The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-01-02
TRIBUNE: WASHINGTON c. THURSDAY JANUARY 1890

covery of the murderer. Suspicion fell on
negroes, of course; but the farmers in the neigh
borhood cared but little, rs they believed he
traded with negroes for stolen property and
sold them whisky. A couple of years before, a
keeper of small store on the Frederick sburg
road four miles below Stevensburg near Barnes's
Branch, named Jim Edwards, was
MURDERED UNDER SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES.
Two negroes belonging to Capt. Harrison Cor
don were arrested for the crime, but the evil
deneo against them was made out to be only
circumstaDtial, and they were acquitted, and
their owner Immediately sold them of South.
People generally believed that the Gordons
had him killed by the negroes, and were cor.
rect in their surmlses, for DIR. Davis who at
tended Churchill Gordon on his death bed,
told that he could not die until he confessed to
him that no was sorry for Jim Edwards's death,
and wished that he could recall him to life
again.
Shortly after the Allison murder Timmons,
who had kept TO the recesses of the woods in
tho meantime. came out with story that he
was lying down by fence on the Skinker
place and overheard two free negro men,
named Wat Howard. blacksmith, and Ed.
M0ulton, field hand, talking of dividing
goods they had stolen, and moving them to
another hiding place. The negroes were ar
rested and brought to trial Mt Wilson's old
quilted for want of evidence, mainly through
the efforts of Mr.. Sknker a wealthy man, who
owned large farm aud many slaves, and had
n mill ON the Rappahnnnock below Elliss Mill
aud Ferry, and Burnctts Ford. the old ford at
Skinkers Mill also being used good deal by
Union troops during the war. Skinker brought
lawyer from Fredericksburg 10 defend them.
His name was Reuben Brce. and he was n
preacher as well MS lawyer as people said,
serving the Lord and the devil at the same
time.
] remember tho trial we'll. The room in
which it took place was crowded. Brice, who
stopping at the tavern, was in the room,
with long rcd figured dressing gown aud
black velvet cap. cross.examining Timmons,
the principal witness very closely Timmons
bad stated that he listened to the conversation
OF the negroes for au hour watching them very
closely. Brico asked him how they were
dressed. lie glanced at them and answered,
" ,Jst as they now" BriCe stepped quickly
IN front of the prisoners, who were sitting close
together. at the same time seizing the front
tails of his dressng-gown and holding them
out at arms length, completely obscGring the
prisoners from fimnrvnss view.
Now describe their clothing" he exult-
incly ordered.
Iimmons was unable to do so. and after this
he got confused aud broke down. Then sus-
piCion fell oil Iimmuns, and he moved eight or
10 miles off IN the woods near Bankss Ford I;
but most people believed his ayaricc for the
500 led Timmons TO swear against tho negroes.
After the war commenced and the Federal
army came down in that section great deal of
btishw hacking was done around the junction
of the RappahanBoek aud Rapidan Rivers, at
BaTrow's old ford. the United States Ford, aud
Banks's Ford. UniCa soldiers were frequently
found dead aud robbed near those places.
Search was male for the perpetrators of those
crimes, but they could never be found, and
blame was laid, and not without some reason,
on people in che country, who were all placed
under suspicion from the circumstances After
the war Timmons died in shanty on Motifs
knn in great hRony. He confessed TO having
murdered 10 Union soldiers, solely for the pur-
pose Of robbery. during the war aud that sew
eral of thum had hardly anything worth tax
ing. while others had large amounts Of money
On occasion ho killed two soldiers, one
shortly after tho other. at Banks's Ford. aud
dragged thrm of IN the bushes. When night
came he nailed them in the hottom Of an old
fathoat aud set them aarift in the river. He
stated that when search wns made by scouting
parties he secreted himself near the abandoned
mines aud in the guiehhS. aud TINS escaped de-
lection. Having aFnied himself we'll from
amongst his earlier vtesTms. ne subsequently
contenfcd himstlf by fifing the pockets and
haveFsaeks leaving the arms aud equipments
with the body.