Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-09
THE CHILD DRANK LYE
DISTRESSING DEATH FROM ccHcEN-
TRATED LYE IN FREDERICKSBURG.
an Exciting Arson Trial in spetsyivsnia
court-Blls fibbs Disshsrged-An
Ancient Landmark, Etc.
Correspondents Of the Richmond Di,pstch.l

ttofrc8pOndcnCe OF the hicntnOno DisVaEh-l
FREDERrcKBURa, Va, Sept. 8, '8S.
Master Joseph Barnes, the three-year-
old son of William M. Barnes, in this
county, died under the most distressing
circumstances on last Wednesday. On
Tuesday the mother was using some con-
centrated lye about the house and she
placed teacupful on q small table, ADD
while attending TO some domestic affairs
the little fellow got hold OF il and drank
it. At first the mother thought he was
choked, but after causing him to vomit
she discovered that he had drank the
I've. All antidotes known 10 the family
and neighborhood were applied, but to
no effect, and after lingering sixteen
hours the cold hand of death closed the
little sufferers life on earth. The entire
community sympathizes with the oe
reaved parents in the loss OF their only
child
Spotsylvania County Court was en-
gagged Monday, Tuesday, and Wednes-
day OF this week in the trial of Ella
Tibbs, charged with burning the barn OF
Mr.. Robert Blanton, in this county, on
the night of the 18th of February last.
At the June term OF the County Court
she was tried and convicted and SEN
fenced 10 three years in the penitentiary,
| but on petition of her counsel she WAS
granted new trial by Judge Barton, OF
the Circuit Court of this county. Mr..
A. B. Rawlings appeared for the Com
monwealth, and Mr.. A. H. Dick
inson. OF this city, and Judge
IT. n. Welcb, OF Caroline, appear
ID for the prisoner. Much interest
was manifested by the public gene
rally in the trial of the case. The at
torneys on both sides mrlle able argu-
mente. The case was given to the jury
late Wednesday evening, who after
few moments returned to the court
room for further instructions and eXpla-
nations. After receiving them from the
Judge they retired, and brought IN a
verdict Of three years confinement in
the penitentisry. Considerable discus
SIGN followed between the attorneys on
a motion 10 set the verdict aside and ar
rest of judgment; which motion the
| Court sustained. Whereupon Mr.. Dickin-
son. fortbe accused, moved the Court that
if the Attorney for the Commonwealth
could offer no additional evidence in the
case the Court would enter n nOtie prose-
Qm. Here considerable commotion fol-
lowed in the courtroom which lasted
several minutes. Mr.. Rawlings, after
considerable hesitation, stated that he
had no further testimony in the case, the
order was then made, and the prisoner
discharged. The Judge stated that the
grounds on which the verdict was set
aside and the prisoner discharged were
that the Circuit Court on the bill OF facts
certified of the first trial said they were
! insufficient to sustain the verdict, and as
/ the evidence at this trial was the same as
at the former, with the exception Of two
additional witnesses, whose evidence
failed to strengthen the Commonwealth
case, under the said judgment OF the
Circuit Court rs well as his own he
| therefore 80 ordered.
A brick. taken from the chimney OF
the residence OF Mr.. G.. 7. Ferney-
hough, in tins county. yesterday, which
was destroyed by fire several weeks ago,
bears the following inscription
.GRuilf YR