Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1885-03-25
A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.

Murder under any circumstances fills the
mind with horror. One of the most appal-
ing cases of that crime was committed in
Richmond on the night of the 18th in
slant. A few hours before it occurred, one
of the parties to the dreadful scene, who
passed the ordeal of horrible death, was
far away in westerly direction from that
city to which she seems to have been lured
by cold conceived scheme to meet her
untimely end. He who is arraig ned for
the crime, came to the city from his home
which is in an opposite direction from that
travelled by the woman, both reaching it
about the same time. A few hours after
the latter is cold in death. and the first takes
his departure to the place from which he
came.
| The Richmond papers from the time the
body was found up to the arrangement of
the man who stands charged with the MUIR
der have published accounts of all ascer-
tanned information and the incidents bear.
| ing on the case.
| The city has two Reservoirs from which
the water supply is drawn. The Old
Reservoir, where the tragedy occurred, is a
short distance west of Hollywood Gene
terry and is approached by Reservoir sire ct
from Main street at Monroe Park. On
Saturday morning the 18th instant, the
keeper of the reservoir on the round of his
circuit observed a woman's glove on the
parapet and in picking it up noticed the
disturbed surface of the gravel walk and
fgtill further something in the water few
feet from the shore looking like woman's
dress. He dispatched information to the
city when coroner DIR. W. q. Taylor came
up and took the body out Of the reservoir.
1t was found to be white woman, plainly
and neatly clad. DR.. Taylor had the body
taken to the Almshouse. 1t was viewed
by hundreds and finally identified by two
Misses Dunstan, whose family reside on
Reservoir street, as Miss Fannie Lillian
Madison Of King William county. One of
them stated that she knew Miss Madison
well, that she had secured a position as
governess in family near Millboro in Bath
county. Here follows the further recital
of transpiring events taken from the
Whig:
ga lady's shawl, similar to one worn by
| Miss Madison when last seen by Miss Dun
stan, just before Christmas, was found in
the yard Of Mr.. Richard Dnnstan. where
the Misses Dunstan live. Miss Madison
RI L in Pip1,v
but she did know the Misses Dunstan, and,
what is more, knew the number of the
house in which they lived.
| A gold watch-kcy was found near the
fence around the Old Reservoir, and both
the shawl and tie key were sent to Detec-
tive John Wren.
Police Justice Richardson having tele-
graphed for information bearing on the
subject, received a reply from W. A. sgd
nor, telegraph operator at Mi!lboro' Depot,
on the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad, IN
Bath county, stating that ''Fanne Lillian
Madison bought ticket here Thursday for
Richmond, and had baggage in linen trav-
cling bag" Justice Richardson sought
Mr.. w. Ii. Madison, who is a cousin of the
dead Lillian Madison, and had talk with
him.
Madison told Justice Richardson that he
| FULLY Identlhed the body.
| Captain Wright. the conductor that
brought the train down the railroad when
Lillian Madison came to Richmond, went
to the almshouse to look at the body. He
said he remembered that she wore blue
jersey jacket, that she carried ladies'
grip-sa"k, and that she held red shawl in
her lap. He identified the body and clothes
as the person and property of Lillian Mad
n hot no l, n N bo
according to custom, asked her just before
reaching Richmond if any friends would
meet her at the depot. She said "Yes,
| but tina in the aveus none met her at the
| depot that she wanted to go to the Ameri
can Hotel, where friends would join her.
| No one met her al the depot, and Captain
Wright placed her in the transfer omnibus,
and she was driven to the American Hotel,
arriving there abo 3 O'Clock Friday
morning. She went in at the gentleman s
entrance and walked up to tie counter
upon which the register is kept. Here she
wrote in a nervous way the name F. l..
Merton, which is the last entry on the book
| for that day. The night-clerk assigned her
| to Room No. 81, and she retired immedi-
ately, taking along with her her satchel.
The next morning about $50 o'clock a
| small colored boy came to the hotel with a
note for Miss F. Z. Merton, and it was
sent at onae to Room 81 A reply was
quick returned, and almost before the
colored boy with it reached the sidewalk
Miss Madison passed through the office and
out into the street.
The last seen of her at the hotel was
| about S o'clock Friday evening, when she
came to the hotel accompanied by a stout
looking man wearing a black SLOUGH hat.
mi oro IN,
his appearance. Miss Madison went to
her room while the man waited in the door
way OF the hotel, where he was quickly
Joined by Miss Madison who carried her
gripsack in one hard The two then quick
ly lett the neighborhood of the hotel.
Nh. Joseph Dodson told tie detective
that the small coiarcd boy came hack and
brought the note sent by Lillian Madison
I'm answer to the one she receivedj, stating
that he could not find the man to whom he
was to have delivered the iioto. Mr. bod
son kept the note until Friday night, when,
finding that Lillian Madison had not re-
turned he tore it up. Detective Wren
asked Mr.. Dodson to search the waste has
ket and see if he could find the torn parti-
Giles of the note. He did so, and after find
finding and FASTING the pieces together
there could be read clearly and distinctly,
written in lead pencil, these words:
81 will be there as soon as possible. SO
do wait for me.''
There was no signature to this note, nor
date, nor was the note itself addressed to
any one, 1t was clear that it was written
hurriedly, and that the writer was anxious
to have it delivered as speedily as possible.
Her promise to be there as soon as posi-
bic was faithfully kept, as she went out al
most as quickly as the boy received her re-
ply.
About midnight Tuesday night Mr..
Charles Madison, father of Lillian Mad-
son; Mr.. John Walker, her uncle; and W.
Il. Madison, a cousin, arrived in the city.
Early Wednesday morning Mr.. Charles
Madison and Mr.. John Walker called on
Justice Richardson, and, after brief con-
ference, all three went TO the almshouse.
Major Bigger met the party anu led the
way to tie room used as chapel, in which
the remains of Miss Madison were resting
The father approached the coffin and
stood close beside 1t while the lid was be-
ing lifted. The white cloth was gently re-