The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-09
PATRICK COUNTY.

MAY 4, 10 10.
Editors Dispatch: Since writing you OF
the disintcrment OF the remains OF John
+ .att, OF this county, and the p0St-mortem
examination and the finding OF the Jury OF
inquest, our people have been much excited
and anxious and determined, il possible, TO
find out the perpetrators OF so foul muir
der. At the April term OF our County
Court ION the oath ultimo) the Judge
charged the grand jury specially in relation
to the said murder. The jury had pro-
longed session of four days, and after thor
ouoh and patient investigation presented
Green Clifton, William Gilbert, and Samuel
Gilbert for the murder Of the said Pratt.
They were at ouce arrested and examined
before Justice Witt, who very promptly
sent on the accused for further trial, and
refused the Gilberts bail, but granted it 10
Clifton. During the trial before Justice
Witt developments were made that led TO
the second disinterment OF the remains OF
the said Pratt, and more full and complete
investigation by Drs. Joseph and j. L. Bis
pop, by whom it was ascertalned that the
neck of the deceased bad been broken and
a compound fracture made upon his head.
The accused, William and Samuel Gilbert,
on the I'd instant sued out by their coun-
sci, Colonel Stedman, q writ OF h1beGS cor
pas, when they were brought before Judge
Staples upon IN application for bail. who,
after hearing the evidence in the case, re-
fused said application.
The prosecuting attorney then entered
nONe pT0Sequi in the case OF Green chiffon.
Pratt was very harmless and inoffensiye
man, and his cruel murder has greatly in
censed our people.
The case of Tazewell Turner, charged
with the murder Of his son, John ?. Turner,
in the main was correctly stated In your
issue OF the 1st instant. 1t is the al-absorb-
ing topic now in this county. The Jury Of
inquest is still in session. Turner, during
the investigating, pretended that he could
prove that his son was still living-left the
county. and was absent several days, when
he returned with statement from some
parties in Tazewell county, who represent
that they had seen the said youth, supposed
now to have been killed by his father, the
said Turner; but the statement was not
properly authenticated, and Turner thc ac-
cused) was allowed further time to prove
his innocence. The accused has given
several versions of this affair. The sudden
disappearance Of Turner's son in the spring
of 1866, the finding OF the bones Of human
skeleton by farmer Crattoc few weeks
since drought to the surface by his plough,
the strange and remarkable identity OF the
teeth in the skeleton with those OF the son
of said Turner, the broken arm correspond
ing with that Of said youth, the mu-
tilation OF the bones after discovery, and
the discrepancy Of Turner'S statements,
all point to the father OF the youth
us the inhuman wretch who committed this
diaboical crime, now wrapped in so much
mystery. The jury is still in session. and,
composed Ct such men as the Rev. Green
Tuzzle and William Corn, Esq, gives a
guarantee to the community that full and
Complete investigation will be made, and
that the guilty party will be brought to con-
dign punishment. Much praise is due to
Judge Staples and Commemorative Attor-
ney Penn for the energy they have dis
PLAYED in ferreting out this foul crime.
at the April term Of our court five felon-
les were tried in three days, and three OF
the accused sent to the penitentiary. We
now have pending for the next term Of our
County Court siXty-odd misdemeanor and
five felony cases and while our county has
acquired the reputation Of being the " dark
and bloody land" our Judge has justly
merited the title Of being a ''terror to evil
dnprS - DAN,