Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-03
DANVILLE'S D0DS0N.
A REMARKABLY CRIMINAL CASE RE-
CALLED TO MEMORY.
Attempt 10 Obtain from tho Governor a
Pardon for Notorious
Convict.

Attempt 10 Obtain from tho Governor
Pardon for Notorious
Convict
Dodson Is again talked.oi man in DAN
vile.
Once he was reputable citizen Of that
place. Now he is prisoner In the penIten-
tIsry.
His crimes. all committed to one end
tmoney) were murder, arson, and embezzle-
inent.
Recently petition was Forwarded TO the
Governor asking HIM 10 pardon Dodson.
When the Danvile people heard OF 1t they
wondered who bad signed the paper. And
the Governor has received many letters and
more are on their way 10 him.
TIE PETITION.
The petition from citizens Of Piitsqlyania
10 the Governor for the pardon OF DodSon
states that upon the trialof the first charge
murdeT--he was convicted Of the crime ot
murder IN The secOnd degree, and the jury
| fixed his imprisonment st five wears in the
I pcnitentlary-ior embezzlement three years.
| and for arson two years-making total
( term OF ten years.
Dodson, they say. was convicted at the
June term Of the Iluslings Court oil Dan
/ Vile in 1888.
The petitioners aver that DOdson remained
in the vicinity oi Daugille after the crime had
{ been committed and took dinner where he
+ was well known the next day, and lays great
stress on the allegation that his whole course
goes to show that he was insane st the tine
Of the perpetratiOn oi The crime, and also
gives ~ reasons for recommending bin Tor
Executive cieulency that the circumstances
OF his conviction were peculiar and very
mysterious; that DodSon had resided In
DaDyile for seven or eight years before his
arrest. aud that fer shout two years was IN
the employment Of Nessrs. HWchiDgs,
Thomss q co. as clerk and salesman. and
about ioiU years In the employment on Wild
man Brothers ~ the same capacity, during
winch time he was considered man OF honor
aud Integrity. and possessed the confidence
OF tbo entire community.
At the time II his arrest DOdsOn was in
the employ Of liutchings, Thomas Co.,
ana lcIi their warehouse on the 22d OF Aprll,
1888, 10 visit his family. who were In the
country. They being in the vicinity Of some
Of the consienees Oi the firm he took about
$500 cash with him TO pIy 10 some OF the
consignees on consignments previously
made. some Of hlS pretended friends per-
sUaded him 10 delay bis visit until the hext
dav, and he that night engaged with them in
a game Of cards, losing aboHt $500 OF the
money belonging to IlutchlDgs, Thomas a
co.
THE CRIME.
When Dodson realized what he bad done,
says the petition. and being IN no financial
condition to reimburse his employers, be
,tgf.t
grow out OF an exposure, the terrible dis
grace which must fall not only upon him
self. but upon his family also; With the
doors Of the penitentiary already opening lin
MS frenzy 10 receive him, he, like thousands
OF Others. Instantly began to devise some
plan OF hiding his crime. While ~ thls
mental condition he conceived the plan Ot
procuring q body. pulling it into his house
and arranging so that the house should burn
down and leave the impression that he had
been burned in the house. Acting upon
TINS idea he met two negroes. Representing
himself As physician, be ENGAGED them 10
procure a body for dissection, supposing
they would procure the same from the
colOred peoples cemetery. Accordingly
the body was delivered TO him the same
night, April %, 1883. The body wss nude
when delivered. DOdsOn arranged 1t aud
combusiible material for setting the house
on fire by covering the body with quilts
saturated with Kerosene oil and burning
candle so fixed that 1t would burn TO GER
tain point, and then would set The blankets
on fire. lie then crossed the river aud re-
manned on the hill near North DanVille to
watch the progress OF bis scheme.
PUNISHMENT.
The verdict in this case was:
we the jury Gnd the prisoner guilty OF
murder in The second degree, and fix his
term Of confinement in The penitentiary for
five years. J. II. HAWTHORNE, Foreman"
The petition further states that DOdsOn's
physical condition deserves some considero-
tion, and that he is man not yet in the
prime Of life. having at his home wife and
live small children dependent upon him for
their support, aud that the petitioners be-
lieve II released DOdsOn Will again become 4
good citizen.
THE sIGNERS.
The petition purports to be signed by the
following:
7he J,rV-W. d. Morriss, j. George
Wilkerson, ". +. Epson. John I. Williams,
W. G. Malloy, w. II. kevar, ;. II. North
ington, j. w. Hawthorn. W. NJ. Dillard, G.
\. Chase. one Juror is dead and one a uon-
resident Of the state, j. Il. HUTCHlNGs.
CltizeRS Il. Hutchings, ". T. Keel
Ing, J. Il. Mcdaniel. j. MacSmi,h, and j. B.
Ducsson, Danyile; c. II. Keeling, \. /.
Harren, j. II. Fllppin, c. W. Flippin, j. W.
Logan, J. L. Schodcld, George y. SchOteld.
and 4. w. White. Atlas; A. i. Cole, :. IL.
Roaves, Robert Davis. +. II. shelton, &. Y.
Shelton. General Hall, II. c. CLANCY, John
Russell. John +. Davis. Benjamin Davis,
William A. Rice. L. T.. Chaney; 4. Wistar
White. u. :. Clancy, W. u. Slaylcr-we be-
lave his sentence Just, but III consideration
OF his family and his falling health and
ais having served considerable time, We
beg the Governor TO pardon W. I. DOdson;
John r. Chancy, J. y. Richardson, John W.
Burcb, J. c. Davis, w. T. Csnada, Alfred
Audeyoc. &. NJ. Naden, John c. Chanev.
Charles II. Davis, Jackson walters, Jr, Will
liam III. Chsney. Jr., :. j. Myhnin, X. j.
Ferrcn. Il. W. Chaney, John Ii. Walden, o.
n. Oliver, W. q. II. Richardson, d. ii.
Moore, John j. MOreicld, W. W. Debson,
W. Il. Lewis, J. h. Franklin, s. j. Davis,
William Melour, j. j. OWEN. :. }. Gardner,
Henry Vaughn, W. A. Roberts, l.. Il. bre-
den, W. T.. Brown, w. B. Thompson, j. j.
DoysOn, John A. kuling, Clement Tate, II.
". wilkinson, W. Il. Chaney, 4. j. Rich
ardson, Isaac y. DodsOn, j. w, Bennett, \.
T. Ingram, II. / Allen, y. l.. Ingram, A.
Reayes, Jahn w. Fits, william Davis, l.. Z.
Breeder, W. b. Lsmpkin, and william y.
Davis, Laurel Grove
HIS RelatiUcs-P. II. DOdson, ST., father.
and G. W. Dodson, L. IL. Dodson, K. ;. Dod-
son, and =. T. DOdsOn, brothers.
LETTERS TO THE GOVERNOR.
The following letters have been received
by the Governor:
DANvILLE, VA, July Il, 1888.
To His ErceiieRcy Governor lee:
Dear Sir.-ln regard 10 the petilion asking |