The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-03-13

THEIR DEVELOPMENTS WHICH LEAVE NOT A
DOUBT OF Mr.. WALTON HAVING BEEN BRU-
TALLY MURDERED.
correspondence Of the Richmond Dispa,ch.1
Louisa COURTHOUSE. VA.,3
March II. 1879.
The excitement in the nelshborhood OF
Yanceyvllle. the scene Of the horrible oc-
currcucc reported by me IN your issue OF
The 11th instant, is still intense, and rs the
suspicion OF murder becomes more con-
trmed each day the Indignation OF the pco.
ple is more aroused. 1t is the first occur
renee of such horrid nature that has taken
place in Louisa for many years. Great in
di.natiun is expressed everywhere, and the
universal hope is that the guilty party or
parties may be brought 10 justice and meet
that fate the character OF the crime de-
servcS-even the gallows.
TIE ASHES OF THE BURNED BUILDING
have been suited. 4 gold ring worn by
the deceased was discovered entirely
unhurt by the heat The clasp OF his
pocket-book has also been discovered; but
several gold dollars known to have been
kept in the pocket-book have not been
found. going to prove that the currency and
coin were taken from it. t.. is natural to
presume that the iieud was afraid TO carry
of this book, as it could be recognized.
FURTHER DEVELOPMENTS.
A portion Of cheek-bone and pieces Of
the skull have been discovered. 1t is
thought the skull of deceased was crushed-
BY an axe, probably. The axe used for
cutting wood for the premises cannot be
found. The spring OF the patent-alarm
h-drawer plainly shows that this drawer
was broken open-thcre is not q doubt OF
this fact. An eighty-pound weight was also
found with this >pring-the scales and other
weights being in their proper positions.
The locks Of the several doors have been
found and examined by Messrs. Leno and
Simeon Jones. brothers-in-law of the de-
ceased. and who were we'll acquainted with
the premises and everything on them. 1t
was found that the storeroom door (the
main-entrance door, WAS locked. The door
leading into the bedroom OF deceased is
proved to have been unlocked and the key
found on the inside, going to prove this
door bad been locked for the night and
opened for somc one. The door leading
from the bedroom OF the deceased INTO
the dning-room is found 10 have been
locked-a significant fact, inasmuch as it
is known that this door was never
locked, If seldom closed; and going to
show that this door was closed to shut off
the light from the rear OF the building, rs
several families reside in sight TO the rear,
and the light from The burning building
could have been plainly seen before the tiend
or ticnds made their escape. In. this connec-
ton | will state that it is most reasonably
presumed that the house was fred in the
bedroom Of the deceased.
CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE OF FOUL PLAY.
But the strongest evidence, and which is
entirely conclusive that Mr. Walton was
thus brutally murdered, is the fact OF the
cash-drawer or rather that portion OF 1t
containing the partitions for currency aud
cups fer coin, having been found. This
was found on yesterday afternoon. 1t was
discovered lying about t!tcen yards 10 lhe
rear Of q tobacco house, which hou c is not
more than fifty yards iii. indeed, that dis
tance) from where the burned building
stood. This is. as before stated, most con-
elusive evidence Of the murder, and even
those who were disposed 10 consider the
occurrence an accident (and they are very
few now admit there s not pos>iDliltF
OF a doubt rs to the murder. But the AT
pcarance OF the drawer is quite strange.
The inuuest was held in the tobacco
house mentioned, and the remains OF Mr..
Walton were carried there from the dfbraS
OF the burned building. where they were
looked upon by many. Persons were
around This house on all sides climbing up
the sides to peer through the cracks, when
the crowd was so large inside as to admit OF
no more, and it is strange that this drawer
could have been in the position found on
Sunday and not have been observed by
some one. In fact, this is most improba-
ble. 1t must have been brought back: ana
vet what would he the idea OF the guilty
narty in so doing? 1t is thought that the
drawer was found by some one not III SYM
pathy with the crime, and VINO Wl>nea 10
let it be found, but was afraid to produce
it himself lest he should be Suspected
oil completely in the matter. ms Is Iehsoii-
able, rs some persons might correctly pG
presumed to be timid in case o. thiS kihu
when excitement prevails to such great
extent. But, however this may be, tue hna-
ing OF the drawer is proof positive OF ROD
berry, and therefore Of the murder. Ihis
drawer contained some currency (what
amount is not exactly known) and about
s25 in silver coin. None of this coin has
been discovered, though few nlckels and
coppcrs have been. 1t is not preSumable
that this silver coin melted, as pewter
spoons have been found unmelted, ana the
heat and lire hardly took the polish OH OF
tbe knives in the showcase. Then, again, II
If had melted 1t would have been found IN
the melted state, which has not been done.
MORE LIGHT.
Another fact still further Gf that is POSI-
ble> confirms the murder. A piece OF SILVER
money has been found in the edge OF some
pines about a quarter OF mile. from tue
site OF the store, and which goes to snow
that the fiend went in that direction anu
dropped the same by accident.
Upon the whole, there is not shade" OF
a doubt that Mr.. Walton was murdered,
robbed, and the building then burned, anu
no pains or labor will be spared in ol''-
gent and searching Investigation in order
to get some clue on the guilty parties.
THE MANNER IN WHICH TIE MURDER WAS
COMMITTED. a, .
As TO the manper in which this dark deco
was consumnated. IL is thought that the
guilty parties sought admission into the
store under pretence OF purchasing some
articles. when the deceased WAS either
knocked in the head instantly, or after ne
had gotten into the storeroom. and then
thrown on the bed in order TO leave the I'M.
preston that he had been burnt up IN ped
by an accident. 1t Is o known fact that nc
would never admit any stranger. at iate
hours OF the night, but would ger up 70 az,
commodate those who dealt with him. and
those he knew. 1t Is, therefore. generaliy
believed that he was murdered by some