The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-07
JAMES RIVER MYSTERY.
oryIcIAL EXAMINATION MADE.
Nothing Was Found to Throw Further
Light on she DRybreak Landing Horror
and Identity OF the Dead UDreveaied.

AZ the scene or HuulnE tue Ftmuhnlb Oh u
skeleton on James river lately. elluslon TO
VIII ich was made in yesterdays TINES, got
a vehicle yesterday morning and started out
10 investigate Stopping at Henrco county
courthouse. / was joined by Squire krisch-
korn. justice of the peace; Constable I. IL.
Samuel and Deputy Sheriff l.. H. Russell.
We drove as near to thu place of finding the
body az possible. The Osborne turnpike
was followed till reaching Nr.
w. NJ. Mayors house, we drove
towards the river 10 within
a quarter to half a mile from the stream
Then we walked or stumbled through the
underbrush and rocks 10 the rivers bank
and soon located the place indicated by the
coloEed man. Robert Whitmore. who found
the body originally several weeks ago and
tied it 10 small tree with twine. We
stopped 10 see Whtmore going down 80 his
house. ia Nicholson street, Fulton. lie Is
highly spoken Of as q reliable, good man
and we questioned him again without bring
ing out any new facts The twne was found
around the tree and the scattered ashes and
remnants OF q fire in the shape OF pieces OF
charred wood were near to IL. The banks
are steep and high Just here. the point being
some tire hundred yards this side OF what
is called Day-break Landing, we'll known
fishing place.
DAY-DREAK LANDING.
1t is so named because people going from
Richmond 20 fish try 10 reach there Just at
daY-break. and is about eight miles from the
city. We searched and looked carefully
and at length for anything that might lend
the slightest aid 10 further the prosecution
OF the inquiry.
We found some more human bones, pieces
of the leg-one large and three small ones
all picked clean by the buzzards OF other
birds or beasts. Squire FrlschkOrn and
myself buried the bones on the bank. We
found some more pieces of clothing OF the
unfortunate person. all small bits and 30
dscolored with dirt. water and exposure
that ii was next TO impossible 10 tell any
thing about them The undershirt pieces
seemed to be OK wool. and the pieces Of
clothing, which were parts of the trousers.
were Of dark material. several buttons still
adherlng TO the pieces.
Further on, between the place where the
body was tied and the fire. WAS round a
necktie or crayat, originally black. and
pieces OF q shirt with red aud black stripes.
This bit Of shirtng was best preserved. and
the goods were evidently OK better material
than the rest Of his apparel, for the colors
were more plainly discerned.
AN ODD FEATURE.
There was one feature Of the case that
was odd. The body was LETT tied 20 this
bush or small tree by WhltmOre whom he
left it, and Constable Samuel found wnat
was lett of it at least forty feet away from
this place high up on the bank.
Then. the bones found yesterday morn
ing were ia another place between the tree
and the place where the other bones were
first found. The fire seems to have been
recently built and is scattered about. part
of the charred brands being high upon the
bank, as though carried up there afterwards.
picked up some parts OF elgarette-0ox
and some cOrks near by. All the remnants
OF the outer clothing the bits OF trousers)
were cut or pulled into shreads as II cut with
a knife. but the pieces of the underclOth-
ing and shirt did not show such marks.
There was also found parts Of what looked
like Oyeralls. or WOrkmon's trousers. near
By. The search was most careful, and
sharp lookout was kept by everybody for
even the slightest clue TO guide US IN future
investigation but there was nothing else
found, aud 80 the horses heads were turned
homeward. and this will remain mystery
unsolYed until. perhaps, somebody missing
will be incurred for and search made, and
then most likely something asoertalned.
took an exact copy OF the water soaked,
faded ticket which Constable Samuel found
under the remains the other day and hero
IL is:
Moonlight Excursion TO Dutch Gap
on the
Steamer Ariel
June %, 1872,
Bythe Circle OF Industry OF Centenary church,
Tickets, adults 30 cents. .a4.s
Refreshments or steamer at city prices.
Steamer leaves wharf st7:30 sharp"
On the reverse side are the letters @. L.
The officials were satisfied that everything
that could DO done had been done, aud the
remains will not be exhumed. tor there Is
nothing 70 be learned fro m the poor trag-
nerts Of what was once human being.