Richmond planet., 1896-05-30
MANCHESTER ITEMS.
THE CRUEL MURDER
ON THE BRIDGE.
The Body Found.
The ALUMNI BANQUET.
a Grand Time at the Build
ing.
INTERESTING NOTES GATHERED
HERE AND THERE.
Personals and Briefs.
MANCHESTER. Va, May 81, '96.

MANCHESTER, VA, May 81, '96.
During the dark, cloudy and Silly
hours of last Saturday morning, while
many were resting in peaceful slum-
ber, and the "land of nod was all in
a dream. between the hours of 2 and 8
O'Clock, Mr.. Barney Perry was launch
ed into eternity by some of the most
cowardly and brutally hands of hu-
man beings. He was horribly beaten
over the head on Mayo's bridge and
thrown into the James river lust three
spans from the city of Richmond.
Perry was an employee of Mr.. @. A
Jones, who Keeps a grocery store in
the lower part of our city-better
known as "Skinnersviile. Perry was
well-known and was greatly entrusted
by Mr.. Jones.
Only one arrest has been made Cup
TO this writing) and that was Joseph
N. Barker, white Manchesterian.
BARKER's STATEMENT.
To a Leader" man; Barker said
that he and Perry went over TO Rich
mond on the car together last night,
and that they took several drinks to-
gether. Perry, he says, sat down on a
door step on Main street and went TO
sleep, when a police officer. who hap
pened along, tapped him lightly with
his club. This seemed to frighten
him and he ran down Fourteenth
street toward the bridge. Barker call
ed to him to come, but he paid no at
tention. Barker claims that this is the
last he saw of him."
Joseph N Barker was the last person
seen with Perry on that night. He it
was with white face drank with the
black faced man (no doubt off of his
Perry'sl money! on that night. He il
was that road to Richmond on the car
with Perry. He it was that strolled
the streets of Richmond with that col
ored man drinking here and there un-
til he lPerryl fell asleep on door
step on Main street. He was the man
that waited while Perry slept and he
was the last man seen with Perry on
| that night.
Does this seem reasonable that Bark
er could prove an alibi2 Could such
n statement stand the tests of the
court? Where are our courts of JUS
tice? Should the murderers of this
man go "scott free" and the case 90
into oblivion? Echo answers, "No."
The body of Perry was brought to
our city last Monday evening. It was
| found floating on the river near Rich
mond Cedar Works by two fishermen
about 8 80 O'Clock BY much difficulty,
| Undertaken James H. Cunningham Sc
cured the body in the afternoon, and
at O'Clock placed it in the rear of his
establishment.
/ AS soon as it was learned that the
body of the drowned man was on its
way to Manchester in charge of Capt.
Cunningham. people were seen in large
Il a al mir Iv 70 ho
| takers establishment. The news
spread like wild fire throughout the
city. Hundreds of people, both white
and colored, viewed that body which
had swollen twice its size. 1t seemed
as if his throat was cut and in the side
of his head was large hole. He was
buried last Tuesday morning.
1t is earnestly hoped by the citizens
of Manchester that the brave John
Mitchell, Jr., will turn every stone
in this so-called mysterious murder
case and not rest content until the
guilty party or parties have received
their just reward.
THE ALUMNI BANQUET.
| On Friday night, the 22nd inst, the
Public School building was brilliantly
lighted, and one of the grand scenes
happened which only takes place once
every year, the Banquet of the Alum.
nj Association. The members anC
visitors commenced to assemble a
about 8 o'clock, and then it was tha
the chit-chat and walks OF the evening
engaged the attention of all present
The beautiful ladies and gentlemen
were attired in their evening dresses
Promptly at II o'clock the grand
march was played by Miss Malinda F
Harris and the master of ceremonies
Mr. VIM. Moon led the guests &
the heavily ladened table, where tht
following menu was served:
Boiled Smithfield ham, leg of lamb
caper sauce; potted tongue, mixeC
pickle, potato salade de laitue. Wien
ma loaf bread, cream crackers. De
sert: Pound cake, sponge, cthelo
french kisses, lady fingers, macaroons
tmixed candy, ice cream-peach, va
nilla, strawberry. Oranges, bananas
nuts, raisIns, English cheese, coffee
chockOlate.
Toasts were responded to by the fol
lowing persons: Our Alumni, Messrs
John r. Cogbill and s. Decatur Phil
lips; Our Profession, Mr.. G. l.. Win
free; Our Ladies, DIR. w. f. Atkin
and Mr.. John Baker; Our Gentlemen
: Misses Leila Johnson, Etna Moon, Lu
la Baker and Laura +. Hopson; Ou
School, Mr.. T. ID. Atkins Our Reli
2 gion, Mr.. Gordan @. Coleman; Goo
u Society, Mr.. q. VIM. Moon.
After the appetite of all had bee
satisfied, they returned to the bar
= queting hall and listened to sweet me-
odious music of the mandolins an
guitars. AS the early hours of NOR
put in their appearance, the guest
lcould be seen vending their wa
u through the darkness to their sewers
II homes.
VI Committee of arrangements: Messr
/. w. L. Deane. chairman; j. II. Holmes
n secretary Charles H. Robinson, Miss
It es Winnie s. Blackwell, Lille r. Hicl
i man and Lucy J. Winfree.
The following officers were electe
at the annual business meeting of tn
Alumni:-John r. Cogbill. president
Lucy ]. Winfree, 1st vice-presideni
Lewis M. Scott, 2nd vice-president
E. Armstead, secretary Alma Thoml
II son, treasurer; M. +. Washington, co
f responding secretary.
{. The dedicatOrial services at the 1
al Baptist Church were we'll attended.
IL Mr.. Richard T. CogbilI, Sr.,
" somewhat indisDOsQd this week