itwas not long before four of the party (those
executed in November, 1867 we're discovered
and arrested. The murder was, as before stated
committed on Se.Irday night, and the perpe
traf DIS reached their homes in Alexandria on
Sunday morning. On Monday the city OF Alex
andria was greatly excited over the report OF the
murder, and a sort Of general vigilance COM
mittee sprung mp ior the pursuit Of the guilty
parties. On Tuesday following the murder
Platter offered for sale at the Bank of tie
O'd Dominion, in Alexandra. a ten dollar
bill OF that bank, which act was noticed by SIR.
w. II. M2rbury, cashier Of the bank. On Platter
leaN ing the bank Mr.. M. followed, and saw him
talking with Davis on the street. and also subse-
9uently saw him offer for sale 500 bill at the
and he concluded that if Platter was not one of
the party ooncer ned in the murder that through
him the murderers could be reached, and going
to Mr.. Hugh Latham and infoi ming him Of the
facu. the officers in q short time had all the par
ties with the exception of Richards under arrest
and as stated above they suffered the extreme
penalty Of the law.
THE TRIAL AND EXECUTION.
Platter, Luckett, Davis and Jones were tried
on the 5th and 9Th Of September, in this place,
before Judge Berry-Mr. Belt prosecuting and
Messrs. z. g. Magruder and Joseph Robert de-
tending. The trial occupied two days, during
which a number OF witness were examined,
among them officers Davis, Padgett and Web
ster, who made the arrest and Mr.. j. l.. Tur-
ton, who testified TO the accused having made
confessions as to the crime. verdict Of guilty
was found. few days after the sentence Of
death was passed upon them, and the Governor
liked November I'd as the day OF execution. The
side OF the courthouse, in the presence ofa very
large crowd OF spectators. They were visited
after their sentence by Rev. Mr.. Kershaw, of
scaffofd. Just before thew were brousht 70 th the
gallows Platter and Davis admitted to having
been concerned IN robbing the house Of the
Misses Palmer, on Broad Creek, and also to be-
ing concerned with Richards in robbing milk
house on the Washington road. Lpckett con-
fessed to having, with Richard Luckett and JON
dria.
THE CAPTURE AND TRIAL OF RICHARDS.
Richards was near Alexandra when the first
clue was obtained; but on returning to the
house Of Ann Lee, with whom he had been hv-
ing, he was informed Of the arrest OF some OF
the party, and Immediately decamped, being
successful in keeping out Of the way Of the on
GERS until March last, in the meantime having
travelled extensively in the North. Ii appears
that while 1T work In Boston - waiter he was
recognized by . colored man from Alexandra,
Who wrote to the authorities Of Maryland. Dep
uty Sheriff z. w. Hancock was dispatched with
Q requisinon for him to Boston, and calling on
the chief Of police Of that city Officer Hammond
was detailed to make the arrest, which he did
promptly on the 15th Of March. Mr.. Hancock,
with 0Adcer Hammond, Immediately brought
the prisoner on to Baltimore and lodged him IN
the city jail. He admitted 10 the lcers, rs a'so
to Sheriff Albert, Of Baltimore, that he Was |
guilty Of the charge, and expressed the nope |
that he would have . speedy trial In few
weeks he was brought 70 the jail here, and his 4
case was set for trial on April 18th. IL was ex-
pected that he would have plead guilty, but II |
appears that he was persuaded mat ne c)rid /
have the case removed, and Judge Berry and /
Hon. Daniel Clarke, who had been assigned as 1
his COUNCIL made such . motion, which was /
granted, and the case was removed 70 Annapo.
lis in Anne Arundel county, where the trial /
took place ON the first Of june, and he was found
guilty.
HIS BEHAVIOR IN JAIL.
Almost as soon as he was lodged in Jail here he 1
preparations for the gallows, and |
has spent near his entire time in reading reli- /
gious books, furnished HIM through Rev. Father
Maher, lby whom he was baptized on the 18th of |
April, Sheriff Fraser, and others. he has been |
REMARKABLY quiet, evidently having his mind /
exec on his preparations for the hour when he i
sn9uia oe called to expiate bis terrible crime.