The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-05-28
SUPPOSED MURDER.
'THE BODY OFgA SAIL OR FOUND
~ IN THE DOCK.
CO ROME INQUE 8 T !.
VERDICT OF THE JURY.

=
the lower end of the dock, discovered tne
body of man floating In the water between
the two lock gates. Mr.. Hopkins, the iock,
keeper. was at once notified of the tact, ana
be had the body hauled above the gaze ana
made fast bv rope just inside the dock.
As soon az it was known that the BODY Oh
man had been found number OF persons
visited the place, and by some it was ldentl-
fed as that of Edward Taylor, missing
colored sailor employed on the schooner
Baltimore. running between this port and
Philadelphia. Acting Coroner w. IL. Crew,
being notified of the fact, viewed the boay
while yet in the water.
THE INQUEST,
A iurv having been summoned. an inquest
was held Yesterday evening ut O'Clock near
the lock keepers Office. They proceeded to
view
TIE BODY,
which was now lying on the north side OF
the dock, where it had Been deposited pre-
paratorv to examination. Decomposition
had so far taken place that it could not be
recognized by the face, nor could any marks
of violence lie discovered. The body was
dressed in pair of velveteen pantaioons,
which were thrust into pair of boots Il
striped calico shirt, and dark pea.lacket.
Over the pantaloons there were pair OF
ovcralls, such as are usually worn by sailors.
TIE FIRST WITNESS EXAMINED
was Mag Oakley. who. being sworn, testl-
fed: live on Dock between Seventeenth
and Eighteenth streets. The day the boat
came i'm the boys came to my house. The
schooner was named the Baltimore. Ed.
Tayer, Harry Mitchell, and Lawrence were
quarrelIng when they came, and they were
qllarrelling every time | saw them until the
night the ball was given ut Charles Ciarke,s.
When they came ashore they were drink
ing and quarrelling. ..
Ed. stepped into the front room at my
house, and was playing cards with young
man. Harry and Lawrence came into the
buck room, where l was laying with my
baby. Ed. then came in the buck room.
Harry said to Ned he.was going to knock
him overheard that he had him in kicll-
mond: that he was not in Philadelphia then.
Lawrence said that he (Ed.) had crossed his
bow in Philadelphia, and he chad ii on for
him." Ed. went back into the front room,
and Lawrence said he intended to Kill him
(Ed.) before be left Richmond. tried 10
keep Ed. there. and told him not to Soaway.
Lawrence took Ed. and carried him out
said he was gong to carry him aboard. |
told Harry he had better not 20 out. He said
he was going to have him Ed0 arrest
ed. Harry then went out after a
few minutes, aud heard Ed. and Lawrence
still talking outside.
Next morning Harry came back and asked
me where Ed. was. | said, What did you
do with him? He said, 81 threw him over
board" Then two or three others came into
the room, and he turned it off by saying that
he heard Ed. struggling in the water, and he
initiated the noise he made. Afterwards he
repeatcd il differently. Yesterday evening
the Captain came up and took Harry and
asked for Ed. Harry slept in the station
house last night. Harry told him he did
not snow where Ed. was. The Captain said
he knew Ed. had been run away, for lIc had
clothes on board, and he thc Caltain) owed
him money. The Captain said Lawrence
told him down the river that Harry had Ed.
arrested, and That nv was in jail. | told him
to 70 to the station-hoise and he would find
out. | then took the Captain in the back
room and told him what had heard the
other men SAY. dc said he did not want to
have anything to do with it, for he did not
wish to be detained; that he'd make Harry
90. That is the last heard or saw of them
until this morning, when the Captain, White
Joe, and Harry came, and got his (Ilarry'>)
things from my house.
IDENTIFIES THE BODY.
have seen the dead body, and recognize
it as that Of Ed. Taylor. AID positive Of the
identity. He has on the same clothes he had
on at my house.
JENNIE EDWARDS
was next sworn, and testified that on the
plight of the masquerade ball ut Clarke'S
on the Basin bank, these three
fellows ed, Harry, and Lawrcncc,) came To
our house TO 20 to the ball. The rain came
up, and they said they would not so. They
went M the street, but did not stay long.
When they returned they were all drinky
and disputing i'll the street. Before they
finished Ed. told Harry he would smack him
in the mouth. Harry told Ned he would have
him arrested. Lawrence said to Harry, No
he wont smack you in the mouth; I've got it in
for him before he leaves this port Lawrence
said Ed. had done something to him in Phil
adelphia and this was the place to give it TO
him in, because he had too many friends in
Philadelphia. All then went out together,
and | never saw any more OF them until
next morning, when Harry came and asked
Miss Nav if She had seen Ned. mo-" sue
said, "I've not seen him since he went out
with you Yesterday evening"" Then he said,
"Hc must be overheard; | heard something
splash in the water, SO | ran away as fast rs
] could to the vessel, broke open the cabin
door, which was fastened, and went in"
MARY SHAY,
who lives at Mag Oakley's, being sworn,
stated: Last Wednesday night three fellows
ed. TAYLOR, Harry and. another man, came
to the house. and suppose they must have
been GuarreIing in the street, for Ed. Taylor
said to Harry "Pll mash your mouth"
Harry said, "You can beat me when you
choose, but just rs certain as you do 1t I'll
have YOU arrested" Could not swear that
the man saw lying there was Taylor. but
the clothes were the same rs he had on when
he came to the house.
The testimony having been concluded, the
Jury, after consultation, agreed upon
~ THE VERDICT,
which was as follows: THAT ne, Edward
TAYLOR, came to his death by drowning, and
the jury is further Of the opinion and belief
that the said Edward Taylor was maIici-
olisly thrown Into the water by Harry
Mitchell aud Lawrence -, with intent to
drown him the said Edward Taylor.'
TEE ACCUSED.
The schooner on which these men were
employed sailed on Saturday last, but as
Mitchell remained here, and nothing was
known Of Taylor, the Captain returned to the
city, found Mitchell, and started off on the
steamer John Sylvester to overtake his
schooner yesterday morning. Lawrence
was hand on board Of the schooner George
Repler, and has sailed with his vessel.
As the necessary steps have been taken by
the authorities the guilty parties will no
doubt be speedily brought to justice.