The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-03-01
SHOCKING DEATH OF A VIRGINIA
LAWYER
BRENTSvILLE, Feb. 25, IS

BRENTsvILLE, Feb. 26, 1875.
Mr. James E. Williams, q lawyer. aged about
thirty.fve years, was found dead about hair
mile from this place yesterday morning about
eight O'Clock, He resided about one halt miles
from the village, and had, as was his usual Gus.
tom, come into town to get his daily mall and,
meeting with a number OF friends. had spent the
day at the hotels drinking, and lett aoout dark in
an Intoxicated condition to walk to his home
having at the time been urgently solicited by Mr.
Davis. clerk OF the court, TO remain at his house
all night. He was seen on the road q few rods
outside the village limits by some colored peo
ple and at the time was holding to the roadside
fence. seemingly In oewildered condition. which
was the last time he was seen until found dead
In an almost nude state family by the name OF
Sexsmith, who live about half mile IRON the
place, heard some one haooing about ten O'Clock
at night, the voice indicating that the person was
calling some one. The noise was Kept up at short
Intervals until alter midnight, when 1t ceased,
but, strange to relate, though there were
two men in the house, no attempt was made 10
discover the cause OF the calling which was GER
tainly that OF extreme distress. The body was
nrst discovered by one of the men OF the house,
who was chopping wood at the woodplle,
and was lying In the road leading
from the field gate to the house, and
about twenty-five yards from the yard. When
discovered it was lying on Its back with both arms
elevated in the air and fists clinched and the face
depicting intense suffering at the time of death.
The lower limbs we're entirely nude, the garments
being stripped down over the shoes and covered
with clay. The marks on the ground In the mud
showed that the unfortunate man mad, as 1t were,
dragged himself a dis ance OF about 400 yards in
an attempt to get TO the mouse, and the cries
hearo were evidently his, crying for assistance.
The deceased was man OF fine talents, but lat
terly had been addicted to a too free use
OF intoxicating liquors. lie was q captain
in the confederate army and was captured during
the war and confined at Point Lookout and wnile
there becoming much impaired III health, took the
oath OF allegiance TO the federal government and
was released from prison. Not daring to come
home he went to Washington and there received
the appointment OF Assistant Register OF Wills for
the District OF Columbia. under Colonel Webster,
which position he flied until Grants second cleo.
ton. He then commenced the practice OF law in
when he removed with his family to his native
place Tor the purpose OF Identifying himself with
the people ana continuing to practise his profess
sion. The first case OF any prominence in
which he was engaged alter MS return
here was in the defence OF FOuks, the
ably defended. and was engaged up to the time OF
the murderer's confession making arrangements
to carry the case to the Court VI Appeals. me
awful circumstances OF his death have terribly
shocked his friends. He leaves q widow and sew
era small children. The deceased was very re-
specially connected here and was orother-in-law
to Aylette Nlcol, Judge OF the County Court
of Prince William and his father for many years
was clerk OF the same Court, and was held In high
esteem. An Inquest was held, and the verdict Of
the Jury was that the deceased came to his death
through intenperance and exposure.