The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-07-08
Tho Austin BiGamy Case.

l From the Alexandra GnZeIR.l
MIR. Freeman, of this city, who took
charge Of and carried to her home, in Am
hcrst county, the girl Mississippi Burks,
who was brought here by man named j.
| Il. Austin, now confined in Jail on the
charge of bigamy, has returned, and gives
the following account OF his trip:
1--WE started for the home of the little
girls parents, near Pebbles mills, dis
lance of about eleven miles. When I had
gotten within mile of the old gentleman's
home the idea occurred to me that I might
be running q risk to approach the house.
as the parents probably had not heard the
particulars connected with the case but
as l knew not what to do better than
to 60 on and take the risk, went on to the
gate, through which / entered the little
farm, about three hundred yards dis
tant from the house, and in full view
of it. AS / neared the house / saw
no grown person, but some little children
| were in the yard. When had gotten near
| the yard-gate heard the noise of females
crying, betoktning signs of great distress.
The little girl, seeming to have been eX-
cited and very nervous before this, now
commenced crying. When we reached the
yard gate we left the buggy and approach
ed the door, where lady who was visiting
the house met us. The daughter walked in
and took a seat near the door. This lady
alluded to met me at the door, and looked
| Inc sternly in the face, and from the expires.
| sion of the eye saw or imagined there was
danger. She looked me fully in the face,
and asked me sis your name Austin, sir ?''
To which answered, "No, madam Aus
| tin is in Jail in Alexandria" and the little
girl hearing the question, said "No, Mrs.
Jennings this is MIR. Freeman, my friend,
who has brought me home" The lady
turned Immediately and went up stairs,
and instantly Mr.. Burke came down. The
distressed mother had tainted and fallen in
! the floor. When the old gentleman reach
ed the foot Of the stairway he entered
the room, and passed by the daughter,
who he thought was prodigal, looking
slightly at her without speaking. The lit
tie girl saw this, and screamed at the top of
her voice, con, pa, why do you treat me
in that way? Come back and speak to me-"
l then spoke to the old man, and told him
he had better speak to his daughter that l
feared she might be thrown into spasms !;
that when he heard the circumstances con-
nected with the case he would probably
think better of it. He then spoke to her,
after which he walked with me out in the
yard, and conversing with me, stroye to
avoid giving vent to his feelings. While
sitting under the shade OF tree in the
ward, talking with the distressed man, the
mother came out. ! did not see her, as my
face was turned from the door, until she
approached near me, with both hands
raised. exclaiming, ooh, Mr.. Freeman,
how can ever pay you, sir, for the kind
ness you have bestowed on me and my
daughter !" May God grant that may
never witness such another scene.
When / arrived in Lynchburg made in
quiry about the family, and was informed
SnapI commission merchant
who had formerly been sheriff Of Amherst,
that they were respectable, good family,
and that the mother was a most estima bic
lady, which / found to be true.
They have comfortable little home in
the mOuntainsi in Amherst, remote from the
raih Dad, and somewhat distant from the
post. office. That portion of the family
GROWN are pious members of the Baptist
Church, and had been no doubt enjoying q
quiet, peaceful, and happy life. There are
ten children now living with their parents,
the eldest daughter of about twenty,
very pretty and Intelligent, the second
about seventeen, totally blind. The next
is the unfortunate Mississippi, fifteen years
OF age; and from her the children run
down to an infant eleven months old.
There are only two little boys-one seven,
the other ten. There was son who would
have been about twenty-one, but he was
killed in the late war, near Williamsburg.
Austin is a first cousin Of the little girl.
The family showed signs of very great graf
itude, and the father and mother as hap
pened to find out, were trying to make ar
Engagements with their neighbors to raise
money to pay me for my expense and trou-
Bile. but told them to give themselves no
trouble about that that l would not re-
ceiye any compensation from them that l
felt amply rewarded when had the con-
ISOLATION of knowing that had been ena-
bled to render them a favor, which 1t was
only nv duty to have done; and l shall
ever look back upon this with more pleas
ing reflections than perhaps any act Of my
life. - H..<'
This daughter was kindly received by her
parents, and L trust and believe as there.
was no wrong committed on her part, in
tentionally, if her statement be true, that
happiness may again be restoreed to this
greatly afflicted family.
STARTLING D1scLosUREs.-It was stated
on Yesterday that Morris Thomas, the man;
who was shot by William Miller Tuesday
nil ht. had made some startling disclosures
relative to several horse stealing cases and
other robberies, and also the murder Of o
Mr.. Shannon, of Campbell, whose mys-
terio,ls disappearance last winter caused
much excitement. The statement of
Thomas duplicates some seven or eight
persons of this city in these affairs,
whose names it is said he gives: The
horse-thefts were those of Col. Seth Hal
sew and Stephen G. Hurt, and occurred, we
believe, in 1867 or 1868. Thomas's state
ment exonerates himself from all paracipa-
ton in any of these robberies, or IN the
murder, but the names OF the parties VINO
committed the deeds became known 10 nun
at the time OF the occurrences, and ne now
for the first time discloses them. 1t WouF'
be premature to make public at pre-: en-
The names mentioned by Thomas, and we
omit them. Measures, however, we learn,
are being inaugurated to investigate the
matter thoroughly, and II the statements
given by Thomas be corroborated, there
viii be such rafting among the dry bones
as was never before witnessed in this city.
LynoAburg Nesos.
WusAT.-some few of our farmers have
threshed their wheat, and VIC learn that Inc
Weld is not as good rs was ut nrst expected.
FTnCastte Herald. -
A similar report comes from BEDFORD