Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-02

~
of school Children, Seriously
.woundinE one-1ndenendent Out
for .conEress-other Notes.
PETERSBURG, October 1.-(special.)-
Miss Victoria Drake, aged about 80 years
met horrible death by fire at her homs
4 on Rose street. this morning, and tho
facts in the case indicate deliberate sui
eide. Miss Drake lived alone, but was
we'll known to the people generally IN
her section Of the town. It Is said that
her health was not good, and that re.
Gently she had shown symptoms of de-
spondency and mental trouble. There are
those who say that at times she had
declared that she did not care to live,
and that she might end her life. But
no one thought she was sincere in what
she said. az it was not known that she
J had any secret trouble.
| HOW SHE PLANNED DEATH.
I This morning, about o'clock, she was
seen to leave her home with an oil can
In her hands and soon afterwards re-
| turn. She spoke to no one in the neigh
borhood and no one particularly noticed
! her. It was subsequently learned that
she went to a store on High street and
purchased half a gallon Of kerosene.
| She entered her house, closed the door,
and calmly prepared for death. Drawing
| her bed to a position that it might catch
| the draft from the window, she got on
the bed, poured the oil all over the
| bedding and over her own body, and then
| struck match and kindled the blaze.
| in
| but apparently made no outcry, though
her suffering must have been Intense
The neighbors had their attention at
| tracted to the house by the volume Of
smoke issuing from 1t. They broke in
| through the door to ascertain the cause
and to render assistance, but were hor-
rihed at the spectacle that met their
gaze Lying, on the burning bed. nude
and terribly burned, was the dead body
| Of the unfortunate woman drawn arid
| showing evidence of death in great
agony.
| The fire was extinguished with but lit
| tie damage to the house. and the Coroner
was notified of Miss brakes death, and
the circumstances attending 1t. The facts
Of self-destruction being so plain, an in
quest was deemed unnecessary.
PARHAM-WILLIAN1S.
at the residence Of her brother, Mr..
W. c. Kevan, on Jefferson street. at $50
O'Clock this afternoon, Miss Mary Evelyn
Parham was married to Mr. Paul E. vii.
| liams. Rev w S. Foster, of the First
Presbyterian church, officiating. It was
a quiet but very beautiful home mar
riage. The bride is charming and love
ly young lady, and very popular. The
groom is prominent and successful
businessman and manufacturer of this
city.
THE TELEPHONE. CONSOLIDATION
11s.s A.
Mutual Telephone companies in this city
and their merging under the name of
the Petersburg Telephone Company, the
public will be benefited by a better and
more extensive service. The two COM
panies have between LOCO and 1900 pa
irons in Petersburg. Their long distance
lines extend to Richmond with Gomez
tons to many points beyond that city.
The Mutual Company has built lines OUT
through the counties adjacent to Peters
burg, and has in contemplation fur
ther extension of these lines to all I'M
portnnt points in this section. The exact
details of the consolidation will probably
be made officially at an early day.
MALICIOUS ACT
While the children of East Ward Schoo;
were at play in the yard during the noon
recess to-day rock was thrown among
them by negro youth named Everett
Pelham. between Is or II years, who had
evidently concealed himself nearby for
the malicious purpose of injuring some
Of them. The roc.A struck Bernard Par
ham. son of Rev. E. P. Parham, pas
tor OF Blandford Methodist Episcopal
church, knocking him down and inflict-
ing painful wound on the back of the
head. The act caused intense excitement
for awhile. and number OF the boys |
noticing the direction whence the rock
came. started in pursuit of the thrower
The negro fled and escaped, but he was
recognized, and was subsequently arrest
ed and Jailed by Police Officer George
Niece
Master Parham was painfully hurt, and
mad to be taken to the Home for the
Sick to have his wound dressed He was
subsequently sent to his home
ARREST OF A RICHMONDER.
AS he stepped from an electrician, Just |
IN from Richmond, to-day a young man
named Wesley 8. Watkins. who says he
lives on Barton Heights was taken IN |
charge by Police Officers Heelan and |
Eanes. The arrest was made on request
from Richmond, and on the charge of
suspected robbery. Watkins was held in
custody until the arrival of Officer Wright
from Manchester, who carried him back
for trial
AN INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE,
In card from Kempis, Va, published
this morning in the n1dex-Appeal, T. r.
Vaughan announces himself an independ-
emit candidate for Congress in the Fourth
District. The candidate is comparative
~ unknown here, though he is said to he
a citizen OF Amelia county, the home
also of the Democratic nominee, Hon. r.
6. Southell- So far as can be learned
the Republicans will not put up a candi-
date in this district
DEATH OF MEXICAN WAR VET.
,ERAN.
Mr.. Richard Fl. Westmore, an old and
citizen, died last night at his
residence, on Old street He was about
IS years old. and for some years past,
by reason of impaired health and feeble
sight, had not been engaged in business.
He was man OF high character and an
and consistent Christian. He
caves wife, whose devotion to him IN
ais decling years was noble and beau
iful
Mr.. Westmore was a veteran of the
Mexican war. being mustered into SER
nee with Captain F. H. Archer's Com
9any in 1876, and mustered out in 1S49
0f that gallant company OF eighty-flve
rave young mon but three now sur
'ive-Mr. David Shields, Mr.. Joseph II.
Sarter. and Mr.. Edwin Spotswood-all