The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-08-31
Hithmond 1ispatth,
THURSDAY. AUGUST 81. 1880
PETERSBURG

CONFESSION or MURDERER: EMMETT CT arm
TUE MURDERER OF Tue SOUTHAMPTON
CLERKS, IN VIEW OF APPROACHING pr,ru
C0NFESSES HIS GCILT-BRIHF uISToRy or
NOTED CRINE-oTHER ITEMS.
lCorrvspondercc of the Richmond DiSpa,ch1
August 30, lSso.
II has been announced in this CORE.
SpOndoncc that the negro Emmett Claude
the alleged murderer OF John Murrcll and
Thomas Glover. IN Southampton comfy.
who has been confined in the jail NJ ,Jcru.
salem for some months past, awaiting trial
was diving Of consumption, and that il WAS
thought he could live but little while
longer a special telegram 10 the Indey-
Appcdl. received this morning, states that
in anticipation 81 his death, which was cx-
pcctcd within few hours, Claude had
made confession Of his guilt 10 the taller Of
the county. No details Of the confession
are given except that he was the murderer
Of the two Young men. and that he set Gre
to the house in which their bodies were
consumed.
The murders were committed on the
night Of the sd OF last December. and thc
crime was one Of the most ficndiSh and dia.
holical ever peTpctrated in this section. and
Al the time created vast deal OF indigno-
ton and excitement. John Murrell, aged
about twcntV-one years. and Thomas
Glover. aced sixteen years, young men OF
high standing and popularity. were en-
ploycd - clerks in the store OF McSsrs.
Joseph II. 4 J. L. Prince. at Grccn Plains.
southampton county Just across the Green's
willie hnc, about FIVE miles from BclGcld
station. on the Petersburg railroad. About
II O'Clock on The night in question. after n
day 81 busy tmdC. two pi>t1l-ShOtS were
heard at the store by the father Of Young
Glover. who lived only a short distance
away. but il was thought that they were
merely the playful discharge Oi Christmas
firearms. 4 little later Mr.. Glover wa IN
formed 10y a negro who called at his house
that his ION must be sick. n he saw Linn
living upon the loOr Of the store and heard
lim rroauing ~ il in pain. The store
was then visited. but it was found 10
,e on fire, and the smoke wac so
dense That no one could enter il.
When The flames burst out the bodies Of the
two Young men could be seen lying upon
Oh, floor near The stove. Ii was then i'm
possible 20 rescue them. and both ~ the
bodies were badly burned. Strange 10 say.
while MuTtN> head and lower portion 81
the body were burned 10 crisp the breast
was hut little injured. 4 bullct-holc was
found I'm the breast. showing that he had
been shot. Glover j. believed to have been
killed by a blow from an axe, which was
found ly his side. 1t is said that the pistol
with which Nurrell was shot was also
found on the floor. The store and all its
stock 81 goods were DESTROYED. The Oh
jcct Of the crime was believed 10 he rob-
berry. Two white men, strangers in the
codnty. Who had been seen in the vicinity
. The store were at first suspected, bUt
tltv clearly established their innocence.
Ouc or two colorod men upon whom Suspi-
zion also fell were arrested. hut they were
discharged upon satisfactory proof Of their
innocence. Finally. throE-h the efforts %
adjective from Richmond. Emmett Claude
WAS arrested. The evidence against him.
though altogether q a circum,tantial cha
Ict.r. WAS strong. He had good deal OF
money % spend. the possession OF which
Do could not account for. and other very
suspicious circumstances were developed
which went ycrv clearly 20 establish his
connection with The terrible crime. lIeV
examined before "a magistrate and sent On
f.trial. When indicted in the County Court
q. elected 10 Dee tried in the Circuit CoUrt.
Il, was brought 10 trial there, bst the
jlry-cOmp0>cd about equally OF whites
au . colOrod-"oUld not agree on verdict,
and the case went over to the fall term for
second trial. II is reported that the jury
were not disagreed on the question OF guilt,
lui on the measure Of the punishment
SON, Of the Jurors fayoring imprisonment.
Tl, trial will never take place, a. most
probably. even at this writing, Claude Is
t.d. The crime va, one OF the most noted
ever committed in this section.
L4tcr.-lntcli Ccnce WAS received here
tits afternoon Of the death Of Emmett
Claude, which occurred yesterday.
AsI tclc4raphcd the DispafcA, the new
school Board elected last night full
corp, u teachers Tor the public schools,
and decided 10 commence the scholastic
session on the 2d u October.
The wife Of Nr. Henry {. Gregory, Of
Amelia county, died Yesterday Her re-
mains will DE brought to this city and IN
tered i'm Blandlord. RoRIN ADAlR.