Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-26

trhcks made by the horse ana wagon IN tne
wood where the murder was committed,
and also the tracks which were made in
crossing the swamp TO dispose oil the body
in its lonesome hiding-place. were again
measured yesterday with scrupulous care.
A measure graded down TO a very fine
scale was employed. The tracks In the
wood were first examined. and the pecu-
liari'ies In the horses footprints, already
described in the Herald. were duly noted.
Chief among these peculiarities Is the i'm.
PRINT made by the horses forefeet. This
imprint shows that the horse had habit OF
pressing the forepart OF the foot to the
ground with unusual force. 1t is such an
imprint As is often made by horse that is
somew hat lame. Jefferson TbOmpson's
horse is lame in one OF the forefeet, and
This Tact has been regarded by many as
most suspicious circumstance against the
man.
AT THE SWAMI.
Alter the tracks I'm the wood bad been
measured attention was gwen to the trail
leading from ROckwelrs little hut, near his
cranberry bog, across the swamp TO the
creek where the body was found concealed.
IL needed but slight scrutiny to show that
the tracks H. the wood and the tracks across
the swamp were made by the same horse and
the same wagon. These tracks were also
carefully measured.
COMPARING TIE MEASURE.
Rockwelrs wagon and his little mare
were the next objects which received the
attention Of the measuring party. The tire OF
RockwelPs wagon was measured. IL cor
responded, without the deviation Of frac-
tOn Of an inch, with the width OF the
hoo a
| foreh0ois Of ROCkwelPs little mare were
next examined. She is yiXenisb animal.
with rowing eye, q long neck, and a short
temper The meaSuring.rule was laid
across the foreieet. The hoofs measured
| exactly the same a did the hooi-
| prints in the wood and In the
swamp. The imprint made by the mares
foreieot next received attention. Ii was dis
covered that this imprint was marked by a
| noticeable pecIiarity. This peculiarly
was that the mare had a habit Of digging
| her toes into the ground. Although the
mare j. not in any way lame. the imprint
made by her iorefeet suggests that which
would be made 10y a lame horse. The hind
hOofS were not measured Yesterday with
the same calm deliberation that was be-
slowed on the forefect. This was owing
TO the little mares abruptness OF temper,
| already referred 10.
THOSE SUSPICIOUS STAINS.
A measurement OF the human footprints
in the wood and the swamp has also been
taken, but il any comparison has been
made with the feet OF any OF the suspected
persons the secret has been ieaOusly guard
| Cd. In fact, the authorities are becoming
somewhat reticcnt, and orders were yester-
day issued that none oi the prisoners were
| TO be allowed TO hold communication with
any person except their counsel. An eX-
animation Of the wagon OF Jefferson
/ Thompson shows that the tire OF the wheel
exactly corresponds with that of Rock
wells wagon. The suspicious stains on
the Thompson wagon, however, turn out.
upon examination. not To have been made
by human blood. but by that of some ami
NIL. probably a chicken. The hoofs OF his
horse are Oi different measurement from
the tracks in the wood and swamp.
DIsCORD IN TIE VILLAGE.
The feeling in the village over the case is
intense. The strength OF the two political
parties is nearly equal, and political feeling
has always run very high. On one side il
Is claimed that certain persons are seeking
| To make Loitical capital out Of the case,
| ana that Rockwell is being followed up re-
| gardle>s OF sense Of justice. On the
other side the charge is openly made that
| Rockwe's political friends are seeking
TO shield him by resOrting to un-
! lustiGabc methods. In support OF
this claim il is pointed out that when
| the measuring party went out to examine
| the tracks in the swamp they found man
| in the act Of driving over them in such a
manner aa would result in their being OBJ
| liberated. This man, who was political
! adherent of Rockwell, claimed that his
action was unntentional. Squire Wilkes.
who committed Rockwell TO jail, says that
/ he has reason to fear that an attempt will
/ be made TO burn his barn and otherwise
/ destroy his property.
! Rockwell seems to he recovering from
[ the shock Of his arrest. and looked better
/ yesterday than at any time since his appre-
hension. The report that ne viii not eat
is unfounded. He ate heartily yesterday.
/ He Is permitted, in the presence Of the
/ taller. TO hold brief interviews with hi,
/ two daughters. who show the utmost ten
derness and devotion toward their father.