Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-04-06
Typical Mountainer Now Under
Arrest Charged With Muir.
dering His Spouse
WERE NOT LIVING ToGl TIER
Prisoner Said to Have Cursed the Wo.
man and to Have Declared That tie
Didn't Care if She Perished-senss.
tiona' Stories Are Told by The
Neiehbora.
Especial 10 The Daily Press,

No's'tiuI ~ tue l)lllN lfPSS.
RICHMOND VA. April 5.--W. j.
Thompson. II typical mounraineer. was
arrested at charlottesville today
charged with the murder of his, wife
and two children. The charred bodies
OF The three were found in The ruins
of their house ut Shadwcli. Alhemarle
county. Friday. Thompson and his
wife did not live together AMI hah had
disagreements. He denies his guilt.
MIR. Robert i.ca Smith, of Richmond
brother Of The lead wnman. las been
at Shadwell investigating tho affair
MIR. Smith. accompanied by his moth.
er-in'law. j. w. Butler, reached Char
lottesviIle early Sunday morning. hut
bcine unable Ia make conccTicn for
Shaawcll. the two were compelled to
walk AMI could net see the remains
of their rell,iveS. which had just heen
sent to the bnrying grounds. about four
miles away.
eody Viewed by Jury.
Al the coroncr's inquest. which was
held Saturday, the lody of Mrs.
Thompson was examined by DR.. Peer
man, the foreman bht no decision was
reached :.
Upon arriving at Shadwell Mrs.
Thompson's relatives lost no time in
making careful inquiry of neighhors
and friends regarding the mystery
From f. NJ. Smyth, agent at the Shad-
we'll railroad Office. it was learned that
MIR. and Mrs. Thompson had not heen
living together since Jan. 1. and up
to that time her husband had treated
her in ii very brutal manner. At one
time, 1t is said. Thonlpson's brother
held Mrs. Thompson while her hus.
band beat llerlin cruel manner. which
caused he wife 10 be confined in bed
for several weeks
After learning THIS. Robert NTH
anil Mr.. Butler made an examination
OF The burned building. but only sue.
ceeded i'll finding skull OF one of The
children and several small bones.
LNPi SoSGu bIUtDi SCRtIfncnI.
On inquiry at The home of Mrs.
Steward. tho nearest neishhor it
was learned chat The couple had not
gotten alcng well together prior TO
January; that at one time Mr.. Thomr-
son had left hi, home for his worI,
upon the. mountain nearby. and that
upon his non.arrivaI al tie time prom
iscd Mrs. Thompson undertook to
hunt for him. although the snow lay
about Two feet upon the ground She
lost he" way, and upon hearing her
cries Mr.. Thompson exclaimed: ID
her, he, would let her perish but for
his two children
AT the home of Mrs Spruce. another
neighbour, It was learned that Mr..
] thompson inntthe previous Sunday had
driven, away. Charli,, Thompson. the
1fTyear-ohl son nj .irs. Thompson by
her former marriage II also was learn
ed thai Mrs. Thompson ana her chill.
dren had spent the rprevious day with
Mrs. Spruce and had left at 6 o'clocl;
for her honp, about two miles distant.
This was the last seen Of Mrs. Thomp-
son by any Of the neighho:s.
Dragged Bodies From Debris.
4 Before leaving she invited tie chill.
dren of Mrs Spruce to spend the fol.
lowing day ut HI" house; but upon ar.
irving there The following morning lie
little ones wcr.' surprised to find The
house burned to tine ground and the
charred bodies of Mrs Thompson and
her two childre:l lying among the burn
ing em5ers. The children. however,
succeeded in dragging the bodies frcm
the debris.
Being suspicious from what he hail
learned, Mr. Sn;i!i, C communicated with
Captain Micn;ah Woods. Of Charloites.
vile, who wa:, instructed to make a
thorough investigation to find 0m1 If
murder wis committed. as. tic vii
layers seem To think.
s Mrs. Sleward said that upon her ar.
rival at the burned home she met Mr..
Thompson who did moi seam 10 be
affected aL@nn ny hiqs lncSs.F $50