National Republican., 1883-06-15
The DOdSOn Case-Pennsylvania Editors on an
Excursion.
A Bright Young Lawyers Death--Mili.
tay Court Martial.
Bituminous Coal-Smallpx in Roanoke-Internal
Revenue Receipts,
Tobacco sHles-In Judge LHtham's Court
Old Dominion Facts.
Specidi Dtspdtch.

in the corporation court Of Danville by q
jury from Petersburg and sentenced TO be
confined in the penitentiary for ten years
for numbering a colored man to get $1,000 of
insurance money. Coming down on the train
Sergt Wood asked Dodson to tell all about
the case, at tho same time reminding the
prisoner that q confession could do him no
harm now. Dodson remarked as smile COW
cred his face, I'm take the matter
under consideration, and will probably
let the people Of Danville know something"
The crime, which is fresh in the minds Of
newspaper readers was one of the most dia-
bolical in the category of offenses, and the
general impression during tho trial seemed to
be that u verdict of guilty of murder in the
first degree would bo rendered.
The Pennsylvania Editorial association,
about 1875 in all, reached this city to-day from
Norfolk. They visited the capital building
and other places of interest in and around
Richmond, including several battle fields The
weather is very pleasant, and the party seem
to be enjoying their trip very much. Quite
number of the excursionists visited the differ
ent newspaper offices to-day.
The hustings court of Richmond ad-
journed to-day through respect to the
memory of Il. Carrington Cabell former
commonwealths attorney of Richmond He
died in Pennsylvania yesterday afternoon,
whore he went to be operated upon in con-
sequence of wound resulting from fall
Deceased was one of the brightest young
lawyers in Virginia. and was a represent
ative Of an old and honored Virginia family.
Judge Joseph Christian, of the old supreme
court, will act rs counsel for the accused in
the Boulding murder case, now pending in
the Richmond court, since the death of Mr..
Cabell.
Information has been received hore of the
death at Saratoga, Clarke county, of Miss Re-
becca Bassett Atkinson, niece of Judge S. Bas.
sett French, of Manchester.
The military court martial ordered by the
governor TO try Capt. Leroy Brown, of Com
pany d, 1st Virginia regiment, for DISC
bedience of orders, continues to excite no
little interest in military circles. The court
martial at late hour last night adjourned
till next Tuesday.
Capt, Thomas Bond, of Petersburg, has been
elected president of the board of directors
of tho central lunatic asylum, near Rich
mond, vice Mr.. S. p Gillian resigned.
The receipts at the treasurer's office to-day
are enormous. Treasurers from different
counties OF the state arc settling up.
LYNcHBURG AFFAIRS.
Specfal Dispatch
LYNcHBURe, June 1.-The recent decision
Of the Danville jury in. the Dodson criminal
case beats any decision ever rendered in any
that Dodson, who had been very respectable
man and of good family, with wife and
three children, having drifted into bad habits
and financial embarrassment insured his life
for 5000 with the deliberate purpose of de-
frauding the insurance com pany of his policy.
To accomplish this nefarious fraud he re-
moved his innocent and helpless family
to his father-in law in the country
and decoyed negro man by the name
of Read into his house at mid
night, deliberately knocked him in the head
with a hammer or hatchet, saturated his body
with creosne oil, stuck lighted candle be-
tween his victims legs and then fed tho
house and town at 2 o'clock in the morning,
expecting that the general conflagration
would conceal his monstrous crime pass tho
nogro's burnt body off on the public as his
own, and that he would flee the country and
leave his family to get the insurance policy of
his crime. His ingenious plan, however,
failed him, for the reason, as he confessed
himself, that the piece of candle which he
lighted to ignite the flame, burnt too long
to do the damage he intended before
day, when tho smoke and fame were
fortunately discovered by the morning watch
man and the ncighbors in time to extingush
the fire and avert the general conflagration
which would have ensued and was intended.
The jury rendered verdict of only man
slaughter, and fixed his term in the peniten-
tiary at only five years! 1t is true that two
other juries afterward summoned, sent Dodson
to the penitentiary for five years moro for his
incendiarism and defalcation. but the entire
public were astonished and indignant at the
first verdict, which should have been hanging
or at least imprisonment for life. Such shame
less administration of law and justice speaks
anything but favorably of trials by jury, and
has strong tendency to mako public opinion
lean in favor of the more stringent applica-
tion of lynch law as the best modo of
Furnishing criminals and protecting society
and human life.
The public schools of this city will close for
the season tomorrow after session of ten
months. These schools, both white and col
ored, are in most successful condition and
are doing immense service toward doing
away with the widespread illiteracy that has
so long prevailed in the south, particularly
among tho colored race, and without them
that race, being almost entirely poor, would
necessarily have to go altogether uneducated,
as private schools could not be supported by
them, and the white people would not, of
course, be able to support more than private
schools for themselves, and even that imper-
fectly aud far below the merit of the public
schools now in successful operation.
In Judge Latham's court yesterday in the
case Of Snead and Winston vs. the Roanoke
Land Improvement company, and Karn and
Hickson vs. the same, Judgment was rem
dered for the defendants on a plea as to ju
isdction. This land company is the owner
of n large portion of the new city of Roanok
and its surroundings, and has brought large
capital and population to that portion Of the
state.
The tobacco warehouses in this city have
been deluged with that weed the present
week, and the sales for last week ran ahead
of the previous week by 367242 pounds
Prices continue very high, especially for
and the finer grades.
Internal revenue receipts for this. district |
last week amounted to $i6,243 which was
falling off of 81 600 from the previous week.
The smallpox prevails to fearful oXtert at |
Roanoke, and greatly annoys that section,
By associated Press.
HARRIsoNBURG, VA, June 14.-Extensive |
are being made by the fraternity |
TO entertain the grand chapter of Royal Arch |
Large additions are being made to the hall,
which will afford ample accommodations.
Half rates are secured over all railroads, and
reduced fare at the hotels. The number of |
delegates expected is about seventy. A grand |
banquet will be given at tho expense of the
chapter OF this place.
FORTRESS MONROE, juno H.-About 200 |
members of the Pennsylvania Press associa-
tion, many of them accompanied by their
families, arrived here yesterday and to-day
on their annual excursion. Their brethren,
the Norfolk newspaper men, extended an in
vitation to them TO visit that city, which was
largely accepted, the party going up on the
Old Dominion steamer to-day. They will
leave for Richmond tomorrow, where they
will spend day or two, returning home via