Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-14
THE COCKADE CITY.
PuRYEAR VERY JUBILANT.

Reported Discovery or Letter Written bv
Mrs. Puryear, Threatening suieidc- what
Puryssr's FeIlow-Prisoners say-Eniured BY
n Collisios.
Correspondence fthe Richmond Dispa,ch.l
PETERSBURG, August Is, 1885.
The alleged wife-murderer, Holmes
Puryear, is said to have been greatly
cheered by letter which he received
yesterday from his sister, in Dinwiddie
county. Yesterday morning Puryear's
father, an elderly man and farmer OF
the county, came into the city betimes,
and shortly after his arrival consulta-
ton was held in the Jail by Puryear's
lawyers touching piece OF evidence
which, it is claimed, has just been dis
covered, and which will have considers
BILE bearing upon the case. Puryear's
father was quite excited when he
entered the Jail, and remarked
to several persons present: Well,
Holmes is all right now. He is
innocent, and here's the thing that will
prove it" tbrandishing letter in his
hand). The letter was from Puryear's
sister. In it she informed him that
while search was being made at his
house in Dinwiddie county certain ef-
iects Of his late wife had been found.
Among these effects was note in the
dead woman's handwriting, and in this
note she wrote that " Holmes was going
TO leave her and she could not live with
out him, therefore she intended to take
her own life, and perhaps to use poison
as the MEANS" Puryear's sister did
not, in her letter to her brother, indicate
to whom the late Mrs. Puryear
addressed the note in question. Since
the receipt of the letter Puryear has
been very jubilant and loudly protests
his innocence. There is one very dam
aging fact against Puryear which, it
would appear, will serve to go hard
with him. Since his confinement in the
Jail here he has been very laxative.
On one occasion, and in the presence Of
several Of the prisoners, he confessed,
it is alleged, that he had killed his wife
by poisoning her. One of the prisoners
who was present, white man, says
that when he discovered that Puryear
was going to admit his guilt he re-
fused to listen to the accused and
wrapped the bed-clOthing around
his head so that he might not catch
what Puryear said. He did not wish
to appear as witness against the &C
cused. To-day Puryear sent out and
bought small bookings glass, saying
that he had not looked upon his face
since the time of his first arrest-two
months ago-and that he wanted to see
how confinement had affected him. lie
has, it is reported, engaged additional
counsel. He will be prosecuted by
Judge r. II. Jones, Jr., and Mr.. W.
II. Jones, together with Captain Pow
ell, the Commonwealth attorney. The
ease will not be tried until the fall term
Of the Circuit Court.
A petition was sent to Richmond to-
day to the Governor asking for the par
don Of Charles Williams. citizen of
Richmond and a sailor. Since his con-
6nement in the Jail Williams's behavior
has been excellent, and he has been of
great service to the jail officials. Viii
liams is an honest and Industrious fell
low. who has hitherto borne a good
character. About a month ago he
came to this city, and while intoxicated
assaulted Officer Mallory, of the police
force. Among those who signed the
petition are Officer Mallory and Major
j. y. Johnston, the sheriff.
BY collision of freight trains on the
Norfolk and Western railroad yester-
day morning, near Burkeyille. Captain
Joseph Williams, the conductor ia
charge Of train No. |, was quite pain
fully though not seriously injured. H.
was thrown against a car and had his
jawbone broken, and was considerably
bruised about the body. Captain Will
liams lives in Ettrick, and was brought
down to his home in the afternoon.
Fortunately the damage to the cars was
not great.
Special Agent Hale, Of the United
States internal-revenue service, visited
our city yesterday, and made thorough
examination of the Office here. lie
found everything correct and exact to
the very cent. ROBIN ADAIR.