Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-04
A SEARCH FOR TRUTH.
GATHERING OF EVIDENCE IN REGARD
TO BoDY FOUND NEAR DUTCH GAP.
A Piece OF the Cloth from the Eonsins
Brought to Riehuond Yesterday
Afternoon.

hilolh
The theory or belief that the human
remains found in James river near Dutch
Gap were a part of those of the long
missing Mrs. Walker strengthens.
Link by link the chain of circumstan-
tial evidence tending to establish this
fact beyond question is forming, and
everything goes to support this idea.
The Dispatch has always kept the
public ns fully posted es possible with
reference to this matter, and it's efforts to
solve the mystery connected with the
finding OF this portion of body, it now
appears, will be crowned with success.
Evidently the solution is that when
Mrs Sarah A. Walker, on the night of
February II, 1887, left the house Of her
daughter, Mrs. G. W. White, on Union
Hill, she wandered down to the river
bank. and, jumping into the stream, com
mitted suicide by drowning; that
her body was held down by some pres
sure until the swaying OF the water
broke it in twain just below the waist,
and that the lower part OF the body OF
white female found on Friday last 10y
Diogenes Pearman was that OF none
other than Mrs. Walker. This has long
been the theory OF many. Now it is the
generally y-accepted belief, and through
the enterprise of the Dispatch tho pub
lie Is given such light as to put their
mind at rest on this subject which has
caused 80 much concern.
VISIT To THE GRAVE.
To obtain clues additional to those
already given, a reporter early yesterday
morning procured n horse aud buggy,
and, in company with Mr. White, drove
down to Dutch Gap. The chief object
of this trip was TO secure a piece of the
goods found on the buried body, that
it might be seen by Mrs White,
who thought she could, by compari-
son with pieces Of the same mate
rial, identify any garment worn
by her mother Justice Richardson
kindly wrote a letter TO the county au-
thorities asking that the Dispatch man
be allowed to disinter the remains and
get the cloth. Justice Humphreys and
Constable Pearman unhesitatingly grant
ed the permission asked, and afforded
every necessary facility. The latter &C
companied the scribe to the grave. when
it was found (as the constable said be-
forehand he thought it would bel that
il would be unnecessary to disinter the
body, as the largest piece OF goods found
on it had been left outside tho grave
and it was found hanging on bush
where it had been placed to dry.
THE GOODS.
The constable, magistrate, ana Others
who saw the body all agreed that this
piece Of cloth WAS of the same material
and color as the other pieces, all of
which were smaller. This piece was Of
irregular shape and had been folded
as if to be used az flannel
pad-something quite frequently worn
by aged persons who suffer from or are
subject to rheumatism. This was taken
from the lower part OF one thigh. This,
like the smaller fragments, was some
what imbcdded in the decayed flesh when
the body was taken ont of the water, and
only this piece was taken of The goods
appeared TO be part OF white blanket,
but it was discolored by lying in the water
and mud for so long. When first taken
from the water it seemed gray, but rs 1t
dried it whitened. There were no clothes
at all on the body; only the fragments
of this material, which were washed into
the putrefed skin as though woven.
SHOWN TO THE DAUGHTER.
Upon his return TO the city the news
in company with Justice
went to Mr.. Whites resi-
dence to see if his wife could identify
the cloth as being a part OF anything
worn by her mother.
Those who had made a careful inspec-
ton Of the piece of cloth were inclined
to the belief that it was part OF bal
moral skirt, but Mrs. White, like numer-
Gus others, had gotten the idea that
it was a piece OF dress goods, and ex-
pecting to see such had gotten out
sample of the material from which the
dress which Mrs. Walker is supposed to
have worn when she left her son-in-law's
was made. This was slate-colored cash
mere or poplin, but the dress, which had
been worn a long while, had faded con-
Siderably and was gray.
WAS PROBABLY HERS.
Mrs. White reiterated what she has al
ways said before. e., that her mothers |
underwear was all white except her body |
Lannels, which were red.
When shown the piece of goods she |
turned to her husband and said "That |
ooks very much like ma. Don't you
Snow she used to fold flannel two or
and wear it on her knees
md limbs to protect her from cold and |
Is a preventive of rheumatic pains She
learly always basted it inside of her
red flannel. She wore folded flannel on
ler limbs as she would paper in her
ihoes or about her body"
Mr.. White assented to what his wife
aid on this subject.
USED BLANKET PIECES.
"Did she ever use pieces of blankets
n this manner" queried Justice Rich
lrdsOn.
"Yes," Mrs. White replied. "When
Iir. White was sick about five years ago,
md had to have steaming hot flannel ap-
died to his body, we cut up an old white
,ed-banket for this purpose. After
yards ma would use the pieces as de-
cribed. She kept them for that purpose
md used them for no other. This piece
Ooks very much like that blanket, except
hat whereas the border 10 this one seems
o have been black, that to ours WAS red,
)ut about the same width"
This is doubtless a piece OF the cut
blanket and was used by Mrs. Walker in
he manner stated. As it is certainly a
,iece of blanket it could not have been
lsed any other way, either as a wrap or
IS clothing.
BELIEVE IT's MRS. WALKER.
Squire Humphreys and everybody
lse seen down IN the county expressed
he belief that the remains were a por-
ion of those of Mrs. Walker. The