Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-22

ing investigation showed there were
no tracks about the point Of landing. but
those OF the three men going from and
returning 20 the boat. IL further appears
from che statement Of the prisoner that
after reaching the tree they concluded not
to cut IL, because II was a large
tree near the main road. and might get
them into trouble. and for the further
reason that the hole was small. and X
might not have any honey In II, anyhow.
The tree was afterwards cut by order
OF the magistrate, and found to be full
OF honey) IL further appears that the
boat was small one. about ten feet
long, and about two and half feet wide.
and that both In going over and return
ing the prisoner sat In the extreme rear
Of the boat with his face TO the front.
and that Wilkcrson and Mills sat In
front Of him with their faces to the
front and their backs 10 the accused.
This position Of the parties the prisoner
admitted very reluctantly when question
ed about H. When returning and
about fifty yards from the Henrico shore
the boat suddenly filled with water and
Mills and WiIkcrson were drowned ana
| the prisoner swan TO shore. The next
| day the magistrate OF the district was
notified OF the occurrence, and an inVes-
| tigation was set on foot The boat was
gotten out of the water. and II was
where Nichalos sat there were three
holes freshly bored with an inch end
a-half augcr. The evidence OF the owner
| OF the boa, shows that on Tuesday eve
ming the 9th of December. he USED ms
| boat and II was sound. IL was taken ny
| Nicholas for this fatal trip lnursuay
| morning. the Sth OF December. Further
| investigation discovered the fresh pine
| shavings corresponding TO size OF 'he
| holes. and 10 the wood the boat was
| made Of which had been thrown into the
| water. but had driftcd upon the shore
| near the point where the boat had STOOD
| fastened TO the Henrico side; there were
| also found corn-cohs. which had peeh
| Gu, TO exactly III the holes in the boat
| which had also drlfted TO the same point
HE HAD THE AUGER
| at was shown that the prisoner had
| I'm his possession an auGer Just the SIZE
OF the holes This the prisoner at frst
| denied. but afterwards said IL must be
! about the place somewhere. Dligent
search was made for this auger. but II
| was never found. When the magistrate
| went the next day after the drowning TO
get the prisoner to assist in making these
| investigations and to show exactly where
| the men were drowned he declined 10 CO.
| saying that his head, eyes and ears were
| fuil of water. and that he was feeling
1
| cond time. the prisoner again declined 10
| GO. making the same statement as be
| fore about his eyes. ears. and nose DelnS
| fun of water. but when told that he
would be arrested II he did not go ne
yielded. The prisoner stated when re-
| turning from the Chesterfield side that
the holes burst into the boat. ana ~ com
| menced filing with water rapidly; tnat
| he urged the men to remain In the boat
| and bail out the water with the buckets.
and he would take them safely 10 shore
| that. Notwithstanding this, they jumped
out, and the last he saw or them they
were swimming very strong lie also
| told Mrs. Wilkerscn that the last he saw
| Of her son he was swimming finely. Az
another time he said he did not know
whether they were swimming or not. He
| told officer Hall. who arrested him near
| " three DAYS afterwards. that when ne
| found the water was coming into the boat
| he haIlooed to the men to jump out, that
| the boat was sinking.
WENT a CIRCUITOUs ROUTE.
eft appears from the prisoners state
mcnt that when he swan to the shore
| he climbed out with great difficulty. ana
| Law upon the bank in an exhausted con-
| dition for some time. Ii further appears
| that he went home. to MISS mousse oy
| circuitous route, avoiding acquaintance
| AT once communicated the shocking &C.
| clrrence to which he had just been an
| eyewitness When he was 20O yards from
the house and before he was near enough
| for any one TO tell his condition, or 10
| coo that he was wet he was seen by Mrs.
Mills. the wife of the drowned James
! Mills. who commenced in most excited
way screaming and ringing her hands
| saving: Jimmy (meaning her husband,
10 Appr Of
| Mr.. Nicholas The prisoner went imme-
diately into Mrs Mills's house, and. ac-
cordiDg TO the testimony was wrinSlns
wet. and stood for fifteen minutes with
| out saving a word, and when he spoke
said to Mrs Mills. They are drowned.
Mrs. Wilkerson. alarmed as to the fate
| of her son, sent messages seven times
| to the prisoner. begging him to come
| TO her room. that she might ask ABOUT
| 'Judson. Mrs. Wilkerson was an aged
cripple. and could not get about. the
| prisoner, after the lapse Of two hours
| and a half went TO Mrs. Wilkerson. She
| said: Pray. tell me where my boy rs
| He replied: I Will as soon as can
! speak" and, after great deal OF walt
| ing. hesitating. excess OF emotlon anu
| unnatural weeping. he said. i am afraid
your dear boy Is gone the last ! saw or
| him he was swimming finely about thirty
| wards from the bank She asked him 10
| telegraph his friends in Richmond. lie
| said il was not worth while; ne Will
not be seen for seven or eight days,
and tomorrow, II you are anxious l
| will write
"The dead bodies Of Mills and Wllker-
son were taken from the river Deem
Der 18th. on the night Of December TO-
| 1892 about / o'clock. the prisoner was
arrested by Officers Hall and Tomlinson
Of Richmond. accompanied by MIR. Rugg'
the magistrate. They found the prisoner
in Mrs. Millss room. He showed no sur
| prise: seemed TO be expecting 10 be ar
rested. asked no questions, and imme-
diatelv commenced putting on his clothes.
He asked Mrs. Mills for his money. She
felt under her bed-clothos. got the pocket
| book out and handed ii to him. Oi1cer
: | Hall saws that whenever he would ask
the prisoner question he would reply
| that he had lost his recollection since ne
| got into the water; that he had been
| crazy nearly ever since. and his money
| was all gone. from getting water INTO HE
mouth and ears.
PRISONER AND MRS. MILLS.
"Tbe evidence fully establishes the fact
| that the prisoner had been guilty oi
criminal relations with Mrs. Mills foi
twelve months prior to the drowning
| end most probably for much ionGe
time: that ne had on several occasions
| prOposed to Mrs. Mills 10 leave her nus
band and live with him; that he told Mrs
Wukerson Jim Mills was hard TO &c
along with and he thought he would Sc
rid of him. lie also told this witness n
had a difficulty with Mills about ms
| wife and said Mills was supersUtlous
IL is further proved that on the nigh
| Immediately following the day or IN
! | drowning prisoner again told Mrs Mill
} she must now live with him, and h
E would do all he could for her, ard tn
4 next morning after the drowning he wa
T | seen in Mrs. MISS room In her bed.
D 1T appears from the evidence tina
. several months before the drowning b
bought strychnine from J. 7. Lewis
5 druggist in Richmond. took 1t TO tn
n house OF Mills. put it In Mrs. Millss desk
4 | called her attention to 1t. explained tina
n one grain in milk or coffee would kill
. man, and told her to administer 1t &
her husband. 1t further appears that ol
Z several occasions, about the time thi
a po!son was shown TO be In the house
a that Mills became suddenly and violent
Q sick, appearing 10 be paralyze1 In In
q mouth, great redness over the face CON
y planned of hurting all across his heart an
! limbs foaming at the mouth. jerking
q etc. These spells are described as oc
/. curing early in the morning. when tn
a prisoner and Mills had just taken drin
! together When II was proposed TO sen
/ | for a doctor on one O! these occasion
, the prisoner objected, saying that doctor
nsHa