The New York herald., 1874-07-31
MURDER In VIRGINIA.
A Citizen Shot and the Body
Anchored in a Creek.
CONFESSION OF AN ACc0MPlIoH.
Details Of the Discovery-verdiot
Of the Coroner's Jury.

Of the Coroner's Jury.
ussANA. Middlesex County, VAL
July 80, 1874 J
This community, ordinarily one Of the quiesess
in the state being from its isolated position far
removed rom exciting influences, u &C this mo-
ment deeply ag1tated by the discovery or a murder
which was committed for 81, ana which cor cold
booded, atrocity and fendtsh cruelty haa nd
parallel In recent history.
DETAILS OF THE CRIME
A respectable white man, by tho paue OF Ross.
who lived near Parrosts Greek, In this county. on
Sunday, July 10, visited neighbor about mile on
to breakfast after which, the family desired IN
attend Sunday school, Ross left to return 70 his
house on tho creek. In passing down path
through an open ieId on one side or which we're
thick bushes aud undergrowth, and about half
way to the creek. ne was shot through tho heart
with nine bucKshot from gun in tho hands
OF parties concealed In the bushes. Az he
was an unmarried man, and lived entirely by
himself In small nons ount on piles driven down
in the creek sonc dista from the shore. his ab-
sence, between the time NJ his terrible murder
and the discovery OF the sesd body, was not 70.
marked. Tuesday afterocon, following tho mur-
der, two men coming Ia the creek from hshing
saw just on the surface or the water q human foot
They attempted to pull the body up by tho foot.
but found that 1t was fastened to the bottom OF
the river. They then stuck An oar down in the
mud and made the foot fast TO 1t, that they might
easily md the body when they returned. They
came ashore and informed two men, Ruus Fisher
ana James wallace. Of
THE DISCOVERY oP THE DEAD BODY,
But these men, instead OF Offering their assistance
IN getting UP the body. said OF did nothing In tho
matter. The next day being Court day. tho parties
who had found the body In the river went to Court
and reported the fact Immediately. upon receiv.
Ing the Information, and hearing that Ross WAS
missing, Mr. Robert IL McKan, q friend and eon6.
dant Of Ross, sent Tor Mr. Scott, magistrate, and
they, with the assistance Of several other men.
proceeded TO tho creok and, securing boat went
out TO the dead body. After some difficulty they
succeeded In getting 1t 10 the surface Of the water
They towed the body in the creek and placed It In
the house which Ross occupied stationlng two
men to guard 1t until coroner's inquest could
be held. Tue intention to. destroy the body
precautions evident upon its recovery. Tirs Tn@
murderers Qof several are proven to be impii.
and clew to their crime, determined to bury It ia
the river SO taas the oraea and fah might destroy
ss ia e
to shore testified as follows eve fonnd the boQy
In the river on the mouth OF the creek,
ANCHORED WITH AN OLD PLOUGH CASTING
and other pieces Of iron tied around the neck, and
8 rock weighing twenty-five or thirty pounds
fastened to one loot. The hands were ued togethef
with pair Of suspenders and q mixed flannel
around the neck.n ' The articles Of cothng found
on the body were easily Identified as those worn
0 M Sos had be at boo@ Of tn. river
nom sunday night until tho wednesday evening
following, 1t yas IN state O. great putrsfactioai
eaten out the eyes, mouth and nose. The as.
domen had been cut open, so that the intestiass
Posr.xoRrEM EXAMINATION
was held BY Dr.. y. K. Gatewood. who testtaed
the water and found nine buesshos wounds from
ons tSs me eSSe q ne
a Wounds " we're saracans to to proaSco pro asath 'es be-
sides. there were two incisions-one on cthet side
OF the abdomen.abont SIX inches bong; ne could
not have lived more than few moments alter r.
cetvln2 these wounds.
Great excitement prevailed throughout tue en-
covered The citizens collected from far and near,
expressing their Indignation at the committa OF sd
determination TO bring the murderers to justio0.
A corone,'s jury OF Twelve men were empaneileq
denoe impllcates several white men ana family
Of negroes named Robinson, consisting OF three
sas n sOsps
the part OF the attorney for the Common wealth to
arrive At the truth. But finally. after being sub
ton conducted by the Common wealth's attorney
Tor Middlesex county, assisted BY Mr.. Robert Mol.
tague and Brown Evans, the negro Ben Robinson
revealed
THE sgcsET OF THIS AwFcL CRIME
He MADE s!s1smeRt YESTERDAY which
all ABOUT it. ! met Mr.. Rufus Fisher sunday
Un NY f. M s red .s e. s' s
After nili understanding with Mr. Fisher agreed
back home passing directly by where Mr. ROSS body
was lying concealed In the bushes. When got to
Sown sTs on s s ns a GS % 10 Dss as s
from seeing it. The body was only q lew steps
me-, M Mr. and Tas s ss. w sos s
the red gate at twelve O'Clock sunday night, Jall
u, according to my agreement with Mr. Fisher IN
dead BODY OF Mr.. Ross was. pulled the BODY oaI
OF the bushes and tied his hands together With his
piece OF rope. Mr.. James Wallace and myself
carried the body down to the creek on ran. Mr..
fy CARVING hi through the woods one shirt nj sleeve
was torn on. We went all the way through the
wsS weeds ioe to boy s 10 s rss
him IN tie water and towed him out In the river
to nine M ieet l deep waller; When we got out IN ths
Ross neck. The rock was tied up In o ptece Of
new domestic and fastened to one foot. In going
and we TOOK them OF and fastened them around
his neck with the iron. Before letting him sink
Mr.. Fisher, with knife, cut Ar. Ross open In two
MR.. FISHER GAVE MK TWO DOLLARS
aa and @e mus e ont OF the way and
myself Made me promlse i was caught that I
@ and H
and a fve-shooter, which he gave me Also de-
termined 10 stay In the woods; but after being
there some time ! thought that Mr.. Fisher only
wanted me to run or, so that tney might lay tho
killing OF Mr. Ross on me. so concluded to Come
back here and tell you the whole truth about the
matter" Nearly al OF this testimony was corron-
GRATED BY the two sisters Of Ben Robinson and by
finding the clothes Snd cakes as he had described
them.
Alter hearing considerable more circumssantial
evidence. nearly all o. which was conclusive as to
hp "a
the jury rendered
VERDICT
that 1.-THE said John W. Ross came 20 his death on
Sunday July 10, 1874 between the hours OF seven
and ten O'Clock A. NJ, by reason OF certain gun.
sh0t wounds which entered the body OF deceased
In The region OF the heart, aud that the said
MeH Il rfon a oeuu a IA hl