Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-17

ugly for walking and uninteresting gen.
orally. But all the same, the curiosity
of the people twho had read in the pa
pers the accounts of the finding OF the
unknown woman in the Old reservoir)
had to be satisfied, and early in the
morning Superintendent Bigger was be-
sieged by a throng of visitors who came
in and viewed the body. All day long
the tramp, tramp Of these people was
heard in the halls Of the almshouse.
Men and women Of high and low de-
gree came, actuated by the same mo-
tive; and no doubt about it, there were
people in the poorhouse Sunday who
had never been there before and will
never be there again. Some came in
carriages, but the most Of them walked,
and the floors were covered with mud
and water left by their footsteps. Out
Of the great crowd, which amounted to
hundreds. not one knew who the poor
unfortunate being was, lying there in
her coffin. with bruised and wounded
face. Not one could tell word that
would throw light on the manner in
which she had met her death, and when
night came the chapel was closed, and
the few visitors who came in after dark
were turned away.
One cnterprising individual went out
to the almshouse after midnight and
rang the bell. Major Bigger came to a
window and asked, - Who is that -
II have lost lady friend, and !
want to see that dead body"
Major Bigger replied that the hour
was too late and that the man would
have TO wait until morning.
How is this? ?" said the man. -
am going to Washington in the morning
and want to come in now
You can't come in now" was re-
piled.
Very well. sir was waited back
TO the Major. When | get to Wash
iDgton | intend to report this thing to
Congress.
Yesterday afternoon Coroner W. H..
Taylor empanelled jury of inquest at
the almshouse. He explained that he
had the day before made a more tho
rough examination Of the body of the
unknown woman. and had discovered
evidences Of personal violence.
An incision was made in the skull,
and a fusion Of blood was found on the
brain. This was all that the Doctor
discovered in addition to what has al
ready been reported in the Dispatch
concerning the bruises on the face.
Mr.. Lysander w. Rose, keeper of the
Old reservoir, and a laborer employed
there, both testified as to the finding Of
the body, their evidence being exactly
in accord with what the Dispatch has
published.
Efiie billiard. who lives at l4ll Ex-
change alley, was sworn, and testified
that the body was that of Fannie Mays.
She knew Fannie very well, and was
positive that it was her body. Emma
Allen, who lives at the house of Fife
Dillard, Swore also to the same fact.
Thomas Penny, W. l.. Luch, and Ida
Lee also testified that in their own minds
they were certain it was Fannie Mays.
One Of the witnesses in her testimony
caused suspicion to rest on certain
party, and Police-Justice ID. c. Rich
ardson. accompanied by policeman,
took the city ambulance and went in
search of the party.
In the mean time the Coroner heard
the sworn testimony of Miss Emma
DunStan. who lives on Reservoir street.
near the Old reservoir.
Miss DunStan. in the face Of oppO-
sing testimony. declared that the body
was that of Fanny Lillian Madison. She
viewed the body in the morning, and
was certain then that she identified il.
In order, however, to he positive, she
went back home and brought her sister
with her. and as soon as the sister saw
the remains she agreed with her that it
was Lillian Madison.
Miss Dunstan said she knew Miss
Madison very well; that she met her
first in the country; that she was a
hieh-minded. ambitious girl, and had
lett her fathers home in King William
county one year ago last June, having
at that time attained her majority. She
secured position as governesS in a
private family near Millboro', in Bath
county, from which point she frequently
corresponded with her sister. Miss
Madison's father and mother were still
living in hing William county, near
Manquin poSt-ofice, and one of her
brothers. named Sandiord Madison.
lived near Millboro', and an uncle,
Carey Madison. lives in Richmond.
Alice Dunstan corroborated the tes-
timony of her sister. and the two girls,
accompanied by the Coroner and the
jury, went into the chapel and viewed
the body.
The Dunstans were positive after
looking at the hands and minutely in
speciiug the face that it was Lillian
Madison and ut the same time. stand
ing over the body, were two women
and young man who were equally
positive that it was Fannie Mays who
was lying dead before them.
The Coroner and jury were in doubt,
when the ambulance, with Justice Rich
ardson, rumbled into the yard, and in
a little while some one in the crowd
around the coffin excitedly called out,
" Why, there's Fannie Mays now"
Sure enough, Justice Richardson had
found the living Fannie, and there she
stood. in the flesh, at the side of her
dead counterpart. Fannie evidenced
the pleasure she felt in not beng dead
by continuous Smile, which lasted as
long as she remained in the room.
Coroner Taylor next determined to
adjourn the jury until 8 o'clock to-
night. and in the mean time attempt TO
by telegraph or otherwise
with the friends and relatives Of Lillian
Madison.
Circunsiantial evidence points strong
II 10 the fact that the Dunstans are