The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-06-22


CROWD AT ATBAY-ARREsTED AND LOCKED
UP-HIsTogY oFTHE AFFAIR, &C., &C.
On Sunday night between 10 and II
O'Clock William Burke. a colored lunatic
who recently left the Central Lunatic Asy-
lum, in Henrico county, murdered Rebecca
Burke, his wife, and shot and seriously
wounded Patrick Harris. colored man.
About six years ago Willam Burke mar
ried Rebecca. o mulattO woman OF good
character and well known among the CO.
loied people OF this city. soon after their
marriage they moved TO Newtowp, in the
upper part OF Manchester. While living in
that city he was afflicted with one Of those
cases OF insanity which was considered TO
be incurable. lie frequently imagined that
some one was endeav voring TO kill bis wife.
Being naturally OF a very jealous disposi-
ton, the thought greatly worried him.
Early one Sunday morning about three
months ago Burke was arrested IN Mancbes-
ter. charged with attempting 10 shoot his
wife. He was carried before the Mayors
Court OF that city for examination. The
facts, as developed at that time, showed that
Burke locked himself and wife 10 The house,
and procuring loaded pistol began shoot
ing rather promiscuously about the room.
Some OF the balls came near striking his
wife. and several passed through the roof OF
| the building, which had only two rooms and
was but one story high. 1t was then that
his INSANITY WAS FIRST DISCOVERED.
He was subsequently adiudged unatic
and was ordered to be conveyed TO an asy-
lum. His condition at that time was such
that the officers who took him To the asylum
were forced to handcuf him in order TO
convey him there safely.
| He remained at the asylum but q few
DAYS, when he made his escape and re-
turned to Manchester. He was again ar
rested and locked up in Jail there, and the
authorities at the asylum notified OF the
fact. No steps were taken to carry Burke
back TO the institution, and he was released
| from Imprisonment, his wife aud brother
becoming surcties for bis good behavior.
Soon after he was released, Burke told
the Chief OF Police and City Sergeant OF
Manchester that he intended TO go 10 Rich
mond to live, "ior il he remained in Man
chester he would either have TO kill them,
his wife. or somebody" Sure enough he
removed to Richmond. lie took up his
residence at No. S33 Seventeenth street, in a
| little wood hut in the vicinity OF the
| chesapeake snOpS.
ATTEMPTS TO KILL A FRIEND.
About haIf-past o'clock Sunday after
noon Patrick Harris, cOlored man who
for number OF years has been employed
BY the city as q cart-driyer, passed by
Burke's house. 1t happened that Burke
was then quarrelling with his wife, and bad
but short while before cruelty beaten her.
Harris in very kind manner advised
| SuIke not TO treat his wife in such way.
II seemed, however, that the words OF Har-
riS greatly enraged Burke; wherenpon he
procured musket which was near at band,
and, leyelliDg it at Harris, fired. The bal
struck Harris in the mouth, making very
painful wound, which was not considered
iaul. The wounded man walked to The
station house afterwards, and was able fC
be at the Police Court short while yes
terday morning.
THE WHOLE NEIGHBOIH0OD AROUSED.
The shooting aroused the whole neigh
borhood, and in few moments fully hv'
hundred persons had assembled near TIT
place where it occurred. Information OF th'
shooting soon reached the First police sta
ton. A detachment OF six policemen, undel
command OF Sergeant Dan. Wren, arrived
on the spot shortly after Harris was shot
Before the officers reached the house Burk'
went In and locked himself, wife, and hl
child, about four years old, inside the build
ing. Sergeant Wren ordered Burke t
surrender, but 10 this demand he refused
saving that he was afraid OF the crowd
Burke had two loaded pistols and heay!
muslxet in his possession. With these b
stood at a window, and threatened to xii
the first person that dared to enter and ar
, | crowd
greatly augmented, and the widest excite
ment prevailed.
: THE MOB.
Some OF the crowd halooed at the top o
their voices, "Klll him!" "Shoot him
"Burn down the house !" Their erie
were heard in the upper part of the city
. and il seemed that the crowd had increased
TO one thousand in an hour after Harris wa
, sbot. The officers threatened to breaI
omen the door il Burke continued to refus
to surrender. At this moment the voice
. Burke's wife was heard above the noise
) the excited multitude, and she was hear'
TO repeat several times in rapid succession
"Don't break open the door;
IPYOU DO he WILL KILL ME-"
The officers hesitated, intending TO awai
until the wild unalic became quiet an
:
came unmanagable, and, Notwithstanding
the remonstrances Of the oihcers, pressed Iol
ward toward the house with the intention Q
bringing the enraged man into custody
: Some one threw a large rock at the house
, striking the back door, making noise as
. = the door was being broken open. AT thl
;, time the report OF mnsket was hearC
!, The excitement now increased, and 10
. scene beggared description. Burke think
ing that the crowd was trying to enter irol
the rear, fired the musket, killing his wife
, as she had predicted.
9 TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.
. Rprke then came to the door and opene
:, II Sergeant Wren and Officer ralman {
- once seized bim'and took him into CUSTODY
The other officers then entered the buildln
D.. and found the woman lying dead upon u
| foor in a pool OF blood. Upon table !
{ the house Officer Richards found one OF tn
ni.toIs which Burke had threatened to lis
Z nnon the crowd. Policeman Hardy disc'
yered the other pistol in the prisoner
; nocket. The musket was found lying upo
J the floor. discharged. The murderer WI
! hastily conveyed to the First police static
bv the police. While en- route 10 the station
house efforts were made to lynch tue mu
!, derrr. He was struck upon the head VII
= a brick by one OF the crowd. and 1t W.
i tbongbt at one time that the threats OF u
5 crowd would be made good. The prisone
u however, was
y s.yeIy LODGED IN THE sTATIoN'HoUsE
= ohomt n O'Clock Sunday night. He a
- neared at the Police Court yesterday NOR
y INC to answer the charge OF numbering u
- VIE I AT the request of W. c. Roane (cC
y ored, counsel Tor the prisoner, the case W
:. onnt;nued until Thursday, and the accuse
~ - ,ho oify iaii 10 avail eXamln