The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-01-01
BY Z TELEGRAPH.
Horrible Murder, OF % Former, Cisixer
or Rtchnond. ~ " I:

Horrible MurdeR OF % Former Citizen
80 OF Rtchnend. s.sz IS "
Especial telegram to she Dispatch.1
WH.rs SULPHUR spRIsss, N. Va, Deem.
Der 3i.--Atan early hour this morning Mr..
"A. j. Dotson, who wasat one time connected
with CARRIERS express in Richmond, but
more recently employed as clerk ID the store
fJ. c. Bright 6 Co., at Greenbrier bridge.
six miles west of here, was found upon the
fioor Of hestore in dying condition, sur.
rounded by pool Of his own blood, with a
severe cash in his forehead, skull mashed 10
in several ces,--eight pieces of which
have since been extracted--one eye and
cheek.bone crushed out Of all sembhnce of
anything human, and one ear cut entirely
In two, breaking the skull at that point.
The wounds were evidently inflicted with
two-pound weight, which was found near
him besmeared with blood. t. ss# ).
Contrary to bis custom, be had bis pistol
10 his pocket, Of which one barrel had been
discharged, and blood was found on it. a
shotgun, left at the store by an old negro,
was found on the floor, and bad been dis
charged, the contents having entered the
floor near where Mr.. Dotson was found.
he Is alive at O'Clock tonight, but can
not live long, and being unconscious, of
course cannot give any explanation Of his
situation. Various are the copjectures as to
who were the perpetrators of this horrible
crime, but in fact there is not as yet the
slightest clue that might lead to their detec-
ton. Mr.. Dotson is n most highly respecta.
BILE gentleman, and one esteemed by oil who
know him. He has family.
[Second Dispatch.]
DYING DECLARATION OF Mr.. DoTsoN-HE TELLS
TIE FEARFUL STORY OF THE ASSAULT THE
MURDERER ARRESTED.
GREENBRIER WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.
VA, December a1.7To-night about O'Clock
Mr.. A. G. Liggett, special officer of this
county, called ct the house Of Mr.. Dotson,
the gentleman who was so fearfully butch
cred this morning, to inquire his condition.
Upon being invited in, be approached The
bedside of the dying man and, kneelng at
his side, asked him if he would not tell him
who hurt him. Greatly to the surprise and
establishment of those present, Mr.. DotSon
spoke and said s'Ned Rives did it. He
came to the store after midnight last night,
bought bill of goods of me amounting to
SIG. IS, took them up, and started away with
out paying me-. I asked him to stop. which
he did, but failing to agree upon any terms
of settlement, I asked him to wait in the
store until morning, when we could adjust
it. This he consented to do, but knowing
him to be desperate character, l put pis-
tol in my pocket, sat down, and must have
fallen asleep, for the next thing knew was
when realized that was lying upon the
fioer, shot, and Rives beating me over the
head with two-pound weight. managed
to draw my pistol and fire, and remember
no MORE" -...... ... -. ....
Rives used the gun mentioned in my first
dispatch. Until approached by Mr. Lig-
gett, Mr.. Dotson had not uttered word
since being discovered by DR.. Nelson early
this morning. Liggett started at once for
this place, whittier he learned RVes had
gone. He arrived here about 10 O'Clock,
ascertained the whereabouts of Riyes, who
was iu q negro shanty at the depot. arrested
him, and by II O'clock had the monster Sc
curely tied and on the way to LeWisburg
jail. .,s
Rives is a brutal aud savage-looking ne
groe, about twenty-five years old, and halls
from about Charlottesville.
MIR. Dotson is by this time probably dead,
and apprehensions are felt that his murderer
will be lynched.
Mr.. Liggett deserves great praise for. the
energy, skill, and pluck he displayed in bring
ing this fend to justice.