The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-21

Another bloody tragedy has been enacted
in the lower part OF the city, In which The
principal actors are colored, the weapon
used knife, and the murderer steyedore,
who, after committing the deed In broad
day light, and in the presence OF several
witnesses, made good his escape from the
city. In all these points the case Is anala-
gous TO the murder not long since commit
ted by Robert James on the gangway Of the
steamship Wyanoke, aud IL is a serious and
pertinent inquiry whether or not Madison
Taylor, who has Just taken in cold blood
the life OF his quasi wife, was not embOld-
ened to the act by the ease with which his
brother workman and murderer evaded
even an examination before the law. That
so HEINOUs A CRIME
as murder should be seemingly so lightly
regarded, and thereby encouraged, Is re-
proach to this ordinarily peaceful aud we'll
governed community, and the censure QOr
there must have been gross dereliction
somewhere) should be fastened where 1t be-
longs. The peace OF the city and security
OF the citizens demand greater vigilance,
and the exercise OF the most effective and
powerful measures for the apprehension Of
such criminals.
The only cause that can be assigned for
the murder OF Violet Mission by her so.
called husband. Madison Taylor, yesterday
morning, the particulars OF which are given
below, was jealousy, which ripened IN its
malignant form, like the tragedy OF Shak-
speare, BY the giving OF handkerchief
The neighbOrhOod OF Twenty.fOurth be-
tween Main and Cary streets was thrown
into great excitement yesterday morning
about O'Clock by the
COLD BLOODED MURDER OF VIOLET MISSION,
a colored woman, who was stabbed to death
at the entrance to Cameron's alley by Madi-
son Taylor. It appears that the two had
been living together although no legal cere-
mony had sanctioned III as man and wife
since last fall, when they met for the first
time. Violet is represented TO have been
female OF easy virtue, and Madison Is said
10 have recently had cause for doubling her
faithfulness to him. A row on last Sunday
week was the result. and the two parted
company, he leaving the abode TO live on
Main street near by, while she remained at
the former home in CamerOn's alley with
her mother and sister. Subsequently,
MADISON, LIKE OTHELLO,
discovered in the possession Of one OF his
rivals a handkerchief which be bad given
to his DesdemOna, and with the same ieal-
Gus fiend in his heart that took possession
Of his counterpart in Shakspeare's tragedy,
he visited the alley in which the faithless
one lived, with murderous intent. IL is
said he remained about the vicinity all
night, and when the sister OF the deceased,
Sallie Laws, came out early yesterday MORN
ing to go to work, be met and engaged her
in conversation, during which he SAID that
iol. ho1 vfu a
chief belonging TO him, and he was
GOING TO KILL SOME ONE
about It. About this time Violet came out
to Join her sister on her way TO work, and
as she passed Madison he slid, "1ou have
got TO stop taking my things and giving
them TO other men," She replied she bad
done nothing OF the kind, and, retortng TO
bis rej)inders as she went, she joined her
sister and they proceeded down the alley TO
Twenty-fourth street, Sallie being on the
left. They had Just reached the sidewalk
OF Twenty.fourth street when Madison came
up from behind on the right-hand side OF
Violet. In a moment be bad drawn large
knife or dagger from its sheath in the front
Of his pants, and stepping back to give force
to his blow,
WITHOUT ONE WORD OF WARNING
or reproacb, he drove the cold steel with all
his might up to the hilt in the centre OF her
chest. With one dying gasp the unfortu-
nate woman staggered from the side OF her
sister and fell to the earth, where, without
one word, she expired within three min
utes. As she fell the assassin, holding to
the murderous blade, pulled 1t wreaking
with gore from the gaping wound, and was
in moment fleeing for safety, while those
who witnessed the deed stood transfiXed
with fear and bewlderment. The mur-
derer ran down Twenty-fourth to Cary
street, and thence across Church Hill, 1t Is
thought, he took to the country. Those
vino witnessed the murder testify to the
facts as stated above.
Maggie Robinson (cOlored), who lives
near the scene Of the occurrence, and who
WITNESSED THE HORRIBLE MURDER,
being questioned by a Dispatch representa-
tive. said: I" was standing about half way
M the alley there when 1 saw her 0he de-
ceased) come down from the house, and her
mother called to her to come back; not TO
90 down there talking with Madison. She
said no, she would talk to anybody she
wanted to. She went on down, and as she
passed Madison I saw her flirt her dress by
| him. and she went on down the alley talking
with her sister. Then Madison he run'd
down behind, aud as he come round on
Violet's right side he pulled a big sheath
knife. IL peered like, out OF his shirt sleeve.
Den he stepped back and drawed of with
all his might and stabbed her indie breast.
She (the deceased) ust Strengthened up sun
| like she was trying to keep from falling, ana
den fell down there where she Is and died,
and he run of as hard as he could down
Cary street"
The Coroner was notified, and having
viewed the body had it moved to the late
abode OF the deceased, where
AN AUTOPSY
was made yesterday afternoon. 1t was
found that the knife went in near the upper
part OF the right breast, passed between the
ribs, and penetrated the top OF the heart,
entering the cavity thereof. This produced
Immediate and copious internal hemorrhage,
which caused death. The deceased appear
ed 10 be about thirty years Of age, was
small In stature, and OF dark gingerbread
color.
DESCRIPTION OF THE MURDERER
IL thus given He Is about twenty-five years
old. ouite black, about five feet nine inches
tall weighs about 1870 pounds, smooth face,
with high cheek-bones and slight scar In the
corner Of right eye. He is said to be in
delicate health and suffers from asthma or
shortness Of breath, and has slow, swag-
gering walk. Has large white teeth, the
two front upper ones being considerably
separated. He wore pair OF blue overall
pants with pants Of some dark material
underneath) blue gingham shirt, and black
can. Was without coat and barefooted at
the time. He came to Richmond two or
three years since from Buckingham county,
where be was formerly owned by Mr..
Gillian. He is said to have bona fde wife
now living, and was frequently heard 10