The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-08-03

| lieved TO be most atrocious crime that had
| been committed about fifteen miles from
this city, on the Broad.Street road. 1t was
stated that Moses r. Henley, aged about
thirty years, and his mother-in-law, Mrs.
Frances Drinard, aged about fifty-fve years,
| had been murdered in cold blood by two
negro tramps. who, after committing the
decd, robbed the parties and fed.
A representative OF this paper, In COM
panv with friend, drove out to Mr.. Hen
lev's place in order to ascertain the truth Of
the report, and to gather as far as possible
the facts and details OF the horrid crime.
The drive was long and weary one in the
broillny sun, and nothing but such start
ling piece OF news would have compensated
for it,.
HESLEY's STORE.
Mr.. Henley lives fully sixteen miles from
this CITY. and is merchant. His house is
situated on the left-hand side OF the Broad
Street road, four miles from Short Pump,
in the vicinity Of Pierce's post-office. and
not many miles from Manakin. His house
is framed building, standing in a grove OF
oak trees, and his store is immediately IN
front Of his residence, the two forming an
L. The store is a new building, but the
dwellinc-house has been built for some
years.
Mr.. Eenley's family consists OF his wife
and four children, and, at present. MS
mother-in-law. Mrs. Drinard, who has OF
late been in feeble health and Is paying MN
ayisit Her home Is in the upper part OF
the county. Mr. Henlcy's room is 1mmedl-
atelv in rear OF his store: indeed, bis room
opens into the store, and Mrs. Drlnard's
room is on the cast side OF the house, ground
floor, and opens into that OF her son-in-law.
Standing on the west side OF the house and
looking in at the porch-door, one can see
through the entire dWelling-house.
HISTORY OF THE CRIME.
With this much OF a description OF the
building, the reader can now readily follow
as the story OF the crime is presented.
On Thursday night at u O'Clock negro
| fiend entered Mr.. Henley's house by means
OF the south window in Mrs. Drinard's
room, and passing through SIR. Henley's
chamber entered the store and endeavored
| to get into the money-drawer. Failing
| in this, he returned to Mr.. Henley's cham
Der, probably with view OF getting the
KEYS to the drawer, or compelling him to
give I'D the money. AS he came back into
| the room the thief stumbled upon William
Whitlock, colorcd boy about eighteen
wears old, who was employed by Henley,
and who was asleep on the floor near Hen
ley's bed. The boy was aroused, and caught
hold OF the fellows leg, remarking at the
same time, "You'd better stop fooling and
90 away from here.' This awakened Mr..
Henley, who asked the boy who he was talk
ing to-. The thief, finding that he was dis
covered, ran into Mrs. Drinard's room and
Jumped out of the window by which he had
first entered.
| SHOT IN TIE FACE.
It was only the work OF moment for
Mr.. Henley TO jump up and get his gun.
Taking it in his hand he went to the south
window with a view OF closing the shutters
in order to prevent being seen, for the win
dow was only eight or ten feet from the
ground. He intended, after closing it, to
90 I'D stairs and get 4 shot at the thief from
an upper window. AS he leaned out OF the
window to close the shutters the negro from
below fired upon him, one ball entering the
lower jaw near the corner OF the mouth
passing through the under lip to the Jaw
bone, beyond which it has not been traced.
Another ball entered at the corner OF the
right eve, passing into the cavity OF The
nose, bevond which point the doctor was
unable uD to last evening to trace its course.
The balls were ordinary pistol-balls. The
two wounds having no connection, and
there being but one shot fired, makes it
apparent that the pistol or whatever
weaDon was used was loaded with two
balls.
Henley fell back upon the floor, bleed
ing profusely, and exclaimed, II am
dead" The negro, hearing the eNciama-
ton, replied: ''If the damn fool hadn't
pokcd his head out OF the window
wouldn't have shot him.
A MORTAL WOUND.
Hen!ey's negro boy now seized the gun
and said he would protect his employer,
who lay bleeding on the floor; but Mr.
Henley, fearing lest he might miss his mark
and the negro then come in and murder his
whole family, made the boy put down the
Z gun. The shot awoke Mrs. Drinard, and
She came to the doorway between the two
rooms to inquire il Mr.. Henley had shot at
a thief. The negro on the outside having
walked around to the west side OF the house
heard the servant on the inside offer to
protect Mr.. Henley, and thinking he
might bring him down as success
fully as he v, had Mr.. Henley, fired
a random shot into the lower panel OF the
door opening on the porch. The ball passed
" through the door, and, ranging upward,
missed the boy for whom it was intended,
but struck Mrs. Drinard as she stood be-
tween llc IoOllS aSAluS huat was tuc Ilial-
ter, penetrating the pit OF the stomach and
lodging in the abdominal cavity. She fell
mortally wounded. ..'}... $3.50 ~.
AN AUDACIous THIEF.
The coolest piece OF impudence that a
thief was ever guilty Of must now be men,
toned. The family were now all up. The
negro on the outside, after consulting 4
companion who appeared on the scene, came
I'D TO the window and demanded OF Mrs.
Henley her husbands money. After con.
ference with her husband she went to the
store and got the money-draWer. The
money would not satisfy the lmpudent VII
lain, for he said he must have drawer and
all. The drawer and its contents were then
given him by Mrs. Henley. But this was
not all. He now demanded four pairs OF
boots-fine boots he said he wanted; Nos.
s and g. The negro boy went up STAIRS
over Mr.. Henley's chamber and got the
boots and threw them out to the man. They
next called for four umbrellas, as they sald
it looked like rain, and these were procured
and handed out. Fully half an hour elapsed
while all this was going on, and there lay
the wounded unable to help themselves,
and powerless to 60 out in search OF aid.
| The thieves took the money-drawer to an
old ice-house near by, and after poeketing
. about $50 they departed, leaving the drawer
md forty-fVe cents, which they overlooked.
The thieves having gone, DR.. S., Coates
| was sent for, and he came and dressed the
/ wounds. ~ ks.. ~ 4. s.....tl.F
wHITLocK's STATEMENT. :. = : s. VIII.
| Whitlock, the eolored youth who was
sleeping in Mr.. Henley's room. gave the
| writer O very clear account OF the transac-
+;n, hit h;u cfofomant did not vary from