Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-10
RICHMOND LONG AGO.
a Hedley Of Bright "reminiscences from
an Old EsVspapsr.Han.
sLAsHED A WOMAN TO PIECES.
The Blues GoId-Mcunted Musket--
The Mechanics Institute and Iss
Corner-stonc--rrnge In the
Capitol sauarc-Lafayette's Nose.

LnDlkOa '>1- !" --N~~s
II was about half q century ago that
Fletcher Heath. OF Petersburg. startled
Richmond by going into the house OF one
Della Harris. a mulatto woman. residing
on the corner OF Tobacco alley and Vir-
ginia street. and literally cutting the
woman TO pieces with a Bowie knife.
After this murder Heath proceeded to A
faro bank on Thirteenth street. then
kent over the barber-shop Of George w.
Ruffin, which was In rear OF the Dis
patch's former Office. on Main street.
Here he found Carter Wells. his then
partner and q well-known sport OF that
day. whose throat he proceeded TO cut.
The wounds given Wells would have killed
most any other man. but he survived
them. A recent newspaper paragraph
was to the effect that Heath escaped
after committing his bloody deed, and
was no more heard OF. The recollection
OF this writer Is to the effect that Heath
was tried and sentenced TO be hanged.
and that he was imprisoned In the county
Jail to await execution Of the sentence;
that nine days before the time set for the
hanging be made his escape by the aid
OF friends, and most probably was aided
in eluding pursuit by his Petersburg reia-
tiyes, who were well-to-do people. FRIENDS
OF his say that he lived a long time IN
Florida, and then went to California from
New Orleans One gentleman residing
here who was In San Francisco in the
fan OF 1892 is confident that he saw
Fletcher Heath dealing faro In the Bella
Union In that city at that time. IL Is
probable that he has long since paid the
debt OF nature.
The "Iiving Pictures" so-called, lately
introduced In theatric and other represen-
tations. had their counter part many
years ago In Richmond. They were then
called "Dr. Colyer's Model Artists IL
Is remembered that the show at first met
with violent OPPOSITION as being indecent
etc 1t was given at Odd-Fellows' HAN
in the room lately used by the Police
Justice. The stage adioined the Mayo
street side Of the room. Entrance was
had by the side door. Some Of the scenes
were made by posturing, groups were
twirled around on a revolving PEDESTAL
The marble effects were produced by
closely-ftting tights. powdered and other
wise marbleized for the occasion. There
was only one woman present The writer
remembers to have seen at the entertain
ment Sergeant Il. II. Chalkley, OF the
police, and the late Captain John H.
Knowles. This show was here when
General william Lambert was Mayor
The Mechanics Institute before the
war was a power for good In Richmond
The city had given Il lot on Ninth
street (site OF old Lafayette HalD, 'front.'
ing 80 feet and extending back lso teet'
or which the institute had erected a
splendld building for offices. exhibitions,
etc. Several splendid fairs were given IN
the place. when the career of the In
stitute was stopped by the civil war
The building was made the War De
partment of the Confederacy. It was
here that the spy Webster thung az the
Falr-Groundsl used TO bring his copies OF
New York papers and his bogus reports
from across the border and deliver them
10 the agents OF the Confederacy
Amongst the contents OF the house were
a dozen or more boxes OF captured Tags
some OF very beautiful material. hume
rously lettered, and some scattered over
with dried blood Of former bearers Of
the standards The house and all iti
contents Mfit bh AAhAh ~ fN|'
WREN the city was evacuated by the Con
federates. When the Mechanics iEstl
tute was built the Grand Lodge OF Nir
sinia Masons laid a cornerstone IN com
menoration thereof When the war wai
over the empty lots were sold TO pa,
the membranes created thereon By th'
institute Just before the new owner
started to build the three tenements now
on the Nlnth-street front OF the lot, 2
=, number OF Masons. headed by John II
Regnault, James a. Scott. and others.
went TO the place and, prying OFT th'
cornerstone. carried away the poN snt
contents. 1t will some day be lad IN
the cornerstone Of new Mechanics IN
stitute.
The Capitol Square was Richmonds first
and best-known public breathing-place
for many years. From It's geographical
position II Is always bound 10 be IA
vorite with the people. Despite Its at
tractiveness. sad tragedies have been
enacted within the bounds of this ioi
from time to time. II is the purpose OF
this writer TO recall a few of the many
noted happenings on this historic ground
The first recorded tragic incident hap
pened about 1910, when one OF Captain
Alexander Quarters State Guard, sta
merchant named McCree, az the latter
attempted TO cross the Square, on his
way 10 a fire on Cary street Deceased
was halted three times, but, being very
deaf. paid no attention to the sentinel.
The latter was put in jail, but on trial
was exonerated by Captain Quarter, VINO
said the soldiers orders were TO sho0
under the circumstances. Captain Quar-
rier became very unpopular by reason
of this unfortunate circumstance and
soon after resigned and moved 10 wnat Is
now West Virginia. He had son. before
the war. senator from one OF the west
ern districts. named William Alexander
Quarter we'll known In this city. When
McCree was killed there was no fence
around the Capitol SQuare-that was add
ed nine or ten years afterwards.
This tragic affair put a stop TO furthe
celebrating on the Square that day; In
body OF deceased was tenderly cared Tor
and the people slowly dispersed to thei
homes. Deceased was standing in from
Of the Grays. 1t was thought that som
member had omitted to change his car
tridges after shooting for the medai
Two members suffered for long tim
under suspicion OF having caused the ca
tastrophe. but they were innocent. AT
terwards salute hrers were ordered &
since done so. Mr.. Browns family cam
TO Richmond TO reside after his death
and afterwards one OF his sons was Of
the police force OF this city
Years ago one OF the pieces OF the ia
yette Artillery prematurely exploded
while being loaded on the Square On
man was killed. two had their arm
blown OF, and one OF the officers made
narrow escape. AS a general thing On
Richmond cannoneers have been quite IRE
from fatal casualties.
on April n, 1870, the floor OF the Su
preme- Courtroom, In the Capitoi, teil IN
bringing down other portions OF tn
building. and killing 60 and wounding %
nersons Two defalcations at the Capito
AZ different times were followed by tn
deaths OF the implicated parties-one b.
his own hand and one by quick consump
tlOn.
A few years since citizen who mao
begun 10 exhibit signs OF mental aDer'
ration went on the Square, ana, seatihH
himself on one Of the benches ~ tns
east aide. under the tree bordering ths
walkway, proceeded his cut his throat
He died next day at the Retreat Ior the
Sick
Not many years ago one OF the most sc'
complished clerks In the Office OF tne Se'
cond Auditor, finding he could not ye'
cured for an annoying ailment, "en'
home and shot himself dead. ana u WIZ
b.. remembered that Governor fitz. Lee
private secretary. Waller by name, sno'
ana killed himself In the Governor
office. dying on sofa.