Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-24
A NEW COURTHOUSE
he. lRIco SUPERVISORS CONSIDERING
THE MATTER OF BUILDING ONE.
ssiiic Holmes Held for the Murder of
Her Little neutrality-suspicious.
Notes from the County.

The Henrico Board or supervisors spent
several hours yesterday going over
the county finances and discussing the
question OF either improving the present
courthouse or pulling II down and erect
ing n new one I'm its stead.
The original idea OF the board was to
run the walls of the old courthouse up
higher. put In a new iioor, nave the
courtroom on this. and use the present
or lower floor for the accommodation Of
certain county offices and departments
IL was with this end IN view that At
their meeting early In the month Mr.. w.
&. West was requested to examine The
structure and prepare plans carrying out
this scheme.
MIR. Yves, was present yesterday with
tis preliminary drawings for the pro-
posed alterations but stated that IN his
Judgment Il would be unwice 10 build
further on the old walls. the strength az
which could not be depended upUl. .ni
he recommended that the present StrJc-
ture be torn down and the materials De-
rsed as far as practicable IN erecting .
rev one after the same general plan. bat
v TN the courtroom upstairs ami he
lower floor devoted 10 the acc0mm0d1-
ton Of county offices. This ne thought.
as rough estimate, could be lone Tor
$1,000 $1,000.
The board. not seeing their way clear
to expend such an amount within the
icxt two years. adjourned over until the
first Monday In August. when the lues-
ton will be again taken up. and Mr..
West will submit detailed estimates Of
the coset.
The levy for school purposes-State ana
distrlct-was dxed at ~ cents
Result of The Holmes Inquest
Squire j. 4. Lewis held an inquest
at his residence. Carter and Cary streets
yesterday afternoon i'm the case OF Irene
Holmes. the J-ycar-Old negro child who
died IN New Town under circumstances
indicating that she had been beaten 20
death by her stepmOther Sallie Holmes
Sarie lives at 2J3o Moore street, and Wa
arrested Saturday by Constable Branch.
DR. Charles H. Chalkley. who made an
examination Of the Child's body. testified
before the Acting-CorOncr that I'm his
opinion the child died from cruel treat
ment and wounds that had been inflicted
within a short time previous TO her death.
The body was very emaclated, showing
the effects OF starvation. On the calf or
had only recently healed, and just In
front of the right ear he discovered an
incised wound. extending about an inch
down on the cheek, which Itself was very
much confused.
Dr. Deacon. who was called I'm TO see
the child Thursday night, testified that
it was suffering from whooping cough.
and was in a generally emdciated condl-
ton.
CRUEL TO THE CHILD
A number of the Holmes woman's neigh
bors. all ColOred. were put upon the stand.
and being closely questioned by squire
Lewis. they deposed that the woman had
been in the daily habit Of severely beating
the child without apparent provocatiou.
and that no amount Of remonstrance
could cause her 10 desi~t until she had
completely worn both herself and her vic
tim out.
The examination lasted some two hours
or more. after which the jury-composei
Of Messrs John IeaVille. -. \. Ledley.
W A. Swami. +. r. Kelly. J. = Walton
and T.. W Powel-renderod a verdict
that the child had come - har death az
the hands Of Salie Holmes. by means or
beating, kicking, choking duckiug, aua
other harsh measures
Mr. William II. Bevcrilge conducted
monwealth's-Attorney Sands and Mr..
Thomas y. Mosby appeared for tho ac-
cused.
Upon the rendering OF the verdict. the
woman was remanded TO tn grand jury
by Magistrate Lewis. and was taken back
to jail.
Before the Magistrates.
Joseph II. Cooling who was charged
with beating his Wife, an account OF
hich was published IN the Dispatch.
was tried before Magistrate L2rus and
fined g. - and costs. ana required 10 give
security in the sum Of 800 for slN months.
John Burke, Chesterfield coustabe.
was be fore Justice Vincent on "A chIrge Of
Killing TWO geese. the property of John
II, rkeley, a Henrico farmer. and WAS
sent on to the grand jury al his own
request.
4 county warrant was yesterday served
on Joseph Clarke, prisoner m tn .ity
jail. charging him with attempted house
breaking. Clarke was committed / few
| days ago as Il suspicious character. md
| vi en- his term expire he VIII b. turned
ever TO the county authorities.
The County Court was IN session Tor
short time yesterday and transacted only
rc utne business.