Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-01

Loftln y. Elicit. Esq. mas clerk OF the
Confederate States District Court. and
when his Office was removed from the
post-oflice building to the EaNal t-ne-
ment. he took along such or the records
OF the old United States District Cours
Clerks office as he conceived would ald
him In properly keeping the records uoder
the changed state OF affairs. Several loads
Of rninu,e-books and other ssiniiar records
were thus removed. The Confederate re-
cords continued TO grow apace. French
issued a number of patents: Smith con-
fscated with commemorate vigo- the ahan-
doned effects OF the fue1cious enemies OF
the new government. and Elicit entereH
UP court orders and DEGREES with That
palnstaking desire to be exactly rlght
which was one OF the Distinguishing char
acteristcs OF that amiabie citizen. Ihus
matters were progressing when httie
cloud arose in the horizon. Certain people,
Indignant at the slow way In wnicn the
Confederate States Treasurer issued his
paper money. began to manufacture it
themselves They chose 10 overlook the
slight circumstances that the penalty of
death had been prescribed 20 any one
found guilty OF the act. Finally. man
calling himself b. the ambitious cogno-
men OF Louis Napoleon was arrested ana
proved guilty of making and uttering
bogus money OF the Confederate pattern.
It was thought proper 10 make an ex-
ample. and Louis Napoleon was duly
hanged, but the example did not operate
as A detorrant for very long. Others took
up what Louis Napoleon had laid down.
and soon the city was filed again with
bogus Confederate notes. Another exam
pie was deemed necessary, and soon tho
officers charged with such duty had under
arrest wcll-known lithOgraph-printer
Ct the city, George Elan by
name. They made out an ugly
case against the defendant. who.
despite the fact that he was one OF the
baudsOmes, men u his day. would GER
talnly have met the fate 81 Louis Nap0-
leon. had not his lawyer ana other friends
stuck sturdlv By him IN the critical
emergency. The lawyer accomplished his
part by taking an appeal. which hung up
Elam's case instead Of Elan His friends
thought the cas-. required heroic treat
ment. as 1t ala. and they proceeded 70
act. one night. when all save those In
the secret were securely sno0zng. the
Naxall tenement mysterlorsly caught IN
flames. and reduced itself and all its
contents % ashes I'm duo time. Thus was
Elan saved. but he did not regain his
liberty I'LL the Yankees entered the city
on that memorable 81 Of April. 1855. The
United States officers who have lately
been making an attempt 10 find certain
lost plstrict-Court books will find In the
suggestions herein contained the true So
luton OF their Disappearance. Like the
beautiful that Is vanished (or the re-
cords OF the old General Court Of Nlr-
ginla. for illustration). they Will return
no more.
one notable hanging occurring IN 1888.
and now only dimly remembered by o'd
citizens Of Richmond. was that Of Jane
and John Williams. two slaves OF the late
MIR. Joseph T. Winston, for tho murder or
his wife and the attempted murder or
himself and infant son. The bloody afIair
occurred az the residence of Mr.. Winston,
on Eighth street near the city Spring lot.
The weapon used in the butchery was a
short axe. II was doubtless only IN
tended 10 KIN Mr.. winston, against whom
the woman fancied she had a grievance.
The several blows given Winston reduced
him 10 insensibility. but the wife. being
awakened, raised an outcry. and was
killed by repeated cuts on the head and
breast. one or two cuts across the face
were given the baby. who survived his in
Jury. Jane Williams was hung below the
powder magazine a month before her
mulatto. She bounded on the platform
with a shout. and begun a monotonous re-
fran, commencing
Now Is de time TO serve de Lord,
When the blood runs warm In de veins"
When the hanging took place old John
Rohiuson's circus was in the city and
gave an exhibition on the then vacant lot
save the Valentine house, between Ninth
and Tenth and Capitol and Broad streets.
lie had a tremendous crowd present many
pe0ple having come IN from various places
70 see the execution.
The writer IS reminded by two gentle
men who were present that the execution
OF Read and Clements. an account or
which was given last Sunday. did not take
place near the old powder magazine but
on the plateau north OF the almshouse.
formerly called Purcelps Slash. located
between what was formerly old Academy
iii. now Barton Heights, and Buffers
Hi, now Chestnut Hill. G.. G. w.
zsSvr-.ccr-1-.-y,.w1r = = =. 81