Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-21
NO CLUE FOUND YET.
IDENTITY or THE MURDERED
BABY Is YET UNKNOWN.
COCE-rIGHYING CASE BEFORE COURT.
Question Of Whether Game
Rooster Comes Under the Law
Against Cruelty 10 Animals
Argucd-0thcr Items


on Tuesday in a hole jsst east OF Chim.
borazo park, where its body had been
hidden by It's murderers. was buried yes
terday morning in Potter's field. and the
authorities are not yet IN possession OF
any clue that will lead to the identity oi
the person or persons who so cruelty
strangled the child to death.
An inquest was held over the remains
shortly after the body was discovered by
two young men--Messfs. Guy Sutherland
and Grover CLARKE. ana the jury. which
was composed OF Messrs. Myer Angie,
John w. McNamee. L. n. Kemp, T.. ..
Pierce. J. h. Lyme and r.. X. Gum, re-
turned the following verdict:
"An lnquisition, taken at Henrico court
house. on tho 18th day OF January, 1897.
before one William V. Croxton, Coroner
of the said county. upon the view OF the
body Of ar unknown infant (whte), there
iyiug dead. The jurors sworn 10 inquire
when. how. and by what medcs the SAID
infant came 10 its death, upon their oath
doth say that the CHILD came TO its death
by strangulation, at the hands OF par
ties unknown"
CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE DIsCOV.
cry.
The young men who found the body
both reside In. Heurico, ard about II
O'Clock or Tuesday morning they were
trudging across the field north OF Chin
borazo Park. when young Sutherland
called his companions attention TO an
unusual hooking object, which lay in a
k.fr MI nv
berry. They lifted il out. when, to their
establishment. they found twas the BODY
OF a boy baby. about Y hours old. TneN
notified Policeman Jones. who In turn
informed the county authorities and the
body was removed 10 the county court
house. The child had evidently been
dead about seven hours, and, upon eN-
animation by Dt Croxton, II was ascer-
tanned that IL had been killed by strangu-
lation Around its little neck was a
string tightly drawn, and the face was
blue, as a result OF the choking. The
neck where the string had come IN con-
tact with il was perfectly black. and
there was every evidence that the vic
lin OF the foul deed had suffered much.
The evidence adduced before the Coro
ner's jury shed no light on the case fut-
Their than to substantiate the facts above
stated. The infant had not rag OF
clothing on its back by which its identity
might be ascertained.
BABY TO BE GIVEN AWAY.
Henrico is prolific with babies just at
present. and there is now pretty litto
2-months- old boy al the County Aims
house, which is seeking home It's
mother. a country girl, who recently
charged "A saloon-keeper with having
ruined her, is now an inmate OF The AIMS
house. In that institution the child was
born. ana she is now anxious that some
well-to-do and respectable family shall
adopt him. She is too poor TO care tor IT,
and, though she is deeply attached 10 H.
she is willing to surrender 1t, in order
that II may find good home.
The Cock-Fightcrs in Court.
The County Court was engaged yester-
day in hearing argument on the motion 70
quash the indictment against the cock
fighters who were arrested at the Exposi-
tion-Grounds some months ago. and a
large crowd listened TO the discussion oil
the question, rs cock an animal?' con
Quoted in the affirmative by MIR. a. -.
Guigon for the prosecution and In the
negative by Mr.. II. NJ. Smith, Jr for the
defence.
The courtroom was crowded with those
iaterested in game chickens long before
Judge Wickham took his seat. MI
Thomas f. Vail. the defendant, and Mr..
Mitchell Hilsman, with a number Of other
owners of birds, had seats close by Or.
J. b. Wood, Mr.. f.. c. Taylor, and other
members of the Society for the Proven
ton of Cruelty 10 Animals.
Mr.. Smith opened the argument, and in
a very humorous fashion contended that
II was not cruelty 10 animals to fight
ion
Mr.. Smith admitted for the sake of trgu-
mont that 1t was scientifically correct TO
designate a cock as an animal. 'All au-
thorities point that way" he said. ANY
thing capable of voluntary motion, that
breathes, and has a stomach for the re-
ception of food is an animal. / contend
however, that the language and provisions
OF the statute indicate that the Legisa-
ture did not design to include game
cock In the list of animals. cruelty TO
which is punishable by law"
CHLOROFORM HIS OYSTERS.
"Shan 1t be said" he continued, that
my aesthetic friend, Mr.. Guigon, shall not
impals a butterfly. or that my scientific
but practical friend. DR.. Wood shall not
drown a litter of kittens? III, sir, things
have come TO this pass, then my epico-
rean friend Mr.. Solomon Geferrlng TO the
RtEfdi SntfluD must CulOi Oioi III hiS W =
tiers at Rueger's before he swallows them,
or submit to the dire penalty Of the law.
Captain Guigon made dienhed and
earnest reply. and spoke at some length
sn behalf of the society's contention that
cock-hghters were amonable TO the law
therefor. He cited numerous authorities
10 bear out his contention that the law
prohibiting cruelty to animals covered
cock -ighting.
Judge Wickham paid strict attention 10
both gentlemen, and when the argument
was concluded, said he would reserve his
decision until the next term In order that
ne might have time TO consider the points
involved and the authorities bearing on
he case.
other Items from the County.
The case OF Isaiah Ross, charged with
forgery, was then taken up. on motion
pf his counsel, Mr.. Beverage. and the
demurrer to the indictment was sustained
Ind the case dismissed.
The case OF John Leahman, charged
With obstructing voters at Smither's Pre-
sinct. came up before Squire Vincent.
Charles Thomas, at whose instance a
warrant against Leahman was sworn
but. declined to give bond for the costs
Of the case and Squire Vincent ac-
eordingly. dismissed 1t.
The Seven Pines Charcoal Club held
It's first meeting Monday night at its
new and elegant hall This club in
c,udes a number Of Henrico's most
prominent citizens. The object for
which the club is founded. according TO
lts declaration of principles, is for So