The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-01-07

ont and left the two together. Alter ABOUT
three fourtbs Of an hour he heard the re-
mort OF q gun, and immediately returning
( found his grandmother shot dead and me
woman gore. He then went out and noti-
fed the nearest neishbor.
EVIDENCE AT THE INQUEST.
The only evidence before the coroner was
given by two brothers OF the accused, and,
although entirely circumstaEtiai, unless re-
butted, makes out d strong case against nim.
~ A Younger brother testified that DIS DFo-
fher, about or shortly before O'Clock, SEM
him off 10 play, and insisted on MS gong,
although the latter said it was too coId' ana
afterwards went after him before informing
any one of the murder.
An older one testified to having loaned
the accused on Friday gun which he had
borrowed, and to have given him one LOAD
Of powder and shot in addition to that
which the gun contained. This CUBAN
old army musket-was the one with which
the crime was committed. 1t was 1ound
discharged near the body OF the deceased.
The accused then stated that his brother only
gave him charge of powder and not shot
or ball, and that he had swallowed the pow
der to keep out the cold weather.
VERDICT OF THE JURY.
The Jury, after consultation. returned
verdict that - Maria johnson, the deceased,
came to her death BY gun-shot wound at the
hands OF some person unknown 10 the
jury" o.o
rnent Of Wells and the testimony OF his TWO
+. brothers, determined to commit him for
further examination, TO be had yesterday at
] O'Clock. The result of that examination
had not been heard from at late hour last
night, but there seemed but little doubt OF
the accused being fully committed for ex-
animation before the County Court. Is. n.
Hancock, ESQ.,, commemorative attorney
for the county, was notified, and was eX-
pected to be present in the interest OF the
Commonwealth Yesterday.
CHARACTER OF THE PARTIES.
Maria johnson was one OF the Oldest resi-
dents Of the locality, where she had raised
children and grandchildren. She is repre-
scented as having always been good and in
offensive woman, beloved and respected
alike by white and colored. In all her long
life in the vicinity il is not believed that's
had made an enemy or conducted herself
George Wells, the accused, although
Young, has long been known as triting
and bad character, and has been once whip
ped for petit larceny.
CHASTITY SIGHT.
The body of the old woman, when found,
was on the fire, with nearly the entire up
ner norton OF her head blown of. The
weapon with which the 6endish deed had
been committed was but q few feet from
her. Portions of her flesh and OF her
clothing bad been burned to crisp, thus
adding 10 the horror Of the sight and form
inc n scene that the most heartless could
not contemplate without shuddering.
MOTIVES FOR THE MURDER.
The community is at loss to account for
the motives for the murder. It could not
have been for gain, fer it is not generally
believed that the old woman hatl money, as
her chances for accumulation. had been
small. 1t is not supposed TO be revenge,
for, as before stated, the whole tenor OF her
long life had been Of such nature as to
disarm enmiiy and malice and rear around
her friends. Whoever fired the fatal shot that
abruptly snapped In twain the threads Ut
life whose sands had already so nearly run
out must have been some tiend who MUIR
dered for the love OF crime, or felt him.
self called las some villains pretend to
7eeD. by a supersttious power to commit
crime. The accused has never been thought
the least idiotic or unsound in mind or
: OOays fOu, SuC CUNT "a hS vas
unusually sharp and bright for one Of his
advantages.
,lrs 4. A FEELING OF INDIGNATION.
AS might be naturally supposed. feel.
ing of intense indignation pervaded all
Glasses of the community Sunday night
aud Yesterday morning over the shocking
event. Threats OF taking out the accused
and hanging him to the first tree were loud
and FREQUENT, and at one time it was thought
that this would be the sequel OF the affair.
But better counsel had prevailed up to the
hour last beard from, and it is hoped will
continue in the end. The evidence up to
this writing, while strong. Is purely clrcum-
stantial. Let not the fair fame OF old Ches-
terfela be furnished by another lawless
scene. which would but add to the revolt
ingness OF the crime. But let the prisoner
be commended to the majesty OF the out
ragged law. to which, happily for us all IN
this laW-abiding community, the rich and
poor, humble and great, lofty and friend
less, can appeal with perfect confidence IN
the Intelligence and discriminating justice
of tWeayeeof his disinterested countrymen.
The Ssate,ef The Weathsr.-A portion Of
the mills on the water line were enabled to
resume operations yesterday. The. canal
was filed with thick Ice, however, and
many boys were engaged in skating thereon
at Belle Isle work was still suspended on
account OF thefees Near the city many par
ties have beer for several days engaged In
cutting ice, and a,lasge quantity OF excellent
quality and quite taiek has ,bseD gathered: