Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-26
THE BABE WASDEAD
MOsnY MELTON CHARGED WITH
KILLING An UNBORN CHILD.
He II Said 20 Have Kicked Its
Mother. Martha Green. and There
nv Caused the Infants Death
Committed 20 Jail.

There Is another man In the Henrico
fail now against whom the charge OF muir
der has been lodged. The crime with
which he is charged is rather peculiar
one. and the conditions which surround
!, are uncommon.
Mosby Melton. a farmer. living near
the line OF the Richmond, Fredericksburg
and Potomac railroad. about one mhe
east OF Laurel Station. figures In the case
Ms the alleged murderer. and his victim
IN n negro baby. which at the time OF the
alleged killing was yet unborn.
Las; Monday Hannah Green, n negro
woman, who lived near the Melton farm
went there and demanded OF Mrs Melton
the payment Of some money due her Tor
work done. a quarrel ensued. after which,
4, is alleged. Melton. his son, ana Mrs'
Melton kicked and severely beat their
negro visitor 1t IL also alleged that HAN
nah struck Mrs. Melton.
Melton was arrested last Thursday on
n warrant sworn out by the negro "o-
man. charging him with assault ana bat
,ery. and was hailed in the sum OF wv
for HIS appearance this week.
TIE CHILD WAS DEAD.
The case. however. assumed new
phase Sunday. Early 'hat morning nan
nah gave birth 10 "A child whlch was
dead DIR. L. W station attended the
mother. and his examination Of the body
sbowcd that the infant had been dead
'or four or FIVE days. It's skul was
,roken and its side crushed in, but other
Wise il had the appearance OF being q
nealthv. weil-proportioned child or , or
months development. and Or. station be
ucves that its death was due to the IN
turtles received by the mother
The woman bore marks OF rough
treatment There was n bruise on one
knee cut In the tongue. two large
bruises on the forehead. and n bruise on
the chin. Her stomach was In an acute
state Of Inflammation.
These facts Dr. Station made known TO
Justice J. T. Lewis. and he al once issued
a warrant for the arrest Of Melton, on
tha charge of murder The warrant was
executed by Constable MOsby. and yes
terday the Magistrate, acting as Coroner
held an inquest at the courthouse. Whlch
resulted I'm the returning of verdict 10
the effect that the death OF the child
had been caused by injuries inflicted upon
The person Of the mother by Moses Mel
ten.
MELTON WILL NOT TALK.
The prisoner was then remanded to jail
and bail was refused him. The case
will be examined into on April 4th. In
The mean time Hannah Green is in
precarious condition. and 1t is possible
that she will not recover.
Mr.. W. II. Beveridge will defend the
accused. and will make an effort TO Sc
cure the release of his client on BAH
through habeas corpus proceedings.
+sb N a.
terday. but the prisoner declined TO dis
cuss the case. saying he had been en-
Joined TO silence by his counsel. He is a
man probably A. years Of age, large Of
stature with coal-black hair and pene-
trating eyes. He does not look like a
murderer.
Morris Hopkins Baptized.
Morris Hopkins. the negro murderer
who is 10 be hanged tomorrow week
for the murder OF Mr. Henry s Parsons.
was baptized Yesterday Rev. L. Ross.
pastor Of the Glheli Baptist congrega-
ton. OF Powhatan county. and a near
neiChbor OF MOrris's family, performed
he ceremony. which was witnessed by
he prisoners mother sister and
brother \ bath-tub was put in the Gel:
md filed with water and In this the
doomed man was immersed. The service
vas simple and characteristic of the
country darby.
Two sister from st. Sopha's Home
FOR the Aged and lnhrm visited the
prisoner just before the colored pastor
arrived.
a Dispatch man. who had occasion 10
visit the Jail last night. witnessed an
amusing and yet pathetic scene. In which
Morris was the central figure. He has
lately become fond OF reading the Bible.
and last night. when the reporter en-
tered the jail. he was standing near the
bars Of his cell in order that the rays
from a Pickering gas-jet might fall upon
an open Bible in his hand. on his fiat
ncse was pair Of gutta-percha eye
glasses, and he was reading the Gospel -
his fellow-prisoners. With very serious
air he announced that he would read his
favorite chapter-''the third chapter If
the Gospel accorded by St. John" He
manages to spell out the words very well.
indeed, and when he reached the third
verse-"Except a man be born again he
cannot see the Kingdom Of God"-he
paused. and. turning his eyes to his au-
ditors. who We're lolling about on the
iioor and in hunks. he said: Don't you
see tits just like | tole you. You got .-r
bee horned agn. You can't 30 to Heaven
without it," He then continued his read
Ing until the lights were extinguished and
he was ordered to retire.
Preparations for his hanging are rapidly
being made. The scaffold will be erected
either tomorrow or next day.
Brief County Items.
Henry Harris (coloredD was before Jus
tice Larus at the County Court yesterday.
charged with assaulting and beating his
wife. and was put under peace bonds.
The Henrico County Committee of the
Populist party met last Saturday. II
was decided not TO make any party
nominations for the spring elections, but
TO support solidly the candidates to he
nominated by the friends of an honest
and economical administration of the
county affairs without regard to parties.