Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-16
FOR PAGES MURDER.
HIS BODY FOUND AND BEN TONNES
ARRESTED FOR KILLING HIM.
Circumstances Of the Old Mans Disappear.
ance Two Months Ago-why There
Was Suspicion.

H.enrico. ever replete with mysteries ana
sensations. furnishes another case OF al
legged murder. and Benjamin TONNES is
now prisoner in,the county jail. charged
with having committed the crime.
During the latter part Of December Will
liam Page. a negro about c. years old,
who was frequently about the Lower
Gas-works. disappeared from his home
near the city limits. on Thirty-first street.
He was a married man. with several
children. and was generally Industrious,
though slightly addicted to drinking.
About $50 o'clock night before last his
dead body was found lying on the Henrico
shore OF the river, about nine miles below
the city. II was discoverad by Michael
Harvey and otto Douppe, two young
men. who were on fishing trip. They
left Richmond Wednesday afternoon for
Falling creek. While passing Horse Land
ing, just this side OF the creek, they
saw the body lying partly in the water
on the north shore, and upon approaching
II identified II instantly. Both men had
worked at the gas-works with Page. and.
therefore. had no difficulty In recog-
nizing the remains, although the corpse
was In an advanced state Of decomposi-
ton.
BROUGHT TO THE COURTHOUSE.
They fastened the body by means of
rope to the end of the jetty at that
point, and brought the news OF the find
to the Henrico courthouse.
They arrived there about Q o'clock yes
terday morning, and Justice w. J. Tyler,
accompanied by DR.. Chalkley. and De-
puty-Sheriff Mosby. drove down to where
the body was anchored Upon arriving
upon the scene DIR. Chalkley made an
autopsy of the body, and discovered that
the man had been first murdered by a
blow on the head with some blunt instru-
ment. and after death had been thrown
in the river. The skull was fractured
over the left temple, the fracture extend
ing down to Immediately over the left
eye. The body was very much decom-
posed, and the face and hands had been
mutilated by fishes. The Doctor decapi-
tated the body. and brought the head
back to Richmond.
A soon as this information was i'm
parted to Squire Tyler. he recalled the
fact that when Page was missed on the
2sth OF December foul play was sus-
pected. and suspicion pointed directly TO
| Townes. He then examined several ac-
| quaintances OF both men, and It trans
pired that the prisoner and the murdered
man had been working together sitting
cinders at the lower-gas-house.
| ALL ABOUT a WINDOW SASH.
Page rented n small shanty in the vi.
cinity Of the works. in which he kept his
tools, etc. 1t appears that he discovered
window sash. supposed to have beer
stolen. in the shanty one day, and ascsr
! tanning that Townes had placed it there
severely reprimanded him for having usec
/ his property as a fence. This led up to 9
difficulty, and threats were made by boti
| parties.
The Squire and party returned TO th'
city late in the afternoon and upon the in
formation the magistrate issued a war
! rant for the arrest of Townes. charging
that, with malice aforethought, he did
with some blunt instrument. strike, wound
/ kill. and murder William Page.
| Deputy-Sheriffs Russell ami Mosby, &c
companied by Mr.. Tyler. went out e
/ Townes's house, No. 1924 State street, Full
ton. last night about midnight. and. find
ing their man in bed, arrested him. Ill
pleaded his innocence from the start. Thu
party. with their prisoner. arrived at tn
: jail shortly before | O'Clock this morn