Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-18
pINwlDDlES SENSATION.
JyrERr1Ew FIFTH PURYEAR


.Uiddie Courthouse is fifteen miles from
This city. Within the limits Of the
village there arc probably a dozen
buildings. just to the left Of the court
house building IS the county Jail, n
small affair at best, built of stone, and
Boosting four rooms--two OF which are
used as cells for the confinement Of the
prisoners. At high noon to-day your
correspondent was ushercd by two stall
wart negro gusrds-Hamlin holland and
Booker Bllis--into this uninviting instr
tuition. Entering a room, which he sup
posed was place Of imprisonment of
Holmes Puryear, alleged wife-murderer,
the two negroes who had been APP
pointed by County-Judge Eppes TO pro-
tect the prisoner from iynchers and TO
prevent his escape drew their pistols
and then withdrew the iastenings OF an
iron trap-door in the centre Of the room.
Beneath was a dark cell, and here
Puryear was immurcd. lie readily
complied with my request for an inter
view, and was allowed by his guards,
who fourished their pistols with -
esrncstness which was awful, to co.. .
to the top Of the trap. In response to
questions he gave the following con-
nected story;
PURYEAR's STORY.
al was born in Dinwiddie county,
snd was twenty-siX years old last Sat-
urday week. had good education,
and was fond of my books. In the fall
Of 1851 / was teaching school in the
neighborhood Of Reams's station, and
there met for the first time my wife,
who was living in that vicinity. On
the llth Of May, 1884, | proposed mar
riage TO her, after an acquaintance
ripening into intimacy of three years or
more. ] was legally married to her on
January IA, 1855. Her father, the late
Durkin Webb, is not living, but |
married her with the consent Of her
mother. Some time between January
lst and 10Th | was in Petersburg with
her, when she sold her interest in pro-
perty left by her father TO herself, her
sister. and her brother. She received
5000 on that occasion, and gave me
1925. which she begged me to keep for
her. and with which | was to pay any
bills she might contract. We then
went back TO Dinwiddie county, she
returning to her mothers and | to my
home.
THE WEDDING.
She wrote to me in a few days saying
she wanted to have a big wedding, a
band Of music, and large number Of
guests. got Hudgins's band, Of Pc
tersburg, and refreshments, and paid
for them. as she requested, out Of the
money that she had given me to keep.
We were married by Mr.. Spiers, local
preacher. who lives near ReamS's sta
ton. Immediately after our marriage !
brought her to my home. near the court
house. where We remained until she
went with me TO Petersburg, where |
had to purchase goods for my store. on
the 23d Of February. On that day. when
We arrived in Petersburg, my wife
complained of feeling unwell. | car
ried her to Miss Moody'S boarding
house. had her assigned to a room,
and then went out on the streets.
When returned to the clearinghouse
Miss Moody said to me, "What is
this you have brought on me?'
asked her what she meant, and she
invited me upstairs to my wile's
room. where. to my surprise. | found
that my wife had given birth to a
child.
Question Did you not know that
your wife was far advanced when you
married her:
Answer No, sir. But just after
our marriage ! limited as much to her,
when she wcpt piteously and went into
spa>ms. Upon her recovery she made
me promise never to ask the question
again.
Question Did you after the birth
Of the child propose to give 1t TO a ne
gro woman in Petersburg:
Answer "No, sir; my wife had al
ready made the proposal to giyeit away
when returned to the boarding
house"
Question " When you brought your
wle back to Dinwiddie county from
Petersburg on February Goth, were
yolr relations with her then and after
wards peaceful? -
Answer: Yes, sir; we lived to-
ge,lcr. but not as man and wife until
about two weeks before her sudden
death. Before that time she had al
WAYS charged me with being the
father of her child, her be-
trayer in fact, and had made my
ueighbors believe that / was the cause
Of her disgrace. then proposed to
her that would Quash my divorce
proceedings which were then pending
and would recognize her as my wife II
she would tell the truth. She then
agreed to make a statement. in the
presence Of witnesses, acknowledging
that was not her betrayer, and giving
the name Of the guilty man. have a
letter written by her to her brother-in'
law. in which She comedies this. She
herself cave the name Of her betrayer
to three persons in the neighborhood.
TIL FATAL TODDY.
Question /: Well, now, Mr.. Puryear,
what about the sudden illness which
killed Your WIFE,"
Answer: My wife had been sick
for about four days and had been in
the habit Of taking toddy every morn
ing. Saturday morning she called to
me from her chamber, which is behind
the store, saying that she was sick ana
wanted a toGdy. mixed one for her
and carried !. 10 her, taking one at the
same time myself There was no one
present at the time. After taking the
toddy she lay back in the bed aud !
went into the store. Soon after
wards she called me again and
said that She felt worse, and
wanted me to summon physician.
! offered to 20 for a certain doctor, bat
she objected TO him, and | went back
into the store. After awhile she
screamed out again, and went out for
1. arlpral m N