The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1906-11-15
lOINGS OF THE OLD DOMlNIOA
The Latest Virginia News Told in
Short Order.

Frank Hensley, 40 years old, u
well-knOwn farmer living in the
Blue Ridge Mountains. four miles
east Of ElktOn. Rockingham County,
was shot and almost instantly killed
by Thomas Lam. first cousin Lam
used a No. > shotgun, the load en-
tering the right side and severing
the main arteries near the heart.
Hensley died within 10 minutes after
he was shot. bleeding to death be-
fore medical aid could reach him.
The murder occurred in the road
in front of Hensley's house Lam's
wife. who is a daughter OF Rev.
stephen Hensley, a well-known min
ister of the German Baptist Church.
went to Frank Hensley's house dur
ing the forenoon in spite of her hus-
bands prOtestations. Her husband
followed her several hours later and
attempted to persuade her TO come
home. She refused and it is alleged
that Lam struck her several times.
HenSley demonstrated with Lam and
told him he could not mistreat his
wife at his (Hensley's) house. Lam,
it is charged, dared Hensley to come
out into the road, which the latter
did. Lam aimed the gun at Hens
ley, and as the latter rushed upon
his assailant with the intention of
knocking the gun aside Lam pulled
the trigger. HenSley fell to the
ground and as his own son hurried
to his side to pick him up he told
the boy to leave him alone. He
never spoke after this and died soon
after he was carried into the house.
a coroner's jury returned verdict
holding Lam responsible for the muir
der.
'R. L. Hail." of Washington, was
found dead in his room in a Rich
mOnd boarding house The man is
supposed to have committed suicide
ASphyXiation was the direct cause of
his death. The man engaged a room
for the night and Immediately re-
tired after paying for the room.
The fumes of gas attracted the at
tentiOn of servants just before noon.
AS the man failed to respond to re-
Deated knocks on the door, the door
was forced. The man was discovered
dead in bed, clad only in his under
clothing. The atmosphere was dense
with gas, the key being turned on
so as to admit the full flow from the
pipe.
The only clue to his identity is
the name he wrote on the hotel reg
lister, which may be an assumed one.
Heirs at law of the late Edward
Wilson James, who bequeathed most
of his estate, valued at upward of
100000, to the University of Vir-
Sinia, announce that they will contest
the will. Numerous grounds are
advanced for the contest, one OF
1, ,f,1 a.
an Incorporated institution can re-
ceive no bequest in law, and the leav-
ing of bonds to individuals not spe-
officially described will also be at
tackled. Mr.. James left no near rela-
tiveS.
At a conference in Richmond be-
tween Acknowledgement Anderson
and Colonels Perry and Vaughan il
was decided to make requisition upon
the quartermaster generals depart
ment at Washington for $4,000 new
uniforms for the use of the State
troops. The requisition will be is
sued within the next three months
The uniforms will consist of dress
unifroms. khaki and service hats.
This will be the first time in many
years that the regular State troops
have worn full-dreSS uniforms
While several men were hunting
on Laurel Hill Farm, owned by Mr.
II. b. Chapman. about two miles
south of Woodstock, they chased
rabbit under a pile of rocks. and
in their effort to secure the game
unearthed the skeleton of a man.
1t is believed that the skeleton was
that of a Union Soldier who was
killed near the place during the
Civil War.
George Long, young white man
who was arrested at Danville several
weeks ago as an escaped convict from
the North Carolina Penitentiary. was
released from Jail by order of Judge
Aiken, of the Corporation Court, on
writ of habeaS corpus. Long es-
capped while at work on the coun-
ty roads near Reidsville, and the
night aftcrward. it is alleged, at
tempted to burn the house of an
old enemy in that town. He re-
fused to return to North Caro-
tina without extradition papers, and
Ii seems that the authorities there
have never asked for papers from
Governor Swanson.
The stockholders of the Seaboard
Air Line Railway Company held their
annual meeting in Petersburg Judge
+. l.. Watts, of Portsmouth. presided. 4
rhe following board OF dlreetoTsj
al