The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-13
SUSPECTED OF MURDER.
A HrNRICo COUNTY MAN IN JAIL
ON A SERIOUS cHARGE.
IL is Relieved That Philip T.. Nicholas
Caused the Drowning OF James NILS
and Judson NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

There is much excitement In the neigh
borhood OF Lorraine. on the Allegheny
division Of the Chesapeake and Ohio
railway, regarding supposed case OF
murder, by drowning. Of two men, James
Mills and Judson Wilkinson. by Philip
l.. Nicholas. who is safe in the Rich
mond Jail. The drowning was published
in The Times several days ago.
Nicholas lived some eight miles from
this city, on the Wickham farm. lie was
renter and sub-rented to these TWO
men named.
Mills was a man Of family, with wife
and children three. Wilkinson TOOK care
OF his mother In a house close TO Mills
The story Of the tragedy Is as fono"s:
Nicholas Mills and Wilkinson went across
20 the other side of James river last
Thursday in a boat. looking for tree
said 10 have a hive Of honey in 1t. This
was in the morning. About +. NJ.
Nicholas came back with wet clothes,
telling Mrs Mills and a Mrs Duke that
the other two were drowned by accident
through the leaking and hiiine OF the
boat. lie swan in, he said. but the men
with him were drowned.
This seemed plausible. until the boat
Hall kdged against tree Oh fTlday' Oh
the same side Of the river.
These officers were Civ n the case by
Commonwealth Attorney Sands, who
was notified Of the affair by Squire E. I.
Rueg. and he was told OF 1t by Air. W.
j. Comack.
In the bottom Of the boat were several
freshly-cut anger holes, one ana a hal1
inches in diameter, and hat of one OF
IfNUn n
corn cob. trimmed 10 fit the holes, were
found, besides new shavings and piece
of netting. which Nicholas said after
wards he tried to stop the water with.
There were two axes and Ratchet in
the boat. and ausers fitting these holes
were found in the house of Nicholas.
Squire Rugg took all these things.
Magistrate Rugg. with Silas and lsaac
Alley. Mrs. Mills brothers. went with
Nicholas 10 the tree. Dredging and drag
ging for the bodies went on without sue
cess.
Warrants Of arrest Of Nicholas for
killing Mills and Wilkinson were sworn
10 by officer TOmlinsOn before Squire
Rugg, served at once and Nicholas brought
TO the Second police-station about A.
NJ Sunday II was thought that Squire
Rugg would begin the examination OF
Nicholas at the courthouse yesterday
bodies of Mills and Wilkinson were still
inbound and there was d doubt anyhow
whether the alleged murder took place
In Goochland or Henrico Nicholas story
would imply that ii was near the Gooch-
land side. So The officials put off the
trial till the bodies are found. Nicholas
was removed from the station-house to
the city jail, as the county jail is unfin-
ished.
/ saw him in the yard with other pris-
oners fin the afternoon. He is not
pleasing person in appearance, being tall,
bearded awkward and stumbling in his
gait
He refused to talk, saying he had moth
ing TO say. except that his counsel was
Mr. d. c. Richardson. Nicholas wore his
trousers i'm his boots, and had on an over
coat and SLOUGH hat. and he was alto
gether a rough-looking customer.
The dragging of the river kept
up Sunday and yesterday and dynamite
was exploded. with a view to bring up
the bodies.
l heard yesterday at the courthouse
that both Mrs. Mills and Nicholas talked
OF their improper relations, and did not
seem TO appreciate their situation.
Mr.. +. ID. Crouch mentioned that one
Moses Green, a negro. working on Mich
olas' farm told him of a quarrel be-
since. Green did not know what was
wrong, but supposed 1t was on account
Of the intimacy between Mrs. Mills and
Nicholas, who by the way, has been di-
vOrced.
The idea OF the murder is that Nicho-
las stopped up the auger holes In the
boats bottom with these corn-cOb stop
pers. Pulling them out The boat soon
filled and the men were I'm the water.
from which Nicholas, being a good swim
mer saved himself The others were
drowned. as they were poor swimmers.
and quickly gave mp.
Further developments in the matter
Will he awaited with great interest
The following was received last night |
from The Times correspondent at Dover |
Mines:
Rumors are rife in this naighborhood |
that foul play is connected with the |
drowning of Judson Wilkinson and Jim |
Mills, which occurred, as was published |
In The Times, on last Thursday evening |
In James river near Lorraine.
large crowd of citizens w5re on the |
spot yesterday. Suspicious have been |
arous ed that the affair was a double |
murder There are some clues that seem |
10 point to foul play
Vague Iumors are circulated that ieal- |
ousy was at the bottom of the affair, |
the wife of one of the drowned men being |
concerned. ii is thought, in the matter.
OTER TIE RIVER