Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-10
HORRIBLE TRAGEDY.
ROBERT WINSTON ROBBED, MURDER
go. AND HIS DEAD BODY BURNED.
Arrest OF III. wife. Daughter, and james
Coieman-The startling story OF tue
Li,tIe Grizzly mu-singing Prisoners

fCorrespondence o. the Richmond Dispatcn'l
CtoocBL.yp COURTHOUSE. January 9.-On
Yesterday morning Constable Littleton l.
Johnson lodged in the Jail nj this place
James Coleman, Susan Winston, and Ellen
Winston, charged with the wiltui muruer
Of Robert Winston on the night OF the
9th DAY OF November last. All OF the
narties are colored, as was the victim, ana
Susan and Ellen Winston are the widow
and daughter, respectively, OF the de-
ceased. The details Of this terrible tragedy;
"a alleged, are terrible IN the extreme, ana
the people in the vicinity OF 1t are deeply
aroused. IL,
Robert Winston was a deserving old CO
lored man, respected and loYed ny MS
neiehbors. He resided IN that part OF tn.s
county which is known az the 'IoId beit,
miles from the town of Columbla. by IN
dustry and frugality he had IL 10 sun
noeed accumulated respectable sum OF
money. and distTusting the staolilty on
uaper currency, his savings were thought
10 have been chiefly IN SILVER, ana prooa,
blv some Of u consisted OF Tue virgin gVii
such as is extensively mined and WaSn,u
along the creeks and branches Oh lHc
nelghbOrhoOd.
UNHAPPY.
Winston's domestic relations were known
to have been very unhappy, and for long
time before his death his wife lSusan) dG-
serted him and took up her abode with
James Coleman, near nelghDOr, car ih5
! her children with her thus the husptHt
and father was left alone. On the hlEnioi
the 9th OF November hs house was as
I covered 10 be afre. but before any hrIPlns
| baDd could reach it the building was Ell
! tirelv consumed. WinstOn's chafreu re-
/ mains were found in the burned GI"T'S'
| and an investigation was lmmedlaLely De-
/ Gun 10 discover the origin OF the hIe ana
| MS consequent death.
ROBBED AND MURDERED.
! Suspicion of foul play was aroused anu
! his friends assembled there dld not De-
| heye his death was natural, but tDat ne
/ had been murdered and robbed ana the
perpetrator Of the crime had burned tne
| house and his victim to hide or obhteraIg
| evidence of its commission. Inc dead
man had been seen alive and well few
| bours before the fire. He was known 70
| have had a considerable amount OF com
! cold and silver IN his house, aud shot-
| Gup also had been kept III his room tor a
! number Of years. The ashes were
| thoroughly sifted for the molten com, but
none could be found; nor could they as
cover trace Of the gun, the IRON portion
| q, Oh
the action of the flames. il being known
| that bad feeling existed between WINSTON
| and James Coleman, suspicion was direct
| al towards the latter. Some clever ANA
teur detective work was done ana sui
lfcient evidence was developed to cause
the arrest on Friday last OF the aOoVe-
named partie3-Jamcs Coleman as pIiuCi-
pal and the two women as accessories "
the murder.
THE DETAILS.
Tho little Girl Ellen. the daughter Of the
murdered man. - about II years OF ago
and more than usually intelligent. ono
| states that on the evening OF the Z3th OF
| November James Coleman, the accused,
who had been at work at the gold-inihe'
came by the house and told her aAd her
mother. both of whom lived with James
that he desired them to % with INN 10
| Robert Winstun's house. mile or Two
distant They accompanied HIM and on
! entprlugthe house found the Old man alone
and asleep. Coleman seized an axe, wnlch
Law near the bed, and struck him ieariul
! blow on the head This blow appeared TO
have killed him without struggle. Colerr
man then proceeded 10 rife the pockets ol
the dead man. and after securing ali me
! money he could find piled up wood on the
body. and, seiZing piece OF burning Woou
from tho fire, set fire to the house.
REMoNsTRATED.
She 0he little Crib and her mother
demonstrated against the killing, but Cole
man Threatened them with the same fate
If thew said anything about it. But the
fearful knowledge of the crime 80 fright,
cned her that she could not not rest until
all was told. Coleman is a brutalloohng
negro, about 40 years old. and dld not pear
a GOOD reputation in his community B0th
| he and the woman, Susan Winston, deny
ali knowledge of the affair. They spentthe
greater portion OF last night IN singing :
7ayorlte hymn. entitled Il Done Come
over to the kingdom" The grand Jury
will act on the case Mt court on Monday
next, but, as the prisoners Nlll prooaOly
elect to be tried In the Circuit Court, the
trial viii NOT come OF until the April term.