Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-04-16
PErxRsBuRe AND VICINITY.



jail Murder Trial.
Correspondence fthe Richmond pIspstch.l
PETERSBURG. April Is. 1885.
A letter received here from promi-
nent and well.infcrmed'citisen of South
smpton county states that the recent
bank failures in Norfolk and Ports
mouth have more completely dcmoral-
iyed the people Of that section than any
thing that has happened since the war.
The losses in southampton county alone
by deposits in the Exchange National
Bank and that Of Balm a Brother
are estimated at more than 5000, 600.
In many instances these losses fall
hard. The earnings of lifetime
Of many toiling man and woman
were deposited in these banks, ana
poverty and suffering are cntsiled where
before there were plenty and comfort.
There are living near Jerusalem an aged
couple who, after years OF labor ana
toll. saved Of their earnings few hun
dred dollars, which they deposited with
Bain a Brother. II is believed they
will have to be aided by the charity OF
neighbors and friends. In similar
situation is placed widow lady oil the
town, who deposited all she had
enough to maintain her through life
in the Exchange Bank. There are many
cases of this kind, but the general suf-
fering, says the writer, is more to be
deplorcd since the people are with
out the means TO assist each
other. All through that section
of the country the merchants have es-
tablished strictly cash system, and the
farmers, being short Of provisions and
money, are troubled to knew how they
shall make crop this year. They can
not do so without aid. but where the
help is to come from they cannot see.
Since the recent failures lands have de-
preciated in value. There are few pur-
chssers, and when q sale is made 1t is at
q sacrifice.
THE FRANKLIN BANKS CONDITION.
Relative to the suspension OF the
Bank of Franklin, at Franklin, IN
Southampton county, the writer says
" The suspension would not have oc-
CURED had not the depositors become
alarmed at the news wired from Nor
folk Of the failures there. Before the
Board Of Directors could meet and
take action the depositors living
in Franklin rushed to the bank, drew
their money, and entirely drained IT OF
funds. Since that time, however. there
has been meeting Of the stockholders
and Board Of Directors, the result OF
whose conference is that the indebted
ness Of the bank is only 500 900, every |
dollar Of which will be paid, and that
then there will be a surplus of $4,000 |
left to the bank. 1t is believed that 1t
will soon resume business.
ESCAPE OF PRISONERS FROM JAIL. |
Three prisoners-two charged with |
housekeeping and one with rape
broke from the Jail Of southampton
county day or two ago and made good
their escape.
At the next term OF the Circuit Court |
Of the county the case of Salathiel |
Lewis. held for murder, will be called |
for new trial, granted by the Supreme
Court. Ii is reported upon authority |
that the defence will be conducted by |
Messrs. Causey. Wise, and Goodwin.
The trial will doubtless be very in
teresting and exciting one. The muir
dered man was named Newsom, a
prominent colored Republican politi-
clan, and the affair caused so much ex-
citement at the time that the vote Of the |
county was influenced by it. There |
is also a very important will case to be |
tried, and large docket to be dis
posed Of.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.
Colonel James d. Brady, congress
man from this district, lost an interest
ing daughter, aged seven years, yester-
day. Her remains were taken to Ports
mouth to-day for interment.
DR.. William p. Sebrell, who died a
day or two ago at Boykin's. in South
ampton county, Of congestion of the
liver, was graduate Of Richmond
Medical College, was n member Of the
Board Of Supervisors Of the county,
successful practitioner, and a valued
citizen. lie was thirty-three years old,
and leaves a widow aid Several chill
dren. lie was bright Mason, and was
buried to-day with all the honors of that
order.
Mr.. John d. Kelley, father Of Hon.
A. NJ. Kelley, Of your city, whose
health has been feeble for many months,
left this afternoon for Norfolk, where
he will enter the Vincent de Paul Hos
pital. Mr.. Kelley has been for years
the president of the Petersburg Relief
Society, and the good he has done IN
relieving the sufierings of our poor
cannot be calculated. Thousands of
our people will ever cherish his name.
A nine-year-old son Of Mr.. b. F.
Butts, residing on Halifax street, while
playing last evening fell and broke an
arm.
1t is understood that oar people,
headed by the Chamber of Commerce,
will protest against the removal OF the
internal-revenue office to Richmond. 1t
will be claimed that Petersburg is the
largest tobacco export city in the cOun-
try; that Of the 800 distilleries in opera
ton in the district $50 are located in the
counties south Of the James river, and
that two thirds of the population of the
district are embraced in the section
south Of the James. II is reported that
the removal Of the Office would make a
difference Of about eli, 900 per annum
in the salaries now paid here.
DANVILLE.