The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-31

UDOn petition oil Matthew's IaylOr uttuS
william Price alias Henry Price, through
his counsel, Mr. Percy l.. Darlington, Judge
Hughes, OF the United States District Court,
yesterday issued a writ OF hGbedS corpus
directing City Sergeant Lee TO bring before
him at O'Clock yesterday afternoon the
petitioner, who alleged that he was unlaw-
fully detained in the city Jail. Shortly after
the writ OF hdbedS corpus had been issued,
at the instance OF COmmonwealth's-Att Attorney
Witt, Sergeant b. +. Howard went before
Justice W. f. Granger, and on the ground
OF newly. discovered evidence in the case
swore out warrant against Matthews Tay-
lor alias Henry Price, charging him with
the murder of Violet Micbaux, which was
served on the accused in the city Jail.
At 5 O'Clock Sergeant Lee, in obedience
to the writ, appeared before Judge Hughes
with his prisoner in charge. Mr. 5. B.
Witt appeared as counsel for Mr.. Lee, and
denying the allegations set forth in the Pc
titiOn, stated that since the writ had been
issued the petitioner had been arrested
under a new warrant, and was held now
not on suspicion, but upon a distinct
charge.
Mr.. CarriDgton was allowed to amend bis
petition so as to include the warrant which
had been subsequently issued, and there
upon asked that his client be released from
both the mitimuS Of the Police Justice and
the warrant. He did not believe that an
other examination before the Police Court
would disclose any evidence which would
affect his client.
Judge Hughes said it did not appear that
the State OF Virginia had violated the Con-
stitution OF the United States or any law OF
Ia. hCl "a
picon only; but all question as to the
rights Of the State in this matter had been
settled by the arrest OF the petitioner under
a new warrant, and that he was now held
on distinct charge. He would therefore
dismiss the petition, and remand the peti-
toner to the custody of the City Sergeant.
From several facts that have come to the
knowledge OF the COmmonweath's Attor-
ney be has reason TO suspect that the wit
nesses examined on Friday, as to the iden-
tity Of the alleged Matthews Taylor, had
denied that the prisoner was the MUIR
dcrer by general agreement with view OF
freeing him. There are many suspicious
circumstances, and none more so than his
statements OF having struck Violet MichauX.
and his subsequent escape the morning
OF the murder, coupled with the fact
that all the witnesses were his
former cOlored associates and friends
i'm the disreputable locality in which they
lived. Entertaining this opinion, Mr.. witt
is determined to sift the matter to the bot
tom, and with that view has dispatched an
officer to Buckingham county TO summon a
witness who is well acquainted with Mat
thews Tay lor, and who will be able to settle
the question Of the identity OF the man now
held in custody on suspicion OF being that
individual.
IL is expected that the case will be heard
under the new warrant tomorrow morning.
Yesterday afternoon between and D
O'Clock Information was received at the
First police station that "A man answering
to the description of Matthews Taylor was
on board schooner lying in the river Just
below the Ship-iOcks. Sergeant Howard
and Officer Mattern went down TO the spot
indicated and placed the suspected party
under arrest. TO avoid attracting crowd
the officers took their prisoner up the south
side OF the dock TO Seventeenth street ana
thence to the StatiOn-hOusc. The arrest,
however, soon became known, and in
short time the station-hOuSe was surround
ed by several hundred persons anxious
to get glimpse OF the man. In response
TO questions, he gave the name OF Lewis
johnson. and said that he shipped on board
the schooner from Philadelphia last Wed.
ne,day week. lie bore some resemblance
to the description given Of Taylor, and had
on a pair OF blue "oyeralls" and a black
cap. SalIie Lord, the sister Of the MUIR
dered woman. was sent for, and when she
arrived she declared that the prisoner was
not Taylor. The officers, satisfied that they
bad gotten hold OF the wrong man, released
him, and the crowd dispersed with many
expressions OF disappointment at the result
OF the investigation.