Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-21
PETERSBURG AND VICINITY.

sRddsn and sad Death OF n LadY-some-
thtnR About the A.Ieged Dinwiddie WIFE
Murderer.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatc ]
PETERSBURG, June 20, 1885.
The fast mail from the North this
afternoon brought for interment in the
family square here the remains Of the
late Mrs. Joseph II. Todd, of Balti-
more, wife Of Joseph II. Todd, Esq,
for many years merchant in this city.
Two weeks ago her eldest son died, aud
his body was brought here for burial.
His mother did not survive him long.
Mrs. Todd was a Miss Maben, of Sus-
sex county, and one Of three sisters,
who were all married to gentlemen Of
this city. She had long been an in
valid, and was a pure Christian woman.
Another death, under singularly sad
circumstances, occurred yesterday
morning. Mrs. Fowlkes, of Nottoway
county. came to the city on Thursday
to attend her daughter Fanny's mar
riage. which took place on Thursday
night. Mrs. Fowlkes was in unusually
fine spirits, and seemed to be in excel
lent health. Yesterday morning, when
she was expected at breakfast, a maid
was sent to her room to inform her
that the meal was ready. She was
found dead in bed, having died of heart
disease.
From Dinwiddie county it is report
cd that the excitement over the alleged
wife-murder has been greatly allayed,
but that there is still talk Of lynching
Puryear. As for the accused hihSelf,
a gentleman who has just seen him says
that he has reached the whining state,
is completely broken in spirit, and is a
pitiable object. The relatives of his
wife have engaged counsel to prosecute
him, but doubtless, if he is tried in
Dinwiddie, it will require no great
effort to convict him. A brother Of
Puryear's victim, who was in the city
yesterday, said that Puryear lied
when be averred that his wife had ever
attempted suicide, or was ever given to
commissions. Puryear, he asserted,
was certainly his own wife's betrayer,
and of this there was abundant evidence.
As to the letter which the accused
said his wife had written to her
brother in-law, and in which she had
exonerated him, Mr.. Webb declared
that there is evidence tending to show
that it was written at the suggestion or
command of Puryear, who eXerted an
undue influence over his wife. The
people in Dinwiddie are so confident
that the accused will be convicted on
the evidence which will be adduced
that it is probable that they will not
forcstall the action Of the court. The
belief is universal in the county that
he is guilty. 1t may be added that all
efforts to verify the report that Pur-
year purchased the poison here have
been followed by no results. If he did
buy strychnine N this city, he certainly
did not get it from any reputable drug
gist.
There is a report out that meeting
of the directors Of the Atlantic Coast
Line and the Virginia and North Caro-
lima railroad will be held in this city at
an early day to arrange for the COM
pletion of the latter road. COast-Line
officials here do not know anything
about the rumored meeting. Mean
time there is a large number Of con-
yictS in camp near Dinwiddie Court
house who are practically idle, and find
but little to do except odd jobs for the
farmers and daily games of baseball.
The shipments Of manufactured to-
bacco from this city to foreign ports
this week amounted to about 1880
pounds. ROBIN ADAIR.