Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1894-01-03
LETTER FROM RICHMOND.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
RICHMOND, Va, Jan. 2, 1894.

! Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette.
RICHMOND, Va, Jan. ,, 1894.
The first real session of the General
Assembly since the holidays was held
to-day, and precious little business
was done. The upper branch held an
executive session to consider the recon-
mendatior by the school board of Mr.
K. c. Murray for superintendent OF
schools of Norfolk. 1t will be remem-
bered that there was considerable dis
cussion about this matter. Senator
Herbert opposed Mr.. Murray, and
when the matter came before the Sen
ate prior to the adjournment for Christ
mas, Mr.. Herbert said among other
things that the Norfolk Landmark was
not democratic. That night Mr.. Not
tingham, publisher of the Landmark,
and Senator Herbert got to blows, but
did not succeed in doing each other
much harm. Mr.. Herbert to-day again
opposed the nomination of Mr.. Murray
Senator Little spoke in defence Of Mr..
Murray and made most excellent ar
gument. The vote was taken and the
nomination of Mr.. Murray was con-
Grmed by vote of y to IL.
Governor O'Ferrall was in his Office
in the Capitol to-day, and there was a
constant stream Of visitors to see him.
Among the callers was committee OF
military men who presented the claims
of General Charles J. Anderson for ad-
jutant-general of the State.
There is still great deal of specula-
ton as to who the judges will be and
this will be the chief subject Tor the
gossips until Friday when the caucus
meets. 1t is probable that the caucus
will meet in the afternoon as there are
3 number of speeches to be made and
much time will be needed.
For city as large as Richmond there
are, comparatively, very few tragedies
committed here. Not since the hang
ing of Thomas ]. Cluverius for the MUIR
der CT Fannie Lillian Madison has there
been a case of capital punishment. 1t
is true that a white man named Cor
don stabbed to death last spring a man
named Tyler. He got of on techni
cality of the law. VIM. Hill, negro
shot and killed another darkey last
June and was given IS years in the
penitentiary. 1t now looks, however
as though there would be another
hanging in this city, for there is at pres
ent pending in the courts an alleged
murder case that promises to be as in
teresting as was that Of Cluverius. Last
Friday night Thomas McNamee shot
and killed Robert Lee Atwell. The
tragedy took place in the yard Of the
+. & D. r. r. Co., and friends of the
murdered man pronounce the deed {
dastardly one. Atwell was n conductor
for the f. & d. r. r. Co. and was very
popular. Both men lived in Manches
ter. There seems to have been grudg(
between the two men, the result Of &
suit that was decided against Atwell
The latter on last Tuesday ordered Nc
Namees child out Of his yard. Mrs
McNamee called and demanded an ex.
PLANTATION and she charges that Atwel
insulted her. Atwell's wife and
mother-in-law deny this. McNamet
when he returned from work that
night was given al account of the dis
pute and he went out to look for AT
we'll. He did not find him until Fri
day night. Friday afternoon, in com
pany with a friend named Gault, he
went out to look for Atwell. He frs
went to his home in Manchester ant
not finding him there went over to the
railroad yard in Richmond. There
they learned that Atwell was down al
the lower yard, and thither they went
Inquiry from a train hand revealed The
fact that Atwell was in the agent:
house and Gault appeared and knock
ed. The door was opened and he ask
ed for Atwell, who went out. He wen
with Gault across the street and where
McNamee was, and, it is said, the two
attacked the conductor, and McNamet
drew revolver and shot him twice
both balls taking effect in the back
killing him almost instantly. Nc
Nance fled, but several hours later
gave himself up at the police station
and claimed that the shooting was il
selfdefense. Gault has not been ar
rested, though he testified before the
coroner's jury when he admitted tt
asking Atwell out, but says he did moi
know that McNamee was going tc
shoot him. Atwell's friends think il
very strange that Gault should be al
lowed to 60 free: Efforts are being
made by friends of the defense to Sc
cure the services of Mr.. c. Y. Meredith
and the friends of Atwell are trying tc
get Hon. George D. Wise to assist in
the prosecution. Should these two
gentlemen be retained there will be a
battle of legal giants. Mr.. Meredith i:
regarded as one of the best criminal
lawyers in the State and prosecuted
Cluverius. Captain Wise was for many
years Commonwealth attorney Of
Richmond and is regarded as one of the
finest prosecuting attorneys Richmond
ever had.
g1hc Tariff Bill.
The democratic members OF the Ways