Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-10-05
Conviction of u Mail RObber-A Re-
lnarkabie Case.

- L
day in the United States Court in this city,
Judge Alexander Rives presiding, George G,
Langhornc, former postmaster at C!oVerdaIe,
Botetourt county, was, by jury of his peers,
pronounced guilty of robbiug the United States
mails, aud will, no doubt serve out lengthy
confinement lu the peDltentary, owing to the
want OF mitigating circumstances. This case
has excited no little interest. because Of the
character Of the criminal, and the trial occur
ring in city where reside large number Of
close relatives, all Of whom are gentlemen OF
the highest responsibility and character, and
who doubtlessly did all that was possible TO
save their relative from telou's doom.
George G. Langhorne is remarkable man
and whose love for the commission of crime
never exhibited itself until he had passed the
meridian of life. With the exception of
fOD1ness for dissipation, he was regarded by
those who knew him best, until he was forty
years old, man of high tone aud inca pable Of
Il mean action. But there was no occasion for
| him TO resort to crime to indulge every passion
Of his nature. He was born of wealthy parents
who INDUCED him in his desires till manhood,
care Of himself. His first venture from home
was 10 erecting aud keeping the first hotel ever
built in the now Furnishing town of Bristol
-
Big Lick. in Roanoke county, were partners IN
the pr0priet0rShip ot' the hotel mentioned there.
| This was fatal step to LanghVrne here he
INDUCED his passion for liquor and other vices
until his business was destroyed and the valua-
bic property he owned was swallowed up IN
debt Leaving Bristol he returned to bis ma
tive county, where he settled upon a portion
of his father estate set apart for the use and
beueft Of his wife and children.
The frs evidence Of Langhorne' 5 disposition
70 commit wrongs was during the war, when Il
lot Of stolen bacon was found in an out house
on his plantation. \ negro was arrested for
the tn, it, who accused LanghorDe of aiding in
the act and that be The negro) received no
benci, from their Conduct. While few per.
SOUS in Botetourt gave cfedence TO the story of
the negro, the past character OF Langhorne for
babe the belief that he was guilty. He was af
forwards accused Of stealing larg copper still
and burying it in an out house How lie es-
capped from this charge the writer does not now
remember.
During the latter part Of the war he was
tried for murder and was lncarceratcd III the
jail at ElLcasilc TOR many months.
There was a snail store kept near his resi-
dcnce where he was in the habit Of visiting
frequently, and on one occasion he had per
soua difficulty with a young man employed ID
the store a. u salesman Bciug very power
full man, having desperate temper, By kicks
aud blows Of the most cruel nature, he killed
the man for whom he had hitherto protested
great friendship. He was acquitted through
the !n>truucuiality OF able counsel, who We're
enpuycd ~ his wealthy relatives to defend
him.
After this he was not engaged in any bust.
ness until his appointment as postmaster at
| "a, *. ,b, i off FIR
Iollius Institute, where number of young la.
dies attend school, Letters containing money
We're constantly passing through Cloverdale Of
flee, few Of which ever reached their de>tlna.
! ton. The superintendent Of Hollins Institute,
having his suspicious aroused, changed the d.
rection of letters intended for the Institute and
had them sent via Salem. No difficulty ever
. afterwards occurred.
Langhorne knowing no one would endorse
his official bound forged the names of his Sc
curites. forged the names of those who recon-
meuded him for appointment. and forged the
name of the magistrate certifying to the re.
sponsibilty of his endorsers. He also forged
the name of the magistrate to his official re-
turns.
| The basest action of which Langhorne was
guilty, was robbiug letters sent by a brok ken
hearted mother to her son, who is now serving
a term in the penitentiary Of Missouri, and
that mother was Langhornes wife, and that
son was his own legitimate child.
The charge upon which he has just been con-
victed is that he had stolen registered pack,
ages containing from two to four hundred dol
lars in the aggregate The losses having been
reported to the Postoffice Department, Captain
John Frey, special agent. was entrusted with
working up the case. By means of decoy-
letter containing SO he soon traced these loss
es to Langhorne, upon whom he found por-
ton Of the money, the rest having been passed
to business men at Salem He was arrested
by Capt Frey on the 18th day Of j une last and
imprisoned iu Jail at Lynchburg to await his
trial, which was concluded on yesterday.
FAIRFAX COUNTY ITEMS From the Fairfax
News "A small amount of fighting aud a con-
siderable amount Of skirmi>hing took place in
the village last Saturday night between some
couutrymen and some of our town folks. DeS-
uitory fighting was kept up for several hours
with doubtful advantages for either side. One
young man who was ear y in the ''Scrimage got
badly worsted and left the field in the hands of
the enemy for awhile. but reinorcenentS com
ing up disputed poSSeSses>on of the ground and
a regular Setto took place, lasting some time.
We have not learned what was the final result
| put IL IL ISpOiiCu luC COuLtiS Dtu lcI UdCh III
good order, and thus ended the contest for
the time. Casualties not reported.
Mr.. Geo L. Kenyon has left at OUT Office an
ear Of corn Of mammoth proportions. grown this
year upon his farm near Vienna in this county.
| 1t weighs pound. - ounces: length II inches.
| circumference at one end 9! inches and at the
other end, ) inches: has - rows Of grains with
an average Of - grains in a row, making l2l0
gran:.
| The health of our community was never
known to be better at this season Of the year.
We have heard Of very little fever of any kind.
except that gotten up by forty rod-rot-gut, and
We have heard Of no deathS-not one, We think
! for several weeks at least, aud We know posi-
lively that not a single case of contagious dis
case has occurred i this section and none 10 the
county that We know of for the past year
Col. \. King Chandler, who has lately pur.
chased fine estate near Centrevie, in this
coanty, seems to be highly pleased with his pur-
chase and informs Us that he has raised this
,,f ba ~ ba h.