The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1907-06-13
DOINGS OF THE OLD DOMINION
The Latest Virginia News Told in
Short Order.

George G. Fairfax, who was held
In the jail at Fairfax Courthouse.
tor the murder of Isaac F. Wood
yard, which occurred at Farr Post
oi1ce. near Clifton, Fairfax County.
committed suicide at the jail at Fair
TAX by taking a large dose of strych-
nine, which he had concealed in his
clothes since his arrest. The taller
discovered his plight early in the
morning, and Fairfax admitted hav-
!ng taken the drug. Two physicians
were summoned, but their efforts
proved futile. Fairfax had been de-
spondent since the murder. It is
said that his mind is impaired Fair
tax Killed woodward after a dispute
over the location of the polls of the
coming congressional primary. Fair
FAX was 3S years old, and, besides his
widow, leaves several children
James King was hanged at Pearls
burg, Giles County, Friday, for the
murder of Charles b. Early last Sep
tember. Early was a foreman of
track construction on the Norfolk
and Western Railway and ordered
king away from a gang. King left,
Dut returned later, armed with q re-
volver, and shot Early dead
Gov. Swanson received an invita-
tion from the Tammany Society OF
New York inviting him to attend
their Fourth of July celebration and
TO make an address on that occasion.
Joe Baugh, young white man,
was acquitted in the Corporation
Court at Danville of the murder Of
Ellen Elliott, a negro woman who
was killed near the city limits on the
night Of April 90, while she was
masquerading in male attire, a garb
she adopted to spy on her lover. The
woman became involved in a quar-
rel with a crowd of white boys, who
knocked her down and beat her to
death. Baugh confessed that he
stabbed the woman with a knife
over six inches long, severing her
lungs. The boys entered a plea of
self-defense, it being alleged that the
woman was firing at them with
pistol.
Martin Jones, Joseph Stringfellow,
and Leroy Turner, three negroes,
confined in the Loudoun County Jail
for malicious assaults, made their
escape, and though their absence was
soon discovered. they were not re-
captured. The escape was made by
yard, where all the prisoners are
allowed. The wall is about twelve
feet high at the point where they
escaped.
While entering Lynchburg at
A. M. a passenger train from the
West, on the Norfolk and Western
ran over a broken rail, throwing the
baggage and express cars down a
fifty-foot embankment on the brink
of Blackwater Greek. Express Mes.
senger w. E. Ward, of Bristol, and
Baggagemaster B. c.. Walker, who
were in the cars, escaped with slight
bruises. The passengers were un.
hurt, and resumed their journey
soon afterward.
Henry c. Heckler, ex-Treasure- OF
81 Henrico County; who was summoned
by the Board of Supervisors TO set
tie with the county in accordance
with the report made on the treas
ury books by the Messrs. Boudar,
expert accountants, appeared before
the board and gave his check for
the amount due. According to the
Boudar report Mr.. Hechler owed
Henrico $16,1O1.52, the amount: be-
ing nearly equally divided between
tho school and county boards,
Mrs. Rounsdell, wife of Mai.
Rounsdell, of Washington, ID. O.,
slipped and fell on the stone steps
of the courthouse in Leesburg, break
ing her right hip. Mr.. and Mrs.
Rounsdell are the guests of Judge
]. D. McCabe.
The Court of Appeals at Wythe-
vile granted a writ of error In the
case Of the Commonwealth againN
John w. Richards, who stands. eonS-
victed of the murder of Marice Ku.
Francis, of Roanoke, from ambush in
Floyd County, on July t9; 1905,
while the latter was en- route TO VISIT
his financee, Miss Grace Link Rich
ards also was a suitor for the young
lady's hand. Richards had three
trials, the testimony I'm each being
purely circumstantial. Two, Floyd
County juries disagreed, each stand-
ing seven for conviction and five for
acquittaI. A third jury, selected from
Patrick County, rendered verdict
of murder in the first degree. and
fixed the punishment at DEATH
Judge Moffet sentenced him TO hang.
on January last. The case will
now be argued before the court sacd
should a majority sustain the writ
: a fourth trial will be orderedU''. I'm
the event the writ is not sustained he
will be resenteneed and hanged with
sn one month of the date of the de-
siaion Sinca the second trial his