The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-02-13
VIRGINIA. NEWS.
I.c,ter from, petcrsnurg.
Correspondence Of The Richmond Dispatch.
prTpRsRa;RG. Eeljrt,ai~p 10. 1879

Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.
PErfRsBURG. February IL, 1872
The workmen engaged In clearing away
the debris of the two houses on Sycamore
street destroyed by fire last spring came
across a coffin this morning while digging
ont foundation wall, the body IN which was
seen through split in the cover to be In an
excellent condition of preservation. This
discovery created great deal of speculation,
aud gave rise to exaggerated rumors Of mys-
terry and foul play. 1t was recollectcd that
an Episcopal church. which, was burned down
many years ago. used to stand on the locl-
ton, hut the oldest mhabitant could not re-
member that any one had ever been inferred
in the churcllyard.
An inquest WAS summoned by the coroner,
at the sitting of which the whole matter was
satisfactorily and readily explained by
Mr.. J. r. Morris. furniture dealer and under
takcr. whose shops were in one of the
burned tcncments. The body was that Of
Sergeant George Williams, of Georgia, who
belonged TO Cooks brigade of lIcatl's diyi-
sion. killed on the terrible and memorable
Sunday of the evacuation. His friends
brought i'll his body to DC prepared for burial,
and returned 10 the front where, it is sup
posed, they fell in the action also, at any rate
they never clile back for the body. When
the corpse became offensive Air. Morris, not
being able to get any conveyance, had the
body inferred under the steps in his back
yard. The matter had passed out Of the
memory of people. and hence the mystery.
y Youth OF fourteen years, by name John
J. fccuCy, altdS William Russell, alias Will
liam Mccoy, was arrested here Sunday on
the charge Of stealing $252 in money and
title deeds. due bills, notes. &c, to the value
of S1G.00o. from James i. Nolan, proprietor
Of the Wooahine Hotel New York Fceney
confessed his guilt. and left for New York
this morning in the custody of Detective
James VI. Tilcy, by whom he was tracked to
this city and captured. Feeney had about
him but So. and is said to have disclosed the
place in the woods near the city where the
rest of the money had been concealed.
The case Of the negroes, Dave Williams,
Riley Jones. and Ben Henderson or Henderson
Lee. was again before tue mayor this morn
in-. The former proved an ahbi and was
discharged; Riley Jones became States evil
d"nc" and unlolucd Il very remarkable and
ScandalouS tale, and the other man, who is
shot in the leg. WAS sent on to be indicted
for robbery. There seems to he no doubt
but that Henderson WAS carried in by Jones,
in pursuance of a plan 10 have him (Icnder-
som killed; and the key to the store wasfur-
ui>hcd Jones with the conniyancc Of the pro-
prictor OF the store, one John Copper, and
the knowledge of the police authorities.
The negroes are very indignant, As well
they NAV nc. overthiS vilanous plot Of MUIR
der; and what makes il worse, is That the
policeman whose beat included the house
which was expected to he robbed was not III
formed OF it even on the night when the
house was entered. When this man cX-
pressed his surprise in the examination this
morning that lie had not been notified Of
what was going on, the Mayor sharply re-
hukcd him. | llavn't Yet been able to dis
cover how it las been made to the interests
Of the authorities to hush this r,Srally bust
Hess up. but that they have tried 10 smother
il nn certain
Sam White. proprietor Of the Theatre Co.
mQuc. has vamoScd, and leaves behind him
divers souvenirs in the shape Of unpaid bills.
The Fair OF the ladies OF the Washington
Street Methodist Episcopal church rc0pcns
tonight iii tic hall of the Southern Female
College.
Company \ drills almost every night, in
preparation for its trip on the 22d to your
city.
i beautiful white rainbow was observed
about dawn Saturday morning archinS the
southern heaNr:ls.
Kcv. DR.. Curry breaches here next Sun
day.
1t has been rainy and dark to-day.
RoBlS ApAIR.