The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-02-15
The New Kent Murder.

THE ACCUSED ON TRIAL-A CONFESSION FROM
ONE OF FTHEM-PART1CULARs OF THE CRIME
THE DREAM OF THE MURDERED MAN.
The trial of the New Kent murderers for
the killing OF John G. Lacy commenced at
New Kent Courthouse Oh Thursday. The
four prisoners are tried on Joint indlct-
ment, TO which they have all pleaded Not
guilty." The Commonwealth is represent
ed by R. T. Lacy, Esq, attorney for the
Commonwealth, and the defence by MesSrs.
William e. Hart and George A. Jones,
counsel requested by the Court to act for
the defence.
The prisoners are inferior types Of the
negro race, and their department is careless
and Indifferent.
Patrick, who was raised by the mur-
dered man, laughed outright IN the court
when he plead not guilty. -.
The negro Julius has confessed the entire
details Of the horrible deed to Mr.. James
Stamper, a citizen OF Richmond, formerly
resident OF New Kent, who went in to
see accused while in the Hcnrico jail. Brief
ly, it Is as follows:
The Sunday evening preceding the MUIR
der, while the three-Patrick. Julius, and
Claborne-were sitting in the broom-straw
in an old field, Patrick said certain man
must be put ont Of the way. No name was
given, but all kne,o ,1ho aoas meant. They
were to so hunting through the woods,
come up in the road near Toink swamp,
kill their victim, and throw the body into
the deep water which there runs through q
dense thicket.
They waited Tong. and at last the doomed
man came driving along cheerfuily in his
covered cart. 1t was too early and too light,
and 80 they stealthily followed the cart until
night closed in somewhat and the cart had
reached a deeply-wooded spot near an
old graveyard, close to Emmans church.
The negro Patrick, who is active and strong,
ran ON his hands and knees under the cart
and seized the feet Of the unsuspecting man
hanging down between the cart and the
mule Just a. the moment when he raised up
to whip the mule. Lacy seized q hatchet
living by him (Which he always carried) and
fell on his face, hatchet in hand. A short
scuffle ensued, when Julius and Patrick
| having overcome Lacy, who was crying
murder and fighting for his life, Patrick
| chopped the hatchet into Lacy's face, winch
stunned him, and then he cut his throat
with the hatchet, nearly severing his head
from his body. Claiborne, the younger oi
! the three, had become terrified before the
attack and had fed; but he heard the cries
of murder from the dying man. Ciai-
borne ran home to cabin on the Cool
| we'll farm, where the three lodged
with the old man, Andrew Whiting.
Claiborne and the old man went TO bed, ana
hetwo, Julius and Patrick, after driving
4 the cart TO Lacy's home in the night, went
home, Knocked at the door, and said Will
ting told Claiborne to get up and open the
door for the boys. They came in and put
their plumber under one OF the beds in the
room, where the officers found ii. Clai-
borne surrendered himself; Julius and
/! Patrick fled, and while concealed 10 the
house of a negro on the Cedar-Lane farm,
the negro in whose house they were hiding
went TO the young men In the dwelling
ho1tse. and Messrs. Samuel, Wallace, Nor
wood. and Armistead Apperson, four
brothers, armed with shot-Rnns, surprised
and captured them aad delivered them to
the authorities. -,
The motive Of the murdesers Was aos