Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-04-26
MISS VANLEW'S SLIP
Romance and Scandal in the Capital OF
the Old DominiOR-A Hayward
Girls Folly.
The Malley Boys Trial-A Fleeing MUIR
derer's Desperate Deed-ShOt Dead
by His Father-in-LaW.

A.
most interesting cases of romance and scan
dial that has agitated Richmond for a long
time has taken place here recently. In that
part OF Richmond known as Church Hill
stands huge pile of building, occupying
an entire square on Grace street. 1t Is high
eminence, and the rear portion of the large
grounds is terraced and thickly studded with
rare shade and fruit trees, and ornamented
with rustic seats. The property is known as
the Van Lew estate, and is owned by Mics
Elizabeth Van Lew, an unmarried lady, who
has a national reputation. During the late
war she was determined Unionist. When
a Union officer with the rank of colonel tun-
neled the Libby prison and escaped, together
with others, Miss Van Lew concealed them
in her grand old castle, which, from its iso-
lated position and Typographical location,
was admirably adapted for the purposes
of the fugitives. 1t is also said that Miss
Van Lew was in daily communication
with the Union forces, and there are those
living who say that she has frequently
shown them cipher letters which she re-
ceived, and the alphabet which she used in
transmitting information concerning the
movements OF Confederate troops, and other
important facts when General Grant was
besieging Richmond and Petersburg. Miss
Van Lew used her cipher to a good purpose,
and when the general became the president
of the United States he rewarded the SER
vices of the old lady by giving her the
charge of the Richmond postofice; but when
Hayes was elected she was displaced. About
a year ago typographical engineer named
Rasloff came to Richmond and secured en-
ployment in the Richmond and Allegheny
Railroad Company's service. He had the
best kind of letters of introduction from
foreign ministers and other men of promi-
nenoe. He secured rooms at Miss Van
Lewis romantic residence. Miss Van Lew
has niece who has long resided with her,
and TO whom she had willed all her prop
erty. The niece is named Eliza Van Lew
and is the daughter of John n. Van Lew,
Miss Lizzie's brother. Rasloff had library,
which he offered to share with the pretty
niece, and the books he left out for
her to read treated of free love in the strong
est terms. The aunt became enraged when
this was discovered, and ordered Rasloff from
the house. The father of the niece then OBJ
tanned a warrant, in which he charged his
daughter with lunacy. A commission con-
sisting of w. E. Granger, ]. ID. Whitehead
and r. NJ. Taylor heard the case and dis
missed the warrant. Basloff then swore out
a similar warrant against the aunt, and an
other commission, consisting OF justices w.
J. Holmes r. NJ. Taylor and w. ii. Shields,
after examining the witnesses dismissed this
also. The niece has left the city and the aunt
has DESTROYED the will in which she be-
queathed the niece all her property. Public
Indignation runs high against Raslof, whose
doctrines are held in strong contempt here.
-
Brutal woman Murder.
NEwCoMERsTowN, o., April 25.-Particu-
lars have Just reached here from George
town, Golumbiana county, of one OF the most
deliberate and cold blooded murders which
has ever been perpetrated in Eastern Ohio.
The particulars of the most cowsrdly and
revolving crime as obtained by press cor
respondent, are as follows: Collins Summers,
one of the most prominent farmers of Co
lumbiana county has had hired hand named
VIM Stull in his empty for the past year or
two, and about ten days ago discharged him
on account OF his quarrelsome deposition,
and since that time Stull has been lurking in
the neighborhood. Late on Sunday Mrs.
Summers was at the barn milking her cows
when she saw StulI approaching,
little dreaming of his murderous in
tent or of the horrible fate which
awaited her. He came and stood within a
few feet of Mrs. Summers and said "Good
evening" She saw nothing wrong in his
behavior, and after answering him very
pleasantly resumed her work. Scarcely had
she turned her back when her cowardly
assassin deliberately drew his six-shootipg
revolver and enptied the contents of all the
chambers into the body of his innocent and
~
fatal effect, one in the breast and the other
through the spine. The inhuman monster
then fled, and the family were horri-
fed, on rushing to the barn, to be-
hold the victim of his bloody deed
weltering in her own gore. Stull accused
Mrs. Summers with being instrumental in
having him discharged, and this was the
trivial pretext for his numbering her in cold
blood. Parties securing the country in
every direction in search of this dastardly
assassin, and fears are entertained that he
will be lynched if caught. He is twenty
two years old, weighs $50 pounds, is six feet
high, and has dark hair and rather dark
complexion. 1t is thought he is concealed
in the neighborhood.
KILLS HIMSELF TO PREVENT CAPTURE.
CANTON, O., April 25.-About sunrise this
morning William Stull, the Georgetown
murderer, was cornered in a dense woods
near New Franklin, fourteen miles southeast
of Canton, by the Columbiana county sheriff
and posse of deputies who have been follow
ing him since Sunday. Finding escape i'm
possible, he drew the revolver with which he
murdered Mrs. Somers, and fred two shots
into his head in quick succession, producing
instant death. The excitement is intense IN
Stark and Columbiana counties.