The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-20
FOUL PLAY SUSPECTED.
v.r rOHD,sDEArH Is SURROUNDED
sUsPICIOUS CIKCUnSTdNCLS
ue ia said to Have Attempted Suicide
His Family Relations Were Not Oh
Happy Nature-Ihe Body Exhumed.
,,onr,co has another mystery.

Henrico has another mystery.
Tho alert officers Of the county are now
busily engaged In an attempt unravel cet-
tain suspicious circumstances connected
with the death Of W. J. FORD, resident
Of tho county, who died last Wednesday
night ana was buried FRIDAY.
In The Times OF Sunday appeared the
fonONing:
Mr.. W. j. Ford died Wednesday night
about ii clCck at ...5 nome, near uieh
Aiien, after one Jay hlncss. II - gen
...y .nVusnt that the man Was pvi-
koned. lie was IVunu IA Il sleepy condI-
ton in a chair at MS house on TUESDAY
evening, anu whcu 1t was discovered That
he was sick Or. James was sent Tor AT
once. There is an impression among
those who are acquainted with the case
that he died from poison
Just At present the officers have proven
nothing. but they have in their posses
sion sufficient Information TO justify them
in thoroughly examining into the matter
THE FACTS IN THE CASE.
The facts I'm the case are about as foi-
lows: Ford,who was an old man about sew
daughter on the estate OF Captain Johh
Cussons. near Glenn Allen. His daughter
f. married. and her husband. George
Brock. a native OF Henrico. also hved
with the family.
They are working people, Of little or no
education. Ford for some years mas not
lived happily with his wife, and last May
they separated. and he went TO I'VE with
a family named Tinslcy.
About four weeks ago lie and his wife
adjusted their differences and Ford re-
turned 70 his home.
1t was generally understood, however
that all WAS not harmony and peace WITH
in the Ford household, and 1t was even
reported that the dead mans WIFE re-
GREETING the adjustment OF their differ
enccs. had attempted 10 drive her hus-
band away on the day Of his return
Last Tuesday Or. Larrimer James was
notified by Mr.. Victor Litchfeld. one OF
the ovcrseers Of the poor, that Ford was
III.
HAD TAKEN LAUDANCM.
Or. James went to see him about noon
that day and found him suffering from
the effects OF IN overdose OF laudanum
AMI IN a cnmatose condition. He imme-
diately applied the usual remedies. and
after working on the suffering man for
twenty hours. he left him out Of danger
ard recovering. Dr. james stated that
Fords family said he had taken the
audanum with suicidal intent
II Is claimed that the old man had taken
the drug because he preferred death TO
the almshouse. as II was the intention or
Fords family 10 thus dispose OF him. DIR.
James told me that Ford had taken about
a half an ounce OF laudanum. On Thurs
dav George Brock went 10 DR. James and
stated that Ford had died Wednesday at
midnight, and asked for a death certih-
cate.
Fords family stated C Or. James that
he took the poison about o'clock Tues
day afternoon. He was alone in his room
AZ the time. lie secured the laudanum
f',ru the store OF Sidney Trevetts, at Glen
Alon
After Ford's burial. which was on Fri
dav afternoon. the people Of the neighbor-
h001 ho~ou 70 diecues the circumstances
OF his death rather freely.
THE RODY FXIUMED.
In view Of the fact that no one was
with Forl when he died but his family.
and that he had been left on the fair
road to recovery by DR.. James. Mr.. Con-
NOV r. Sands. the Commemorative At
torney. ordered that the boy be ex-
humed and an analysis made Of the
dead mans stomach This was done
10 ssusly the neighbors. who were free
IS limiting at foul play. In accordance
with the instructions OF the Common
woalths Attorney. Magistrate j. Z.
Lewis, who has the case in hand. sum-
moned a coroner's jury Yesterday after
noon and eXhumed the body. which had
been Inferred I'm the old Ford burying-
ground, on the Forest Lodge road about
two miles from Glen Allen.
The following ere the members OF
the jury: Mesrs. II. L. Carter c.. ".
Mayo, Lyd. Brooks. G.. /. Harris. W. j.
Ford, and J 4. Anderson.
The body WAS found TO be in a rather
advanced state OF decomposition. DR..
James secured the dead mans stomach.
liver and portion of his intestines.
! These he brought to the city last night
and turned them over 10 Coroner TAYLOR.
who will make the analysis. After view
ing the body Magistrate Lewis adjourned
the jury over until noon to-day, when
they viii meet at the county courthouse
TO hear the evidence in the case.
DR.. James stated to me that he had
removed all Of the laudanum from Ford's
system. and that it was possible that
his death might have been due TO the
shock. but not probable.