The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-11-23
prTER.sBIJRG.

ruy UnEESsviLLE MURDER-A THREE DAYS
srssIox on THE Jury or INQUEST, BIT no
EVIDENCE TO JUSTIFY An ARHEsr-TBE
GOVERNOR ASKED 10 oPfEE A REWARD
OTHER MATTERS.
(correspondencc OF the Richmond Dispatch'l
NOVEMBER %. 1888.
The murder Of George Watkins lcol-
ored) In Greensville county, heretofore
mentioned in this correspondence, Is
stilI involved In profound mystery, and
the most searching investigation tilus
far has failed TO throw suspicion
on any person In connection with the
murder. ON Monday night, the 18th in
slant, Watkins attended q corn-shucklng
on the farm OF Mr.. James +. PEBBLES. He
was drinking ut the time, and during the
evening got into difficulty with an
other negro. upon whom he drew
n pistol. The parties were separa-
ted. and Mr.. PEBBLES ordered Watkins to
leave the place and not return. Watkins
dcmurred, but he was seized by several
negro men and forcibly thrown over the
yard fence and told to leave. lie went OIL
some distance, stopped, and was heard TO
say "If you want anything you can get
Il, and now is the time" This was the
last heard or seen OF him until his body
was found on Sunday, six days afterwards.
A coroner's Jury was summoned, which
met on Sunday and remained in session for
three days, adiourning last night. Some
fifty or sixty witnesses were examined by
the Commonwealth attorney, but abso-
lutely no evidence 10 throw suspicion on
any one as the murderer was elected. and
n verdict Of death caused by wound in,
flrcted by some person unknown was rem
dered.
Watkins's disappearance for siX days was
noted in the neighborhood, but no one mot
even bis wife, suspected that he was dead.
She was one OF the witnesses before the
Jury. Several parties suspected OF having
trouble with Watkins satisfactorily proved
to the Jury their whereabouts on the fatal
night. Ii was testified by physician that
from the appearance and course OF the
wound IL must have been inflicted with q
dirk or wide-bladed knife while deceased
was being put over the fence. The blade
entered the breast and penetrated the
heart, and the body was found in a clover
field on Mr.. Peebles's farm. within $50 yards
OF the place of coril-shucking.
Ii is understood that the matter is not to
be dropped here. The citizens OF the
county are making up purse to prosecute
vigorous investigation, and the Governor
has been written to TO offer suitable re-
ward for the apprehension OF the muir
derer. Watkins was a citizen Of Chester
field, and went out to Greensvlle only q
few weeks ago TO work for the Meherrin
Lumber Company.
At the annual meeting OF the Petersburg
Medical Faculty held last night DR.. II. c..
Leigh was elected president; DrS. Frank
Patterson and Charles +. Guillon, vice.
presidents; DR.. CIV. Robinson, recording
secretary; DR.. John III. Claiborne. CORE
spending secretary; and Drs James Dunn,
ID. w. Lassiter, Hugh Stockdell. James w.
Claiborne, and David Steel, Court Medi-
Gale.
From the report Of the superintend-
ent, Major r. NJ. sully. made to the an
nual meeting OF the stockholders OF the
Petersburg Railroad Company last night it
is learned that the gross earnings of the
road for the year were 1885. 17S.G3-an
increase over last year OF $4,000.
The expenses were S1S0,9G3.94 an
increase of S21 ,260.72. The estimate
OF expenses includes go tons Of
steel rails, three bridges. and a number OF
new cars. Forty-one miles Of the road are
lad with steel rails, and the remainder
will also soon be laid with the same kind
Of rails. The capital stock OF the company
is 1924, 200, the funded debt S1,S3S,000,
and The floating debt Sl2,2G3.