The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-10-12
powHATAN.

CAPTURR, AND CONVICTION or THE ROBBERS.
THE HENLEY MURDRRs
Correspondence Of The Richmond Dispstch.l
OCTOBER 8, 1880.
The Circuit Court has Just concluded the
trial OF the persons engaged in the robbery
OF Maxey's store aud attempt 10 kill him on
the 23d OF April last, which was one OF the
greatest and most daring outrages ever per-
petra,ed In our county. II appeared by The
evidence that Mr.. James II. Maxey, who
kept country store, situated about six
miles from the county-seat upon the road
to Michaux ferry, which Is there intersected
by the River road, having on Friday night
closed his store and gone 10 bed In the
coun,ing.room Of the store, which he al.
ways occupied, was aroused by party OF
men, who seemed from their voices to be
three in number, demanding him to open
bis door, az they wanted some cakes. Mr..
Maxey declined 10 admit them on the
ground that be bad retired for the night
and did not entertain customers at so late
an hour, IL being then about midnight.
They then became very insolent aud
threatening and demanded the hundred
dollars which they said he had, and threat
ened they would break into the store, and
"play hell and damDation" In the whole
neighborhood. Mr.. Msxey arose and
took his book containing his notes
and secreted it, and then, taking out
his pistol and gun, prepared TO make bis
defence, having rolled some barrels OF -four
and fish against his doors. The store was
usually entered on the side OF the public
road by double door, on each side OF which
were windows secured by shutters and by
iron bars, and under one OF these windows
was a showcase. The store-room had a
counting-ToOm annexed, which had a side
door with a window over IT, and another
large window opposite the door with fire.
place, and Mr.. MaXey's bed under the win
dow. The marauders, having threatened
his life and demanded his money and goods,
broke open the window near the showcase,
and having inserted a few small pieces Of
lightwood set on fire UPON the showcase
fired at Mr.. Maxey with such violence that
the ball from the barrel OF DerrDger pis.
toll went through the store and counting
room, and having struck the brick fire.
place rebounded back into the store, where
ii was picked uD next day.
Another shot was fired through the door
OF the counting-ro0m, which was composed
OF plank two inches thick, and from Mr..
Maxey's position at the time, would have
inevitably killed him but for heavy great
coat which was hanging upon nail in the
door on the inside. Mr.. Maxey returned
their fire with a double. barrel gun, and,
with great GOODNESS, went to the showcase
and extinguished the light. In order, II
possible to prevent their entrance, as they
swore they would break in and Kill him and
burn down the store IL be did not throw
out to them his money and such goods as
a. he NJ ,,air nf
shoes and several coats and pantaloons, and
some silver. In the mean time Mr. MaXey's
father, who lived about one hundred yards
of, aroused by the firing. started to the
store. IL was a bright night, and the par
ties seeing him, Immediately left. Mr.
Maxey sent at once for his neighbors,
guards were placed at MichauX and Je1ier-
son ferries, and pursuit was made down the
river road. Information having been OBJ
tanned that they had crossed the river at
Jude's ferry, and had passed Dover Mills
on the tow-path of the canal, Mr.. For
loine, OF Goochland. started down in pur-
suit, and at Aliens bridge, near Tuck
aboe, next day found two men resting
under the bridge. Attempting to arrest
them, one OF the men, Bartlett Fisher, drew
bis knife, which was snached from him by
ForloiDe, who grasped at the same time the
pistol which William Gibson was attempt
ing to draw. Another man coming up TO
aid, they surrendered. They had each a
carpet bag containing shoes and clothing,
fully identified by Dir. Maxey as being his
goods, Which ne threw out TO them. They
gave accounts OF themselves evidently false
and contradictory, and false names. Will
liam Gibson showed great surprise at For
LONE not being armed, aud said il he had
known that he would not have surrendered.
They were indicted by the next County
Court, and having elected to be tried in the
Circuit Court, as the offence was punishable
with death or penitentary, at the discretion
OF the Jury, the evidence shown upon the
trial, although circumstantial (as Mr.. MaXey
was unable to identify them), was the
strongest chain imaginable. A cartridge
shell OF a Snith & Wesson pistol found
at the door of the cOunting-room
fitted exactly the pistol found on
Gibson. In the pocket of Fisher was
found piece OF lightwood, which fitted
one Of the pieces of ightwood which had
been put on the showcase. The balls found
fitted both their pistols. They were ident-
fed as two OF three men put over at Jude's
ferry about sunrise the morning after the
y,
going down the canal-bank, and arrested
about 10 O'Clock afterwards by FOrloine.
These and other facts. with the complete
OF the clothing by Mr.. Maxey,
their false account Of themselves, and bav-
ing burglars tools in their haversacks, pre-
sented an oveyw helmng mass OF evidence.
They were prosecuted by our Common
wealth'S attorney, Mr.. W. Nj. Flanagan, and
nj. M, N COL Of
torney OF Prince Edward, whom Mr. Elan
agan had called to his aid, as 1t was the
most important case ever in our court. The
took the highest interest in ii,
as il was generally believed that these three
men were the same who entered by night
Mr.. Henley's store, at Tuckah0e, and killed
MS mother.in-law, who opened the door to
hem.
Bartlett Fisher was defended by Colonel
Samuel f. Coleman and Judge +. r. Far
rar assigned by the Court on the first in
dictment, and by Messrs. 4. NJ. Miller and
Willis b. Smith on the second indictment.
William Gibson was defended by Judge
William Pope Dabney.
The Jury found them guilty on both in
iictments and fixed their Imprisonment at
eighteen years in one OF the charges and
eight years in the other, making twenty six
years in the penitentlary; but the jury in
The last case were for long time-a day
and night-divided, nearly half OF the jury
being in favor at first OF capital punish
nent, a. the circumstances against Gibson
we're, IL possible, the strongest: and as
Gibson. who was acquainted with the loca-
ion and interior arrangement OF the store
house, bad evidently planned the whole
hing.
Mr.. Maxey Is entitled TO great credit for
he GOODNESS exhibited by him among the
most trying circumstances in which 1t Is