South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1870-08-12
Killing of a seducer by his Faith
cr.in- Law-Horri6le Scene at a Bedside.
From ne Richmond EIaminsy. yuly 20.

/ From ne Richmond E1qminsy, July %.
The pretty village of Chester, Ia Ches.
terheld county, on the Richmond and Pc
iersburg Railroad, just half way between
the cities Of Richmond aud Petersburg, 80
I quiet aud peaceful since it ceased to be the
busting headquarters Of Commissaries,
/ Quartcrmasters, Surgeons and General off
GERS, as it was the last years of tue war,
witnessed bloody tragedy on Tuesday, and
one SO sad in its surroundings that it max S
us even gloomy TO record it.
I a loving father to ayeDge his youthful
daughters honor, had to STAY bis SON in
law, and make second daughter discon-
ISOLATE widow.
The deed was bloody one, but justice
would be content with nothing less than the
life Of the destroyer of the peace of fami-
ly-his own by marriage, and all being IN
der one roof with him.
The father referred to was Captain Wm
H. Hayward, weli:knowu citizen of Rich
'nond, but OF late a resident Of Chester, and
the son'in-law Benjamin ii Lindsay, for
years past the hotel keeper at latter place
The details of the sad and trori3 affair are
given with circumstantial rninuieness 10
what follows:
a RIDE TO DEATH.
On Tuesday morning Lindsay came to
EichnioEd for the purpose of seeing the Co.
vernon in the interest Of colored man NAM
cd Robertson, who was recently convicted
of robbery in Chesterfield county and sen.
fenced to the Peniteutary lie took the
OPT u NJ a.,
the cars he joined company with Captain
w. l. Ciopton, Of the law firm Of Jackson
u Clopton of this city, with whom he had
some acquaintance, and who was likewise
going 10 Chester. Arriving at Chester the
two got off the cars together and went into
Hayward's bar, which adjoins the hotel,
and is only about one or two dozen steps
from the railroad track Hayward was be
hind the counter, and mixed drinks for all
three. Captain Clopton noticed at the time
that there was peculiarly troubled look
upon his face, but only few words were
passed, and nothing transpired calculated
to create q suspicion of the terrible trage.
dy which was so soon to be enacted
THE sEDUCER AND SEDCCED FACE To FACE.
Captain Clopton left Hayward and Lind
say in the hack room. From what after
ward came out in evidence it appears that
Capt. Hayward said to Lindsay "Thcre
Is n young man up stairs who desires 10 sec
you Lindsay inquired who it was, aud
evinccd some anxiety TO know, suggesting
the names of sew raj persons whcm he
thought likely to call and see him, but to
all lis inquiries Hayward responded, never
mind, you will see who it is when you get
up there The two went into the hotel and
up TO the second floor, aud Captain II o.
pcncd Miss Ella IIayward's door Miss
Ella was in bed and DR. Ingram, physi
clan Of the place, was sitting in chair be-
side her Hayward led Lindsay up to the
bedside, and turning down the sheet show
ed him new born male child, at the same
time rcmarkiDg:
Iet me introduce you 20 your son the
victim of your yillainy'
Lindsay seemed overwhelmed with guilt
and despair. He sat himself down on tie
bed looked at the child and at the mother,
but said not word
Hayward sicrnly demanded, are you
the father Of this child p
Lindsay said, IF she says SO, | reck-
on ! am
Hay ward then turned to his daughter and
asked, Ny daughter, | ask you in the
presence of this man, IS he the father Of
the childY
She replied, Gle is
Hayward then menacingly faced Lind.
say, and inquired, III he had anything in
Justification of his crime to say. Lindsay
rejoined, quite coolly, Il must have time
to consider, and Hayward told bio, 4
will give you time lie waited about
three minutes