Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-02
THINK HE is INSANE.
sEroRMAToRy INMATES BELIEVE
rorsuEE TO DE DEMENTED.
IL DECLARES THAT He Is NOT.
Douflictinu stories AS to How the
Fatal blow Was Dealt TO Guard
Tinsley-Nr Roosevelt Page TO De-
fcnd the Boys.

fcnd the Boys.
Charles Fouchoe, the boy inmate OF the
Laurel Refcrmatory, Who, according 10
his own statement. given before the Coro-
ners jury and that OF oye-witnesses. so
bntally murdered Mr.. Edward Tlnsley'
,ne of the guards at the reformatory'
may escape punishment for his crime as
there is probability OF the plea Of In
sanity being made In his behalf.
Superintendent Sampson. OF the re-
formatory. was in the city yesterday TO
testify before the United States Circuit
Court IN another case. and while here
called upon several members Of the Var
sinia Prison Association, and told them
that he was now practically convinced
that Fouchee was crazy. lie had not no
ticed any symptoms of craziness in the
boy himself. but. then, he had not been
thrown much with him, but since the
killing he had received information from
number Of the boys who associated with
Fouchee which led him 20 believe that the
lad had for some time been afflicted with
insanity. The boys AT the institution say
that Fouchee talked necessarily OF great
things ne expected 10 do, and that on
one occasion he exhibited a toy pistol
with when nc announced in solemn man
ner that ne was going TO Nil a whole
company Of soldiers.
MIR. PAGE TO DEFEND THEM.
Mr.. Sampson while here made arrange
ments for Mr.. Roosevelt Page to defend
Fouchee and Frank Jordan. the boy who
is charged with having been his accom-
plice in the murder. and Mr.. Page had
consultation with his clients yesterday
morning, cOunselling them not 10 talk too
much about their cases.
a Dispatch man called on the two bows
in the jail yesterday. but before he could
gain admittance 10 their apartment he
had first TO promise Deputy-Sheriff Fus-
sell that he would refrain from talking
TO them about their case. The converse
ton was. therefore very limited I'm rs
scope, and Fouchee was questioned only
as 10 whether he had ever before been
accused of insanity. He got rather indig-
nant when told that he was considered
crazy. but admitted that the boys at the
refprmatory had frequently said he was
crazy He told the Dispatch man, how
ever, that he was not at all insane. and
his conversation, which was entirely ra-
tional. certainly bore him out in his state
ment. He really appears 10 have mere
sense than the ordinary boy of his age,
but he appears TO be hardened i'm crime,
and he really treats the killing as a huge
joke He was not questioned about the
murder, and seemed not at all disposed TO
discuss il, but Jordan was very loqua-
cious. and wanted TO tell all about the
affair.
THEY LAID a PLOT.
It was the duty of Mr. Tinsley. with
his force Of boys. TO gather feed and
give 10 the hogs Immediately after going
ont in the afternoon. When his force
was called out after dinner on Friday,
Fouchee, who had been employed in the
collar-shOp asked to be sent out on the
farm. He was told to go with Nr
Tinsley's boys. 1t is alleged that while
at work at the hog-pen Shovellng dirt
Fouchee and Jordan made plot 10 kill
Mr.. Tinsley with a shovel and run
away. but for some cause did not carry
IL out. After attending 10 his regular
duties Mr.. Tinsley took his boys to the
house just in the rear OF the laundry,
and began stripping some oak posts TO
build G shed with. giving three Of his
largest boys an axe apiece. and put the
Others to holding the poles. They were en-
ployed about half an hour. when, accord
ing 10 one of the stories told. FOuchee,
who was at work on the centre pole.
while Mr. Tinsley had his hack TO the
boys bending over 10 look into a barrel.
stepped over one Of the other poles and
cut his victim on the head cutting
cash through the skull from behind the
right ear 10 the centre of the head Mr..
Tinsley raised up, but fell back. and the
boy. dropping his axe, caught Mr.. Tinsley
In his arms. holding him up 20 prevent
his falling until Mr.. Baker, another off,
Ger. who was about ten steps away, work
ing his force came to his assistance.
The boy started 70 run, but only went
n Few steps He insisted that he did not
intend to Kill the guard.
SENTIMENT AGAINST THE LAD.
The case Is attracting a great deal of
attention in Richmond and Henrco, and
sentiment is strongly against Fouchee.
Mr.. Tinsley was very popular in the
neighborhood in which he lived and no
doubt is now entertained at the reforma-
tory that the killing was not intentional.
II Is said that Jordan stated before he
was brought to Richmond that Fouchee
told him he was going TO cut Mr.. Tinsley
with the axe. and that he replied, "Do
as you like. l don't care" 1t was on
these grounds that Jordan was arrested,
though he said as soon as arrested that
he had no idea that Fouchee really in
tended committing the act
Magistrate Vaughan will investigate
the case at the county, court house to-day
az noon.
News from the County Court-HOuse.
Henry Jones. a negro lad, is a prisoner
at the county Jail. charged with having
attempted 10 shoot Willie Starke His
face is very much dishgured. as the re-
suit OF injuries he received while at
Tempting to point the pistol at Starke
who. being 10th 10 receive Jones's shot
used a coal-scuttle in most effective
manner The ARRAY occurred In James
Davis's bar-room, on Brook avenue -Just
across the bridge.
Marriage licenses were issued by the
Clerk OF the County Court yesterday TO-
T.. w. SOmermann and Miss Maria l..
+. Hermann; william II. Briel and Miss
Matilda p. Ripper; John j. Browning
and Miss Marian Il. Ford.
To BE Examined for Fireman.
Tha I-pfted gtafes civil Service Com