Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-12-09
WILLIAM sEAVER'S MURDER.

In the meeting of the Society OF the Oldest
Inhabitants of Washington, held in that city
on Wednesday night, reference was made to a
murder that created intense excitement ID this
city at the time of its occurrence. The Wash
ington Republican, 10 abiding to the suplect'
says: o,ao,.
Inhabitants relative to the murder OF Wllllam
Seaver, in 1921, at point on the Alexandria
and Washington turnpike, alongside the turn,
pike or near the stopping point, now calleu
Fort RuDyon, recalls The fact that no thorough
ly reliable account of that murder has ever
been made, aud in the fifty years which nave
interviewed, it has never been discovered not
wtnstandipg the rewards offered, by Whom
the murder was committed. Some twenty
wears ago sailor died at the Marine hospltal,
near Norfolk, who, it is alleged, confessed that
many years before, he could not remember the
date, he started, after his discharge from the
navy yard, at Washington, with shlpmate,
to walk to Alexandria, aud that on the road ne
met man from whom they attempted to take
some articles OF value, and on being resisted
they killed him.
"a romantic account of the murder aud
its reasons was published 10 the Alexan-
dria Gazette 10 1866 derived, it was SAID,
from confession made 10 Central Amer
lea and sent to a member OF the opan-
ish American Legation at Washington
The murdered man was there stated to oe az
old mao, who, Just before the late war, made
his nome in cave near Four Mile Run. The
only we'll authenticated facts are that peddler
named William Seaver. having, missed the
packet boat then running from Alexandra TO
~ 81 p9rio
of July S, 1921, to walk to Washington, and
that he was never seen alive after he passed
out of towD. Traces OF blood were found on the
road, near Roach's Spring, and the whole
population Of the ncighborhood, assisted by
many persons from Washington and George
town, turned out to search for the body. They
cut down all the underground for halt mile,
and at last discovered the body under culVert
10 stream near by. a gambling haunt at the
spring, near by, was soon alter set on ire aud
burned to the ground, and several persons were
arrested on suspicion, but the murderer was
never brought to Justice.
"a similar case of murder. without detection,
occurred about a mile from the same point IN
the March of Gen. Pierce inauguration. The
body of a white man, with his throat cut from
ear to ear, was discovered a few days after the
inauguration, on the tow path OF the Aiexab-
dria canal, near Arlington. The body was
brought and exposed to public view III tho
Jail yard Among those who saw 1t was
leading citizen, President Of one OF the city
fire companies, who recognized the body
as that of his wife's uncle, a resident OF
Charles county, Md. The lady, when brought
to identity the corpse, exclaimed that 1t was
her uncle, and tainted; but when messen-
ger dispatched to give bis family information
of the murder reached the house, the supposed
murdered man was sitting at the table enjoying
a hearty meal.
"a photograph Of the dead man was taken
by Mr.. Grub, Of Alexandria, and the man
gled body hid from sight under the clods OF
the valley; but some two years afterwards
gentleman from Pennsylvania, whose ia;her
had been missing at the time OF Plerce's lnau-
guratiou, came to Alexandria 10 search OF ln1or-
NATION as 10 this murder, with view Ut ascer-
tanning if the murdered man was not his
brother In this search he called at the news
paper Offices at Alexandria, and was carried to
Mr. Grub. Upon seeing the photograph be
recognized it as that Of his brother; but he,
too, was mistaken, for the brother returned
within year after this recognition.
IF murder will out it is loug time
getting to light 10 these cases.
SAD TERMINATION OF A HONEYMOON. "A
few days ago the firm OF A. w. Mitchell u Co.,
brokers aud insurance agents, dong business
on the northeast corner OF Third aud Chestnut
streets, became convinced that there were IT.
regularities in their Office, and, after careful
watching and investigation, suspicion fastened
on Thomas Couboy, their bookkeepeE, who, on
being charged with the crime, admitted that
la, ba l.nly cd
up at the Chestnut street Police station last
Saturday AFTERNOON, and yesterday warrant
was sworn out 10 the Court Of Criminal Cor
rection by Andrew G. Travis, one of the firm
of A. W. Mitchell & Co.,, charging him with
embezzug four hundred and thirty dollars.
Conboy is rather fine looking young man of
about twenty-five years, neat n appearance,
and said to be an excellent bookkeeper. Ills
father and mother reside in this city, having
formerly lived in Belleville, where they we're
highly respected. The aged couple are almost
heart-broken at the sin of their son and would
gladly have made restitution and hushed the
matter up if it were possible, but their re-
sources are so limited that this was an lmpos-
sibility. But there is another and perhaps
sadder feature 10 this case. Young Conboy
had been paying devoted attentions to young
and beautiful lady for sometime, who rcqulted
his affections by giving him her heart and
hand, and on Friday evening last, but one
short day prior to his arrest, the two were jolu--
ed 10 wedock. After learning of his crime aud
arrest, the bride of day gave way to violent
expressions Of grief and sorrow, utterly retus,
ing to be comforted. Her maiden name is with
held out of respect to herself and family. The
peccadilloes of Mr.. Conboy reach back as tar
as last July, and were managed 10 such man
ner as not to create suspicion until the deDoue-
ment. Another feature of this unfortunate
case is that it is said the money thus surreptl-
tiousiy obtained was lavished on another lady
than the one who subsequently welded him.
St. Louis C.oJc, Dec. l.
'Is the sense of smelling more pleasing than
the sense of feeling? was the subject up be-
tore debating club. Skiton was the last to
speak upon the negative, and all were anxious
to hear him, when, ringing the bell, he order
ed up glass of hot whiskey punch, and drank
i, off with great gusto. Then, turning to bis
opponents, he handed the empty glass to the
leading disputant, and Numbered out: Now sir,
smell it!' 1t is needless to add that Skllton