Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-09-18
AHoriIbIe Mystery.


| monty called Red Bridge, structure spanning
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, about one
mile from the city limits, detected very OF.
fensive and peculiar smell, and were unable to
trace its origin until yesterday, when most
horrible discovery was made. La dense
woods and concealed in mass OF brlar bushes
and brambles, and distant about six hundred
Yards from the railroad, were found the rcm
nants of two white men. One of them was
living upon his face, and by his side was dis
charged single barrclled pistol The other
man was lying upon his back, and near hun
was another single barrellcd pistol, but not
discharged The bodies had the appearance
Of having been designedly placed where they
were found, dispeng the first impression that
the men had met their death while engaged III
a duel, as was suggested by a member Ut the
Jury of inquest Had the men engaged III a
would have been discharged, whereas but one
bodies we're clad in black cloth coats, pants aud
and silk vests, dark ribbed slouch hats, and
one in linen buster. One Of the men had on
calf skin CATERS and the other pair OF slippers
The parties who found the bodies, not wishing
to disturb them until Coroner had been SUM-
moncd notified Justice Laymau Of the affair,
and during the afepnoon that luntonary visit
ed the spot where the skeletons lay. The first
thing doue by Justice layman was to search
the clothing of the deceased, and which result
ed in his finding but two emigrant tickets from
Washington to Pittsburg The bodies were
greatly dccomposed and it was with difficulty
that the fact of their having been white men
was determined. The Justice, after tho
rough examination, summoned jury OF IN
quest but as the causes which led to the death
Of the men were shroudcd in mystery, vcr-
dict of death from causes unknown was render
ed. After the inquest had been held grave
was dug beside the almost skeletons, and when
u shovel was placed under one OF the bodies
for the purpose of deposting it in the excava,
ton the head parted from the trunk and rolled
down gullcy, while the othor body icll to
pieces as soon as disturbed by the shoveIS:. 80
great was the stencil that the clothing could not
he taken from them Whereby Identification might
possibly be obtained hereafter
Prior to the ntcrmcnt, however, carcfu
examination of the skulls of both men and
their bodies, upward from the stomach, was
made for traces of bullets or stabs, but none
could be found, the absence OF which still turth-
or inteDsifcs the mystery.
About two weeks ago band OF gypscS
were cncamped within one hundred yards OF
where the bodies were found yesterday, and
many persons are of the opinion that they MUIR
dcred the two men and afterwards hid their
bodies 10 the bushes 1t IL known that the
gypsies while at the above eucampmcnt COM
mitted many acts of lawlessness and on one
occasion they waylaid and robbed a colored
man, first knocking him down with club.
Information Of this outrage was lodged at the
Western Police Station the day following its
occurrence, but the gypses being IN the county
were beyond the reach of the city authorities.
1t is evident that the men, whatsoever they
might have been, did not die by each other 5
hand, as all the surroundings provo that fact
and the only true solution Is that they were
murdered, then robbed and afterwards thrown
into the thicket where their bodies were found.
| Buitin0re -1n,crictn
4 DIABOLICAL OUTRAGE One OF the most
extra ordinary outrages GU record is reported t"
have occurred at the house of a Mrs. Summer
vile, near Petersburg, Va, on the night OF the
9th instant The victim, man named j. D
Spivcy, gives the following account: \ slept
10 the parlor during my sojnurn IN the house,
and after short time the ladies left the room
to me. [ then undressed, blew out the light
and retired, but | had not been in bed many
minutes when heard IA noise at the window 10
my right, and raising my head perceived large
man coming toward NE. | reached to my SIDE
for my revolver but before lcoud spring and
fire. was seized by two men from my lett who
choked mo 50 that could not speak, while the
largest of the three grasped my mouth and
forced some-unknown to me-polsonous sub
stance in it, which [ was prevented from swal
lowing by the choking. At this point heard
the ladies calling me from up stairs. The rut
fans then opened the passage door, but hear
| INN p1 lut turned
upon me and choked me again. barely escaping
through the window as Mrs. SummervlIlc open
ed the passage door She called me, but !
could not speak at all, through in about five
minutes after | was able to speak, and told her
that some one in white had choked me to death.
In ten minutes after could not Peak at all,
and have not spoken but e. ght words since.
The doctor was sent for, but did not arrive IN
til the next morning. He was unable to tell
me what was the nature OF the poison but Or
lered the white of an egg and mix for me.
Last Wednesday | took out a large piece OF de-
caycd flesh from my throat; aud on the same
day large lump from my throat passed into
my stomach Two days afterwards another
lump passed into my stomach, aud extracted
several pieces Of dccayed flesh from my throat.
My throat is now healing rapidly and think
in few days will be entirely we'll.
EXPENSES OF GovERNMENT. Gen Kemper,
in his address 10 Lynchburg, on Saturday night,
made the following exhibit of the expenses OF
the government, drawn from official data for
the fiscal year ending June 3, 1873
Lcgls latlve...... 81 -, w -
| Executive ..,........... = 500 64b 81
Judicial 3373, $50 10
For ign intercourse .............. 1904 90
Independent treasury 4bo, Zzz w
| Minis and ASSAY off es. ..... 9l3,S12 %
Territorial governments.............. ~, $50 w
Military establis % 6S6 10 "a
Naval establish ment.............. 1921 0S5 95
/ Indian affairs 6l96, 1862 ~
Pensions ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $4,000 0OO On
Public Works 17,777, 9S9 10
| Public lunds ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1872 325 O0
| Postal service AS go 90
Miscellaneous .................. Ii, 7G, 37S 81
Sl4l, AS, 703 So
Under Buchanans administration, the ex-