The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-30
LOCAL MATTERS.
Nnt matihews Tayior.
A SEGRO's STRANGE PREAK-Is He TsAyE OR
FOOL?

A yEGRO's STRANGE PREAK-Is He KsAyE OR
FOOL?
Probably one thousand persons were at
tracled TO the Police Court yesterday morn-
ing by the desire TO see the murderer OF
Violet Nlchaux. Long before the hour for
the court 10 meet both sides OF franklin
street from the Old Market to the Odd. Eel.
lows Hall were lined with spectators watt
ing for the prisoners TO be taken up from the
siation.house for trial. There was some
excitement manifested on the part OF some
OF the colored people, but after awhile
II became pOised abroad that the
police bad the wrong man, and be-
fore hali.past Q the crowd had perceptibly
diminished. Some four or five hundred,
principally colored persons OF both sexes,
crowded into the courtroom and awaited
the issue Ct the examination. The case OF
Matthews Taylor was the first called, but
The witnesses were slow In responding. IL
appeared that several OF those summoned
had been 10 the siatlOn-house and seen the
prisoner, and finding he was not the man
had returned TO their work In disgust.
The case was postponed until they could be
sent for. After the docket had been dis
posed Of the case was again called and the
witnesses sworn. Five colOred women, 10.
Guiding the sister Of the deceased, said they
knew Matthews Taylor well; had known
him for many months, and that the accused
was not the man. A colored man and
Policeman John +. Parkinson were sworn,
and their testimony was 10 the sane effect.
Sergeant james y. Jetcr, who brought the
prisoner from Washington, stated that he
asked him about the difficulty, and The prls-
Oner told bin that bG did strike violet az
the mouth OF CsmerOn's alley wednesday
morning, but bad nothing in his bdnd but
an iyory-baDdled pen.knife. He further
said TO him that after the difficulty he ran
off up TO Broad street, and down the street
by Bellevue school; that be remained ln the
woods that day, and at night walked TO
Atlee's station, where he TOOK coal
train and stole ride TO Washington. The
account given so nearly cCinclded with The
movements OF the real murderer that the
officer was made TO believe he was the right
man. At the conclusion OF the testimony
Justice Richardson said be would discharge
the prisoner from the accusation OF murder,
but would bold him as suspicious charac-
ter, in default OF surety, until something
could be learned as to his antecedents.
The Justice said the prisoner. who had
given the name Of Henry Price, had yOlun-
ment made TO Sergeant Jeter, and bad
also stated that he had served term OF
ten wears and six months In the peniten-
tiary for shooting a man in Alexandra.
The prisoner does not appear to be more than
tWentv-tbree years OF age, and has stupid
look. He corresponds in many particulars
with tie description OF the real Matthews
TAYLOR. The opinion in police circles ts
a. Of 4 il gfi
city.
The case, viewed in all its aspects, is q
most remarkable one. The police OF Wash
ington who are brought in daily contact
with crime in all lis phases declared to the
officer who went after the man that theil
talks With him bad satisfied them beyond
peradventure that he was the culprit, and tc
the officer himself the prisoner betrayed @
knOwled OF the case that would have con-
yinced the most skepticll that be had com
mitted the deed. HIS presence in Richmond
on the morning Of the murder, his alleged
acquaintance with the deceaSt and Others
ia the locality where the tragedy occurred
bi. knowledge OF the city and its surround
ings, The accurate account he gave OF The
manner OF his leaving here (cOrrObOrated by
other evidence). and the means by which be
reached Washington, would seem to be in
eonl.stabe proofs Of bis identity. Yet all
OF these apparently convincing facts are
completely Offset by the testimony OF seven
witnesses, among whom was sister OF the
murdered woman; all OF whom are posi-
tive in their statements that this is not the
right maO.
With reference to the mans assertion thai
be had served a term in the penitentiary
the records OF that institution show that The
only Henry Price confined therein within
the past few years was sent from Prince
Edward county in May, 1876, and that ht
had been discharged in September, 1880.