The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-05-24
ARRESTS MADE.

About half.past Q o'clock yesterday morn-
ing the bodv.of n young mulatto gir', seven
teen wears old. named Mary Holmes, WIZ
found i'm canai-lock No. 8. near the corner ~, vi
Eleventh and Byrd streets, bS one ~ wv
lock.keepcrs Of the James River ana ha-
nawha Canal Company. AS soon ~ ln u, nou.
uas go,,en ont of the water Coroner Taylor
was notified, and repaired at once 10 tue pace
where the body was lying.
During the morning he hcida
rosr-MoRTEM EXAMINATION,
and found a large black mark around the
n.rk of the deceased and diScoloratlon
about the right eye, which was swollen and
which had the appearance of having received
blow during life The tongue was also
Found no tnger-marks or
marks of n,IckleS. and il she was struck it
must have been with a broad instrument.
THE INQUEST.
At half-past 4 O'Clock, coroner>s jury
having been summoned, an inquest was held
at No. 1916 Byrd street.
Horace Venable (colorcd) was
THE FIRST WITNESS EXAMINED.
He said that he lived on Cary street near
HOLLYWOOD. That he came by the house in
which Charles Clark was having ball. on
Byrd near Eleventh street, about IL O'Clock
on "Wednesday night. but did not stop or go
in. Met Mary Holmes near the ballroom,
and after speaking to her went on. Saw her
hat day also, but had no quarrel with her.
After he saw her, went on to the Church
Hill tunnel to work. Was on his way to
the tunnel when he met her. Was certain it
was about II O'Clock. Went to the sutton
house Thulsda because he was asked to do
so, and inquired about Mary Holmes. Might
haze told the officers that his name was VIII
liam Hall. Was certain he saw her about l
o'clock. Went to work "Wednesday morning,
and worked in the tunnel until 6o'clock,
and then went home by way of Cary street.
Knew it was late when he left home; GER
tainly as late us 10 O'Clock. Did not call her
that night out of the ballroom. Was not
in the ncighborhood except at the time
already mentioned. Dir. Sheppard kept the
time at the tunnel, and saw him ut ) O'Clock
"Wednesday night when he took down his
name and the time he had worked. Had on
his workinGclo'hes the night of the ball.
TIE DANcE-HoUSE KEEPER,
Charles Clarke (colored), was the next wit
ness examined. He stated that he lived in
Broad-strect bottom, and that bis ballroom
il No. 1920 Byrd street. Had ball on
Wednesday night. Mary Holmes was there,
and left about 11a O'Clock, alone. Sarah
Matthews went out short time afterwards,
behind her.
The Coroner Had she had IL quarrel with
any one that night:
4. No, sir. ] saw Horace Fenablc stand
ing outside the door that night. He had on
his good clothes that night, and not his
working -clothes. saw him afterwards in
the street. He called Mary Holmes, and she
said "Im not coming, Horace
O. What time was it:
4. About half.past II. 1t was about IL
when he called her our first.
Q. Did you ever hear him threaten to ito
her any harm:
\. 30, sir: but they had dispute OH
Saturday night. and stopped them.
\ Juror Did Sarah Mathews go ont with
her:
\. She went out directly afterwards, but
returned soon again.
OFFICER HALL on THE STAND.
Sergeant John T. Hall next testified. He
said that on Thursday evening about 8
o'clock Horace Eemble came into the
Second Station.house and inquired about
this girl, Mary Holmes, and asked if she
had been arrested. The officer looked
on the books and found that she had not
been arrested. Nenable started to go out,
and he asked him his uamc. He replied,
William HALL" but did not say where ne
lived. About 10 o'clock yesterday, when he
came on duty. he heard that Il woman had
been found in the canal-lock. On the way
from the body to the station-house the boy
tHaID said his name was Horace VcnabIc.
Found him in the crowd that was standing
around the body. On the way up Twelfth
street the officer asked him when was the
last time he saw the woman. He replied
on Thursday about 8 O'Clock in the morn
ing, going into the ball. The fact Of bis
giving the officer two names excited his sus.
picion. and he accordingly arrested him. The
ball closed between II and | o'clock
Wednesday night. Nenablc said be saw her
about O'Clock going into the ball.
POLICEMAN Z. r. uULCE
was next sworn, and deposcd: Yesterday
afternoon about twenty minutes past
o'clock was on my way to go on duty, and
met Horace Ncuablc. who told me that Mary
Holmes was missing, and remarked that lie
knew something had happened to her.
asked him how he knew that something had
happened to her. He replied that lie knew
il, else he would have heard to the contrary.
lie then asked me to go with him TO see
about it. told him that I'd go as soon as
| had lighted NY lamps. He said she was at
the ball Wednesday night. and he knew it,
but he was not there himself. l know
Horace very well, because he used to be
in my employ at the SpotsWood. He
said he also wanted me TO go and
examine her clothing a part OF them were
at Chrke'S bar-rooln. This occurred about
S o'clock last night. went to the place,
and at Mr.. klcvcrsalPs corner saw crowd
and expected to find Venable. At the corner
of Eleventh and Byrd went in, and asked
if anybody was missing. / then came
across Crouch. who said that Mary Holmes
was boarder Of his, and that when be
called her to breakfast that morning she
didn't come. / then went into her room
with white woman and looked for the
clothes. Crouch then went into the ball
room and found skirt and Il sacque which
he said she (l1olme>) had worn.. then met
Charles Melton and talked with him. He
said that he believed that Mary Holmes aud
Horace had had a split-up.
MoLLIE SYKES DEPosEs.
Stated that she was at the ball on We'd
nesday night, and saw Mary Holmes there,
but didn't see Horace in the room. Saw him
outside ut Q O'clock leaning against the door
when she went to the ball. Mary seemed to
be sober, and witness did not see her drink,
and didn't know what time she lett the ball
Never knew her TO have quarrel with
Horace. Saw the deceased 20 out of the
back door once alone, but whether she came
back or not didn't know. Horace did not
have Oh mudd, clothes.
CHARLES MELTON SWORN.
Mr.. Melton, who is 4 lock.kerprr. said he