Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1874-12-07
WILLIAM SEAVER'S MURDER.

In the meeting of the Society OF the Oldest
Inhabitants of Washington, held 10 that city
on Wednesday Dight, reference was made TO a
murder that created intense excitement ln this
city at the time of its occurrence. Ihe Wash
ington Republican, 10 alluding to the subject,
says; ;. ~ o,,
Inhabitants relative to the murder of William
Seaver, in 1921, at point on the Alexandria
and Washington turnpike, alongside the turn
pike or near the stopping pout, now called
Fort Ruuyon, recalls the fact that 20 thorough
ly reliable account of that murder has ever
been made, and in the fifty years which have
intervened, it has never been discovered, not
witnstanding the rewards offered, by whom
the murder Was committed. Some twenty
years ago a sailor died at the Marine hospital,
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 shipmate,
to walk to Alexandria, and that on the road he
met man from whom they attempted to take
some articles OF value, aud on being resisted
they killed him.
"a romantic account of the murder and
its reasons was published 10 the Alexan-
dria Gazette in 1866, derived, 1t Was said,
from confession made 10 Central Amer-
lea and sent to a member OF the Span
ish American Legation at Washington
The murdered man was there stated to be an
old map, who, just before the late war, made
his home 10 a cave near -Four Mile Run. The
only well authenticated facts are that peddler
named William Seaver. having missed the
packet boat then running from Alexandria to
Georgetown, left Alexandria on the evening
of July 5, 1921 to walk to Washington, and
that he was never seen alive after he passed
out of town. Traces OF blood were found on the
road, near Roach's Spring, aud the whole
population Of the Deighborhood, assisted by
many persons from Washington and George
town, turned out to search for the body. They
cut down all the underground for half mile,
and at last discovered the body under culvert
in stream near by. A gambling haunt at the
spring, near by, was soon after 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 mile from the same point IN
the March OF Gen. Pierce's Inauguration. The
body of white man, with his throat cut from
ear to ear, was discovered few days after the
inauguration, on the tow path OF the Aexan-
dria canal, near Arlington. The body was
brought and exposed to public view IN the
Leading citizen, President Of one of the city
fire companies, who recognized the BODY,
as that of his wite's uncle, resident OF
Charles county, Md. The lady, when brought
to identify the corpse, exclaimed that 1t was
her uncle, and tainted but when messen'
ger dispatched TO give his family Information
of the murder reached the house, the supposed
murdered man was sitting at the table enjoying
hearty meal.
"a photograph of the dead man was taken
by Mr.. Grubb, of Alexandria, and the man
gled body hid from sight under the ciods OF
the valley; but some two years afterwards
gentleman from Pennsylvania, whose father
had been missing at the time of Pierce s luau-
guration, came to Alexandria 10 search OF lntor.
NATION as 10 this murder with view OF 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. Grubb. Upon seeing the photograph ne
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 long time
getting to light in these cases. .
rs the sense of smelling more pleasing than
the sense of feeling was the subject up be-
lore oeOatDg cluo. chii'ou "ss tue 'ao. "
speak upon the negative, and all were anxious
to hear him, when, ringing the bell, ne order
ed up glass Of hot whskey punch, and drank
it off with great gus.o Tben, turning to his
opponents, be handed the empty glass to the
leading disputant, and tbundered out: Now sir,
smell l,!' 1t is needless to add that Skilton
brought down the house, and carried The de-
cslon for the negative.
An old pioneer who believed that what
was to be would be- :" lived 10 region lnfest-
ed by Indians. He always took his gun with
him, and once, finding that some of his family
had taken it out, be would not 60 without 1t.
His friends rallied him. saying that there was
no danger of the Indians, as be would not die
ill his time came aoyhow, " es, said old
Leatherstocking; but suppose | was to meet
an Indiau, and bis tune was come, it wouldn.