The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-07-27
THE TIMES KODAK.
Interesting News items Gath.
cred Around Salem.

Miss Grace Patterson, of Lynchburg,
who has been visiting here, left Tues.
day for Pulaski city.
Mrs. A. j. Riddick will give dance
at Hotel Lucerne tonight.
G. Julian Pratt, agent for Staunton
life association. yesterday paid to Mrs.
Philip Reed the sum of SO, 600 for which
her husband was insured.
Charles Armstrong. who has been
teaching school in the West, has re-
turned home for vacation.
The funeral services of the late
George Hill took place yesterday after
noon from the Episcopal Church. The
pall-bearers were: Messrs. John Camden.
L. G. Hansbrough, Samuel Parrish,
Watt billiard, William Simpson and D.
T. Martin.
A marriage license was issued in the
county clerks Office yesterday to Charles
Lycurgus Graham and Cleora Mary
Martin, both of this county.
Miss Rebecca Smeade, who has been
quite i'll for some time past, is improv-
ing.
r. R. Campbell, bookkeeper for the
Salem Wagon Works, will probably re-
sign his present position to take q SINH.
lar position August 1st with the Alroma
Coal and Coke Company.
j. e. Shipman spent yesterday in
Clifton Forge on business.
The sheriff has finished posting at the
different voting precinc to in the county
copies OF the writ of election issued by
the Governor ordering an election to be
held in this county on the Tuesday
succeeding the first Monday OF Novem-
Der, 1893. for Senator to fill the
vacancy occurring in the representation
In the Senate from the Fourth Sena-
torial district, composed of the counties
OF Montgomery, Roanoke and Craig,
occ asioned by the resignation of James
w. Marshall.
A Il. Pugh went to Wytheville Tues
day to argue the demurrage case of
Adams, Clements & Co. VS.. the Norfolk
and Western railroad in the court of
appeals, but made his trip in vain, for
the case has been removed to Rich
mond.
The relatives of 3. 3. Griffith, who
was sent from this county in 1854 to the
penitentiary for eighteen years for
murder, are petitioning the governor to
pardon him on account of his being i'll
with consumption. The governor has
recently written to Major Ballard, com.
monwealth's attorney, regarding the
case, and accompanying his letter we're
certificates, one from DR.. Irving. the
penitentary physician, stating that the
prisoners life YVES in danger II kept in
prison longer, and another from Super
1ntendent Lynn, of the penitentiary,
saying that Griffith was a reformed
man. Upon the strength Of these two
certificates Major Ballard has recon-
nended executive clemency, but has
also asked the Judge (Griffln) who tried
him, and the commonwealth attorney
(Hansbrough) at that time to write
the facts OF the cose to the
governor. The correspondent, in
conversation with Judge Griffin OBJ
tanned brief outline of the coldblooded
murder for which Griffith is in prison.
Griffith was an ex convict in Texas.
separated from his wife who came to
this county and for time lived near
Back creek. He had previously sworn
vengeance against any one who should
harbor her, and on one occasion finding
that she had been visiting a Mrs VERT
In the Back creek neigh borhood, went
to the house Of the latter and deliber.
ately shot the TWO sons Of Mrs. WertZ,
killing one instantly and manning the
other. Feeling ran high at the time
and he came near being lynched but
after trial and through the eloquence
OF his counsel. Major s. Griffin and r.
ID. Woodrum, he escaped the gallows
with an eighteen year sentence. After
he was taken to Richmond his Wits OBJ
tanned divorce from him whereupon
he is reported to have said that when
ever he got out of Jail he'd kill her and
her lawyer. Judge Griffin has written
pretty strong letter to the governor
making known these facts.