Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-19
ADAMS FREE AGAIN.
THE HENRlCO GRAND JURY FAILS TO
INDlCT HIM FOR MURDER.
He Is Therefore Set Tree-The Case OF suiiy
TO BE Investigated on
Monday Next.

Thornton Adams is no longer under the
restraint Of bail bond, but Is again
free man.
He is not now Obligated morally or
otherwise to visit the county courthouse
on fixed day, bat can enjoy life a. no
pleases and go wherever his fancy may
suggest
The Henrico grand jury has failed TO in
dict him for the murder Of Sammox Kos
deitcher. thereby relieving him from the
suspicion of guilt which had hung over
him since his arrest some weeks ago ana as
far az possible restoring 10 him the nntar-
nished name which he had hitherto Dorhe'
BEFORE THE GRAND JURY.
: The grand Jury reconvened at the county
courthouse Yesterday afternoon ana sptIC
a little over three hours investigating the
1 charge against Adams.
The witnesses examined were II. j.. Ia
| Wis. superintendent Of the county aims
/ house; DIR. A. J.. Leftwich, the corQher'
Sheriff ]. w. Southwark. Levi Metellets.
Sam. Metellets. :. Stern, and Tom Sully.
/ These were all subjected 70 the most criti-
/ cal examination by the prosecuting At
tOrnev. but the evidence gwen was not
sufficient, the jurors. thought, TO warrant
them IN bringing in a presentment against
/ Adams. They therefore returned not
! true bill"
/ The indictment that had been prepared
by Commemorative Thomas
/ contained two counts. Both charged the
accused with murder, and the only diner
. cnce III them was that the first alleged that
the assault on MoX Rosdeitcher was MADE
with an axe. whereas the second referred
to the weapon with which the death-DIoW
I 4. I. inc 4ruf
description of which was unknown to the
J jury.
AN UNsOLvED MYsTEBY.
The failure Of the grand jury to indict
gives Adam his liberty. Should there be
future developments corrobCrated BY
strong testimony the county officials
could take action against HIM, but there IS
not the slightest probability that such Will
ever be the case. The fact Is II now seems
that the mystery surrounding the, young
peddler's death Will never be solved.
This makes three of the persons ar
rested on the charge Of committing the
crime who have been discharged and the
grand jury will consider the case OF the
fourth, Thomas Sullv. on Monday next,
until which time that body was adjourned.
THAT FATAL NIGHT.
Rosdeitcher, the readers of the LfSDn'ct
will remember. WAS a Young Austrian ped
dler. who sold bis wares in the territory
about Richmond. chiefly in the county of
Henrico. lie was several wears ago en-
ployed on the farm Of MIR. feitlg. an elderly
German. whose farm Is near the hine-Mlle
road and not far from Oakwood.
The peddler also knew Mr.. Jacob Feltlg,
whose place adioins that Of his fathers.
IL was on the night of July lst last that
Rosdeitcher applied at the residence OF the
iunior Nr. FeitIg tor LODGING. He was
] 4 q.
been stated, was put in the hny-shed just
back of the house 10 sleep. At any rate
he was found there the next morning
bright and early with q terrible wound on
his head aud in q semi-cOnsclOus state. mat
afternoon be was taken 10 the county
poorhouse, where he fingered until july
27th. when he died. He had, however,
some time prior 10 his death rallied suifi-
ciently 10 leave the hospital and 10 come
TO Richmond, but suffered relapse that
resulted fatally.
The peddler made several statements "a
10 the manner in which be received his IA
tai injuries, but they were very conhict-
ing and none OF them at all clear.
THE FIRST ARREST.
Rosdeitcher died on Sunday afternoon
and on Monday was brought to Richmond
and buried IN the Hebrew cemetery at
Oakwood. TlN inquest was held that
morning. but there was no proof whatever
of how he came to his end. 1t was the
otinion Of the jury that death resulted
from some blow and not from the kick OF
a horse. as had been suggested by several
persons.
The Tispoich on the morning following
contained the first report made of the
peddler's death, and IN that publication
all OF the circumstances connected with
the occurrence were given. 1t was through
this medium that public attention was
drawn 10 the case. and then 1t was that
the county officials begun their inveshga-
tiOn. All subsequent developments nave
been fully reported. and the readers OF the
Dispdfct have been kept well advised on
the subject az all times
The first person arrested was Thomas
Sully. q negro employed on Mr.. Feltgs
farm, TO whom suspicion pointed strongly
because of the liberal expenditure OF mo-
ney made by hlm just after the fatal as
sault.
ADAMS AND THE FKIrIGs.
After Sullv had been incarcerated in jail
for several davs he was taken before JUS
tice of the peace, the Commemorative
Attorney. and the Sheriff of the county,
and there made what has become famous
NJ the "bloodv-axe statement, upon
which the warrant for Adams's arrest was
issued. What Sully then said Is all that
there has ever been 10 connect Adams
with the crime
on some of the clothing of the accused
were found slight blood-stains which were
construed by some of the officers rs very
suspicious circumstances. but these might
have been accounted for very easily had 1t
been found necessary.
Some time after Adams's arrest ana De-
fore his release on bail detective accom-.
panied a colored constable to the home OF
MIR. Feitig late one night and Just after i
o'clock arrested that gentleman and ms
wife.
They had an examination a few DAYS
later and were promptly discharged. there
being no evidence whatever TO warrant the
Justice in sending them on 10 the grand
jury.
Adams was before the magistrates court
some twenty or more witnesses were eN,
amined and he was sent on 10 the grahi
Jury. His case was acted on Yesterday,
and resulted AS above stated. He was un-
der bail 10 appear at this term OF the
court. but this puts an end TO the entlre
proceeding. and he will not now have TO
make his appearance.
THE CHARGE AGAINST sULLY.
Whether q sufficient case can be made
AGAINST Sully to secure ms indictment re-
mains 10 be seen. The chances are rather
against il. There is very little testimony
so far as the public knows that can be
brought forward to crimlnate hlm. 1t IS
possible that he may be indicted. but un-
less new and material witnesses can DO
procured it seems quite certain that he
cannot be convicted.
The persons constituting the grand Jury
that acted in Adams's case VIII also slt III
Sullv's. They are Messrs. William NJ Nc
Gruder Cforeman) John Il. Cooper, A. +.
Sheppard. A. j. Ford, Oliver Gathright,
John q. MAYNARD, William A. Harrison, l..
II. Herbert, H. c. Friend. Adam Jasper,
and j. L. Mitchell.
WHAT The Y. Nj. C. A. is DOING.