The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1907-04-18
]OINGS OF THE. OLD DOMINION
The Latest Virginia News Told in
Short Order

Nj. r. Stars, who made sensa-
donal escape from the state peniten-
tiary in June, has been arrested in
Mansfield, o. He was taken up
there few days ago, charged with
having robbed. a jewelry store. Vir-
ginia will take steps at once to re-
cover the prisoner.
The grand jury in the United
states Court at Danville returned in
dictments against William e. Rakes
and Grover Beamer, two young white
men of Patrick County for the muir
der OF Ann Hall, an aged white wom-
an, and for murderous assault on
Jane Hall, her sister. Rakes has
been arrested, but Beamer is at
large. The murder Of Ann Hall was
one of the most brutal crimes ever
committed in this section Ann and
Jane Hall resided together in n cot
tage near CHARITY, about 80 milcs
miles from Stuart, with their nephew.
Pete Hall, is years old. Non sun
day night. March "a, a mob of
men, armed with shotguns, surround
ed the house and riddled the build
ing with bullets. Ann Hail. who
was 60 years of age, was shot to
a room attired in her nightclothes.
Her sister. who is about so years of
age, was shot in the arm, but was
not fatally hurt.
A state of excitement somewhat
AKIN to terror exists at Primers Point
and another suburb of Portsmouth
as result Of frequent assaults,
highway robbery and setting fire to
fl.rrv-- u
tile efforts were made to start fires
that might have been particularly
disasterous. Rags satuated with oil
had been placed beside the buildings
ignited
J. c. Apperson, an aged Justice OF
the Peace, from Matthews County,
was recently murderously assaulted
and robbed at Primers Point while
going to visit at the home of his
son. He was knocked senseless by
his assailants and upward of $50
was taken from him.
Harry B. Earnest, son of Doctor
and Mrs. DE-. Earnest, of Port Nor
folk, "a years of age, was killed by
the explosion of a locomotive boiler
In Mojave, CAL according to tele-
graphic advices received in Norfolk.
OSOA L. AuQISNS, lOT attempting
to defraud the United States in rails
ing 50 silver certificate to $40.
pleaded guilty when his case was
called for hearing in the United
States District Court at Richmond.
Judge Waddill then sentenced him
to serve five years in the State peni-
tentiary at Atlanta. Ga, and fined
him $500.
The twelfth annual convention OF
the American Funeral Benefit AS
sociation of the Junior Order of Unit
ed American Workmen was held in
Lynchburg, so delegates being pres
ent, most of them from Washington
and Maryland. Reports show the !
association to be in a healthy con-
dition, with $4,000 in the treasury
The custom of annual meetings was
changed SO that the body will meet
biennially in the future. The next
meeting will be at Bristol, Tenn, in
April, 1909. The officers elected
are: President, H. T. Brown, of
Baltimore; vice president, Daniel L.
Derr, of Baltimore; secretary, Miss
Lillian johnson, of Baltimore; treas
urer, J. H. Conner, of Baltimore
Gen. Lawrence Simmons Baker,
who fought in nearly a hundred bat
ties, died at his home in Suffolk.
The end came shortly before
o'clock A. M. General Baker had
been an invalid for two years and
had heen helpless from paralysis
since January %. Having gradu-
ated from West Point in 1851, Gen
eral Baker was a lieutenant in the
United States Army at the breaking
out of the Civil War. when he sur
rendered his commission and enter
ed the Confederate Army. He
fought with valor through the Civil
War. He was made a brigadier-
general at the battle of Brandy Sta
ton. He is said to have been the
only Southern officer who was ere
ated a general on the field. His
chief service in the United States i
Army was in fighting Indians. He
had seen service In nearly every
State and Territory. General Baker
was married in 1855 to Miss Eliza
beth l.. Henderson; OF Salisbury, N.
c. He is survived by his widow, one
daughter, Miss Elizabeth Baker, who
was born at Raleigh, n. c.; two
sons--Alexander. II. Baker, born In
Mexico, but now Sheriff OF this coun-
ty, and Stuart Baker, of Norfolk.
He leaves also two sisters. both liv-
ing in North Carolina. and two
grands2hs, both of Portsmouth,, Va
Genera Reker was SpKQlk's agent