The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-09-24

Tx
NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH-SAVED
But TO FALL INTO THE CLUTCHES OF
TIE LAW-HOW a MAN WRITES WHEN
CONTEMPT ATISG SUICIDE-k SAD STORY
As TOLD By !, YOUNG MAN RUINED BF
LIQUOR. -
Sunday night the screams OF man in
distress were heard proceeding from inc
excavation for Z foundation on the vacant
n; At the northeast corner OF Twelfth and
Cgrv streets. Several persons were at once
attracted TO the locality. 1t was soon as
cartoinr(i that q stranger had wandered into
tho alley south Of Adan's bakery &nd tum-
hlad INTO the foundation at 4 point where
the fence. wlc, had been erected as SAFE
o,,ard. YVES down Afraid TO move lest he
,re. into greater trouble. and unable TO see
In the dark how he could pet out OF the PIT,
IN. man used his voice with such a"onizing
entrcatv rs TO draw 10 his side Policeman
Smithev and others, and he was soon re-
moved, not mitch injured, from the place OF
danger and distress.
The nerspn thus rescued was young man
OF about Twenty-Five, OF respectable appear
ancc. and considerable intelligence, though
il was evident he was laboring under the
effects OF drink, and was unable to take
him TO the Second staticn-h house, where he
,rayc his name as Ii. Stephenson, OF New
Jersey. >.
Sergeant Hall asked him number OF
orcsriors. some Of winch he did not answer.
very satisfactorily. 1t was thereupon de-
tcrn,ined to hold him as Il suspicious cnar-
actcr.
He was told that he would have to be
searched 10 that lie objected, though he
offered TO hand over all the articles in his
possession. except one scrap OF paper. Ihat
hc cru,ulled uD. saving, Here's something
nobody shall have That, OF course, made
the officers more than ever anxious to get
hold OF it, and they seized and stayed his
hand before the work Of destruction was
completed.
THE STORY OF LIFE.
The writing saved from destruction was
in mcneil, Oh Il red teleerapblc blank, III a
small. neat hand, The writer ut the time
must have meditated suicide and been anX.
ions 10 save the reporters the bother OF
writing his biography. Here's the story Of
his life rs he recorded it for The information
and warning OF those who might learn his
fate:
"Henry Parsons Ludington, aged twenty
four years, son OF DR.. l.. ;. LudlnStoh,
New Britain, Conn.,. on account or diSslpa-
t,on left fine position with the American
Dock and Trust Company, no Pearl street,
New York, September IA, 1878, and being
then in an intoxicated condition wandered
aimleS>ly about, bringing UP III Tue CITY o1
Richmond. Va.
..Liouor has had control OF his best IA
ture for the past live years and has thus far
blasted every good resolution made. caused
deficiency in accounts with the above firm,
which amounts TO about $500; and, al
though not intending to defraud. he has
no, had force OF will sufficient to save and
clear up the shortage, which, ii done, would
have placed him in Ill cnviable light as TO
reputation and position.
"uavinm failed in this, there seemed TO
be no course left open. lie sacrificed
friends ard Il good name-hc being OF Il
sensitive nature, possessing hnc 1CeNngS,
and IN intelligent Young man.
"Lct Us be temperate in accusation, cha
ritahle and mercliul in his memory, il only
to show respect to his family, who are truly
worthy people This case should be warn
ING TO all young men, and wherein 1t lallS
u sad experience awaits them"
CONTRADICTORY STORIES.
The prisoner answers in aye to the de-
scrip,;on Of Ludington. He is about TWEEN
slightly built, and good appearance. Ht
wears a light moustache and sidc-whskers
and has blue eyes, and in happier times was
no doubt :" drcssy.'
Hc. however, maintains that Ludngtor
is not his name. But two receipts for house
rent and the initials on his collar and cuff;
bclie him. He is either ii. p. Ludington
or has come into the possession OF Luding
toms property more likely the former.
He had memorandum, written on 4 piece
OF card, rs follows:
Saturday, 14-New York.
SUNDAY, 15-Baltimore.
Monday, 1G-Richmond.
Tuesday. 11-Richmond.
Wednesday. 1S-Petersburg.
Thursday, 19-Wa!ked i1om Petersburg
10 Richmond.
Friday. sG-Richmond.
Saturday, 21-Rchmond-
Sunday, 22-Richmond.
MY FRIEND Al.
Stephenson, as he calls himself at the sta
tion-house. referred TO "my friend ALL
and EXPRESSED the hope th,E "Al.' would
not fall into the hands OF the officers OF the
Iaw, as he had unluckily done.
Further inquiry proved that Stephenson
and Al.-that is, Albert BrOome dHdS
SnOw-had obtained lodging together at
the American Hotel last Fridaysaight. They
were senteel Sn appearance, aad behaved
well. Two nights Afterwards Stephenson
alone,stoppea there. Broome has not since
been heard Of.
The ssrisoner also had in Iris poeket-book
a note written on the back OF :tehgraphic
blank and addressed to Riehmaad firm,
asking the position of operator at the
~'M NJ S.IkunctionN was vacant il 40 he had
q man to snt init. Signed, Il. Slenbanson.
BEFORE THE COURT,
The acesised was taken before PoIies-Jus-
tiee White yesterday nnorning. and, in de-
fault OF Satisfactory explanations from him,
he was committed to gail for week. In
the mean time bis anteeedents will be .esre.
fully inquired fato. He still persists that
he is not Ludington-in spite OF the historf-
cal account (Which he coaiesses he wsotea.
rent-reeeipts. and initials on shirteotlars
and cuffs. lie says That Bre0me alias snoY
is the real Ludlngtou. 1t is evident that he
is not a hardened rascal. His stories fit to-
gether too badly for that. lie tells them
seemingly not in expectation that they Will
receive full credence.
ADDITIONAL.
The Richmond firm alluded to above re-
ceiyed telegram from Stephenson in Pc
terburg on Thursday In reference to tie
: yoSitfou of teleRraDhic onerafor al Meherrin