The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-10-30
AFTER MANY YEARS
Mary and Joe Wilson, Alleged Murderers,
Arrested and Jailed.
THE DETAILS OF IHE BRUTAL CRIME,
The Victim was DIR. e. H. Riggan
Mecklenburg County-Good Work
OF Constable Northumberland
Were Out for tho Arrest.

Were Ont for tho Arrest.
Mary and Joe Wilson, both colored,
have been arrested by Constable Ben
5amin McKown, Of Lambert's Point,
charged with a murder committed five
years ago near Shaws store, in Neck
lenburS county. and both are safe be-
nina the bars In the county Jail at Ports
mouth. The murder which is still fresh
III the minds of the residents of the
county. was one of the most cold-blood-
ed in the history of Virginia.
The victim was DIR. l.. II. Riggan, aged
about 90 years, who was employed in
the general stores of Mont Bracy in
Mecklenburg county, and who was the
possessor of a $4,000 fortune.
One dark night. it is charged, Mary
and Joe Wilson and q negro boy about
II years of age, called at Bracy's store.
The boy was sent inside under the pre-
tense of making purchase, and while
the OLD mans back was turned he was
dealt u powerful blow on the back of
the head with n club He fell to the
floor in n heap and died in about five
minutes from fractured skull.
The murderers then took his body. sat
1t upright in a chair, covered it with a
sheet and then fled.
The next morning, when the crime was
discovered, the people were wrought up
TO high pitch of excitement and posses
were at once formed. Armed men
secured the country and 1t was not long
before the negro boy was captured, but
Wilson and his wife could not be found
Blood stains found on the boys clothes
told that he was party to the crime,
but he refused to make u statement. He
was taken to a tree, n rope put around
his neck and he was swung up. his body
being completely perforated with bull
lets.
The enraged mob searched In vain for
the wilson's and the town once more
resumed its wonted tranquility.
The Governor of Virginia offered a re-
ward of 5000 for the capture of the pair.
winch was supplemented by the citizens
OF warren county, y. c., which is Just
across the Virginia State line and close
TO the scene of the murder. The Wilson's
are known to have been in Baltimorc
Philadelphia and New York, and about
Two years ago came to Lambert's Point
where they took up their residence, Joe
securing work as n railroad hand and
MS wife, Mary, doing odd jobs.
bout three months ago Officer Nc
Nown got information which led him to
believe the Wilson's were the same par
Ties wanted in Mecklenburg county. He
Swallowed them from day to day, and
when few days ago he received n let
ter from Deputy Sheriff Howard Allen,
wilson's at I.ambert's Point were the
parties wanted he set about plans for
their arrest
Last Friday night McKown, Consta-
bic Carmine. Of Norfolk county, and half
dozen men went to the house of the
wilson's. which is situated in o. dark
patch of woods near the house of Mr..
w. j. Conover The men waited until
the couple had retired and the men sur
rounded the house, while NIcKown and
Carmine raped on the door. Unsus-
pectng, Joe Wilson opened IL. and was
| wit I, Il
revolver. and told to consider himself
under arrest for the murder of Dr. Rig
gan. In the meantime Carmne had
rushed upstairs and with a pistol point
ing in her face, his wife, Mary, was also
told she was wanted. Neither appeared
to show any emotions other than hang
ing their heads Both We're handcufrcd
and taken to the ferry and then to
Portsmouth and locked up in the county
jail. On the way over the river the
woman asked McKown If the people Of
Mecklenburg had proof positive that
they We're the murderers, because IL they
had not they would never be convicted
Mr.. McKown told her they did not have
positive evidence, but that he did
The woman trembled like a leaf and
muttered: ooh, Lord, it's all over"
After their arrest McKown found six
teen people at Lambert's Point who
made aiiidavits that they were at
Shaw's postoffice at the time of the MUIR
DER ana knew positively that Wilson
and his wife were the slayers of Dr.
RigGan.
The murderers object was robbery.
but only SO was secured. DIR. Riggin had
no known relatives and Mr.. Bracy took
charge of his money.
The Wilson's have had frequent quar-
rels and on one occasion, when his wife
scalded him with hot water, Joe said he
would have her arrested, but the wife
threatened to tell all about the murder
If he did, and the incident was allowed
to drop
Mr.. McKown has written to the De-
putty Sheriff at Warren county of the
arrests and expects to carry the pris-
| oners back to the scene of their crime
next Saturday.
Already threats of lynching the pair
| on their arrival have been made. and
McI<own expects trouble. The jail is
very unsafe at Shaw's store, and the
prisoners will have to be taken TO an
other place for safe keeping.
The woman virtually admits they
committed the murder, but throws the
| whole blame on her husband. Joe is
about 80 years old, OF gingerbread color,
| stands five feet six inches high and
weighs 140 pounds. His wife Mary is
about 45 and very large women, with
vicious features.
/