Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1880-04-20
Tho Strange St0ry.

| WHICH A UNIVERSITY STUDENT ToLD-A
CADET-wHITAKER CASE AT THE UNI
vERslTY OF VIRGINIA.
Yesterday Detective John Wren reach
ed the city from the University Of Vir-
ginia, where he went to investigate the
case Of the supposed attempt to rob and
murder A. N. Towle, student from
| Alabama.
On Friday, April 3, A. N. Towle gave
an account Of an attempted robbery
His statement was that on that night he
went to his room, and without undress-
ing fell asleep on his bed. About 80
O'Clock he awolle and found negro
man standing near his bed, who demand
ed his money. Mr.. Towle told him he
had none, and the negro told him he
knew better, and must have it. The
student then said, "lf you must, you
must" and put his hand in his pocket,
but instead of his pocket-book he drew
a pistol. The negro, seeing his danger,
Immediately plunged knife into Mr..
Towle's breast, which struck a package
of letters in his breast pocket and did no
damage. The negro struck second
time, hut with only Il slight scratch.--
BY this time Mr.. Towle succeeded in
getting his pistol cooked, and fired while
the negro was getting out of the door.
This was the fret statement. The
matter created much excitement, and
every effort was made to discover the
supposed marauder. A few days after a
second visit was reported, and Mr..
Towle was then robbed of n sum Of
money.
This intelligence increased the excite
ment. The students took the matter in
hand and determined to ferret the mat
ter out. Mr.. John B. Davis, Jr., one of
them, delegated Mr.. II. NJ. Smith, Jr,,
to see detective Wren and secure his SER
vices. Detective Wren went up TO The
University on Thursday morning and
proceeded at once to investigate the mat
ter.
Young Towle said he had lost q certi-
fled check for $50 on the Bank of Mobile,
Ala, and also a watch and chain. After
u thorough examination of Towle the
detective became satisfied that he had
committed the outrage on his roommate
and himself.
Learning of Detective Wren's arrival
STATE reporter interviewed him this
morning. lie said: "I learned that
Towle was steady young man and did
not frolic any. went to work and
found out that he never had lost any
check, and also that he had told y
falsehood about his watch, for instead of
being stolen he had pawned 1t in Wash
ington. got Towle down In my room
at the hotel, and sent for business man
of Charlottesville, who, ut my request,
came there to listen to the conversation.
al then accused him of doing these
things himself; that he had never lost
any check or watch. lie then admitted
that he had make false statements, and
sent for the committee of students who
had been investigating this affair, and
made full confession to them. He also
told them where they could find some Of
the articles he had said were stolen. -
These students, accompanied by Detec-
tive Wren, went to the place and dlscoy-
cred the articles.
1owlc left for Alabama on the first
train Saturday night.
The students expected to hold mass
meeting and take some action to-day.
TOwle had represented that he and his
room-m mate were robbed three times, the
amount of money taken being 500.
The daring manner In which these
robberies had been committed caused the
students to appoint committee of five
with instructions to raise money and em-
ploy Detective Wren. j. u. Davis, Jr.,
was chairman of the committee. There
ls much excitement among the students,
and It Is understood that the foculty viii
| take cnrly action.