Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-30

'""ii' III MS cdpdclty az conbuc-
TOR on the James-RIver Division of the
chesapeake and Ohio. required Mrs. Par
sons who had left her railroad pass at
nome, TO pay her fare. This incensed
'oionei Parsons very Much, and he re-
ported Mr. Goodman to the company. As
mo conductor had acted strictly in the
"he OF his duty, however. there was no
'hing Tor. the company TO do but sustain
MIN. After that Mr.. Goodman and Colo
mel Parsons ana members Of his family
clashed upon several occasions and Colo
mel Parsons directly, or through others.
reported tho Conductor several times,
claiming, 1t is said. that he carried his
orders too far and was very disrespectful
to passengers.
THE FATAL LETTER.
ABOUT six weeks ago letter was re-
ceiVed by General Manager Stevens, OF
the Chesapeake and Ohio. making a series
oi grave charges gainst Mr.. Goodman.
me communication was upon the letter.
head OF Colonel Parsons's and was in
colonel Parsonss handwriting. but was
unsigned. Chesapeake and Ohio official
said yesterday that the eailure 10 sign
the letter was. he thought. an accident;
Tor aside from the fact that there was
no doubt about the chirography. there
were references I'm the letter that indi-
Gated unmlstakably that Colonel Par,
sons wrote II, and had no intention OF
Vohccahng the fact All efforts on the
part OF the Dispatch representative to OBJ
tain sight OF the letter were unavailing
but several persons who had read II
stated that n even went so far as TO
charge Mr.. Goodman with using his train
Tor immoral purposes. The letter was re-
ferred 10 the subordinate officer Of the
road VINO has immediate Jurisdiction in
such cases. and when it was shown 10
Mr.. Goodman he not only denied all the
charges, but courted the most searching
investigation The investigation had not
been held when the tragedy occurred.
COLONEL PARSONS'S CAREER.
Colonel Parsons was native Of Yer
mont, and during the war was captain Of
a cavalry company In a Vermont regi-
meut. Some years after the war he set
tied in West Virginia and engaged in the
land business az ST. Cloud that state
He became associated with the Chesa-
peake and Ohio as a director. and in 1873
came 10 Richmond as the representative
of syndicate formed to purchase the
James River and Kanawha canal and
build railroad along its tow-path.
Among his associates in that scheme
were Hon. James 6. Blaine. Chairman
Barnum. Of the National Democratic Com
mittec; Hon. Hugh Mccullough, Hon.
Samuel J. Tilden. and others.
The scheme was successful so far as
obtaining possession Of the canal and
building the road-the Richmond and
Alleghany-was concerned. and Colo
mel Parsons who had managed the
legislation necessary in the mat
ter, held large interests in the new
corporation. and for a time was its vice
president. He was also Interested in the
Atlantic and Northwestern railway. pro-
tectcd to run from Clifton Forge TO
Ironton, Ohio, and part Of which was
built, and in the Allegheny Coal and
Iron Company. However, differences
arose between him and his associates in
the Alleghany road and they purchased
his interests in that corporation. the At
lanta and Northwestern and the Alle-
ghany Coal and Iron Company. giving
him the Natural Bridge property for said
interests.
IN RICHMOND THURSDAY.
Colonel Parsons was Republican in
politics, and had made himself quite con
spcuous in his advocacy Of Mr.. Blaine
lie was Mt one time on very close tcIins
with Malone, but the two parted company
several years ago.
Colonel Parsons was in the city Thurs
day, and stopped at the Exchange Hotel
lie was en- route from Boston 10 the
Bridge. and left on the lo.3o train Thurs
day night. During the day he transacted
some business with Mr. Adamson real
estate agent. Of Manchester the nature
Of which Mr.. Adamson said yesterday
was entirely private. Before leaving the
hotel hc invited Mr.. Archer, the proprie-
tor. 10 go up To the Bridge with him
and spend several days. saying he eX-
pected 10 return to Richmond in about
a week
About the close Of the war Colonel Par
sons married Miss Nellie Loomis, Of
Springfield Mass. sister of Judge
Loomis. OF Parkersburg. w. Va. His
wife and three daughters-Misses Cathc-
rine. Gretchen. and Maude-survive him.
Miss Catherine Parsons is now travel
ling I'm Europe. The father Of Colonel
Parsons Mr. Gethrowe Parsons, who IS
over 80 years of age. resided with him At
Natural Bridge. and one of his brothers
now lives in Huntington. W. Va. De
ceased was born in September. 1870 and
was therefore not quite "A years of age
During his residence in Richmond his
Office was for a while over the First Ma
tional Bank
At one time Colonel Parsons was en-
gagged in an effort TO get through Congress
a bill providing for a railroad connecting
the North and South American conti-
ncnts.
SKETCH OF CONDUCTOR GOODMAN
Mr.. Goodman is "A native Of this State
and his age is placed anywhere from 45
to - years by his friends. He commenced
railroad life in 1877 with the Chesapeake
and Ohio road. Along about lSl9-SO he
had difficulty at Staunton with Mr.
Charles Porter, Chesapeake and Ohio
engineer which resulted in his shooting
Porter 1t was clearly established, IL is
alleged that the shooting was in self
defence. as Porter and his brother were
advancing on him at the time. Mr.. Good
man left the road. however and going
West enlisted In the United States army
he draws a pension from the Federal
government when his term of enlist
ment expired he returned 20 Virginia and
accepted position with the Richmond
and Danville Railroad Company. tie re-
mained with that company until severely
injured In an accident which ;ncapacl-
tated him for work for some time, and
upon suing the company he recovered
damages For short while he engaged
In the mercantile business near the corner
OF Cary and Madison streets, and then
entered the service of the Richmond and
Alleghany. with which and its successor ne
has continued ever since. He frequently
ran excursion trains on the road. ana In
September. 1891. was tried in the Henrico
County Court for "stabbing, cutting, ana
wounding'' negro named Charles Lewis.
The trouble occurred during row on
negro excursion. Mr. Goodman was de-
Tended by Mr.. Hin Garter and was ac-
quilted.
The evidence was conflicting, but failed
10 show that the man was either cut or
thrown from the train by the conductor.
HIGHLY SPOKEN OF.
Mr.. Goodman is spoken of by all the
N.H L. md