Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-27
his, CONDITION is CRITICAL.
Christmas Day Ono of tho Most Riotous
Seen in Many Years-Death of MIR. Will
iamJ. Mcdowell christmas
Collector Rogers Doputy-nIr. Walter
Martin Dies of His Injuries-Dr. Collins
Dead-piamond Ring Recovored-Tho
Observation-Disclosures upt,ais.
Especial to virginian-Pilot.)
sSlvssS MAG

Richmond, Va, Dec. 26.-Benjamin
II. Franklin, popular young travelling
man for the Fleming Christian Grocery
Company, lies in a critical condition
at his home here. as the result of an
encounter with number of drunken
negroes last night. Five Of the ne
groes are in Jail to await the result of
his injuries
Mr.. Franklin was walking up Broad
street last night, when he became in
volved in an alteration with the ne
groes One of them drew a pistol and
shot him in the hip, following 1t up by
slash of knife across his abdomen,
inficting a terrible wound.
The police quickly put an end to the
row and landed the negroes in the sta
tion-house. Five OF the most skillful
to attend young Franklin and every
thing possible has been done for him,
but his chances for recovery are poor.
A RIOTOUS DAY.
Yesterday was one of the most riot
Gus days seen here in many years.
There was more drunkenness than ever
before and a number Of alterations,
although none OF them resulted Sc
riously, except in the case of Mr..
Franklin. It is said that the favorite
tipple was eggnog. and that this year
the ingredients used were much strong
er than usual.
VIM. MCDOWELL DEAD.
Mr.. William ]. Mcdowell, for years a
leading coal dealer here, and at one
TIME a member of the City Council,
died last night in the Goth year of his
age. Mr.. Mcdowell was paralyzed just
one year ago to the day, but had APP
parently almost recovered his usual
health.
He was at one time the proprietor of
Huguenot Springs. Powhatan county,
place celebrated as u summer resort.
He married a Miss Cleveland. who
with the following children survive
him:
Messrs. John G. Mcdowell, of East
Richmond; Edward Mcdowell, Afford
Mcdowell, clerk of the council commit
tee, and Willie Mcdowell, all of this
city. and Mrs. Justice, of Powhatan;
Mrs. John G. Epps, of Glen Allen, and
Mrs. Charles Lambert, of Raleigh.
N. c.
THE GOVERNORS CHRISTMAS.
Governor Tyler was at his desk in
the executive office today hard at work
on routine official matters. He says he
spent Christmas Day quietly, but very
happily with his family at the man
sion. all of his children being present.
key for dinner yesterday, which was
sent him by his friend, Judge S. Hous
ton Letcher, of Lexington, and which
he says was one of the finest he ever
saw.
Governor Tyler has declined to take
any further action in the case of Vester
Griffin, the negro who is condemned to
hang in Danville for murder. Upon the
urgent request Of Colonel George c..
Cabell, Jr., counsel for Griffin. the Gov
ernor recently granted a respite of two
weeks in order to look further into
Griffins application for executive inter
ference.
The respite will expire on Friday.
upon which day Griffin will hang, the
Governor having been unable to find
any good reason why he should COM
mute the sentence to Imprisonment in
the penitentiary.
Governor Tyler has not begun his
message to the extra session of the leg
islature. and stated today that he had
not given the matter any thought as