The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-18
lspsc,al From a stan corrssppondent.l ]

Especial From staif Correspondent
CuLPEPER, VA, September IT,
William Seal Was locked up In jail
here tonight after tie coroner's jury
had returned verdict finding that
he had lured his son-in- law to the
door Sunday night and shot him To
death. In nearby cell is Fred Jen-
kins, Seals son-in-law,g charged with
being accessory to the murder.
The two men are kept in separate
cells, for Jenkins confessed to-day that
Seal had killed Smith, after having
tried in vain to induce him (Jenkins)
to fire the shot. The father-in-law
does not know that his daughters
husband has charged him with the
murder. and Commonwealth,s Attorney
Waite does not propose to allow him
to become acquainted with the fact
at present.
The Confession of Jenkins
believed by Authorities
The authorities put faith in the cor-
fession of jenkins. AT the inquest yes
terday he did nothing but asseverate
his innocense and declare ne could
prove an alibi. 81 h
Commonwealth's Attorney. Waite pi'.
him through the stiffest kind OF
cross examination. but could elicit
nothing. A member OF the coroners
Jury. however, declared Jenkins was
weakening when lie left the stand
This morning he was resworn, and he
placed the guilt upon his wife's IA
ther IS
Seal was at once arrested Jenkins
had been under arrest since last night
Bloodhounds confirmed the story
told by jenkins. For once, hounds
used 20 trail criminals have proved en-
itirely as valuable us was hoped. They
followed the scent of Seal and jenkins
and the testimony OF the
beasts, added to that of man, appears
to have perfected the chain OF evil
dence against Seal.
DIR DR., 3. Fl. Lewis, the coroner, and
Charles NJ. Waite. the commemorative IN 3
attorney, were discouraged yesterday
at the utter futility of their investiga-s
ton The peculiarly brutal clrcu1n-
stances under which Smith was killed
had excited the entire countryside. y
crowd was gathered at the home OF the
dead man to hear the testimony being
taken with view to unravelling atne
mystery. And after hours spent In
|shearing witnesses. the only fact estah-
|lished was the assassination of smith
when he had. answered a call from the
night, leaving his wife and children.
and going to his barn and to his.
death.
testimony as to BAD Blood
Arouses Deep Suspicion
Rut the testimony of Seal yesterday.
had shown there was bad blood be-
tween him and his son-in-law. who lay
inside his cabin dead, while the jury.
sitting on the porch. We're trying to
solve the mystery of his taking OF
White the jury was sitting the un-
body to the little mountain grave
yard, a handful of mourners following
1t to the final resting place. 3s5
! nSmtth ami i tad nDt been ora ISL
friendly terms since he married my
haughtcr,'' xnid Seal. We had not
spoken nor had anything to do
with c,,ch otl,e. Itold him mt the
Grunge Colt show last year
would Kill him II he didn't keep
away from ME. hit him, too"
Seal is upwards OF fifty, i should.
| say; gri2z' led, weau ,r-beaten his
| shoulders bowed, his hands knotted
and gnarled with long years of toll,
He has had to depend on them to-
I keep meal in tho barrel for wife
and seventeen children.
@ Seal swore, he was at his home at
1 the hour Of z o'clock, when Smith
was shot down. IT amt got but one
gum he said; that is the ono my
father carried In the war
When asked as to when was the
/ last time he and Fred ~ JoIttSlhs,s WHO
I.llved With him, had talked about
Smith, Seal said he couldn't recall.
|The Woman In the Case.
Good Work OF Hioodhountls
After some unimportant questions
I had been answered, Seal said: a"Smith
tried to persuade F'red's Wife to leave.
/! him. Fred's wife told her husband
4 about 1T three weeks ago..
Persistent questioning did not brlns
A out further details OF tho attempts Of
.Ethe one son-in-iaws to ALLEVIATE the at
4 tIfections OF the wife of the other one.
l, jenkins said when put on the stand
4 that he paid no attentonsto what his
4 Iwlfe had told him aboat Snli tbs try ina
I % induce her to 80 away This waa
!, regarded as a most improba BILE part OF
II the story B2
!, A message had heen sent to Page
i county early8in the day for the two
lbloodhounds owned by that county tor
/ Euse IN trailing criminals. They arrived
! Late nj night Ii, charge of Deputy Shsr-
! Iiifs !. W,Wood and George y Lil-
Ellard The two aninNals we're conanad
4 during the night. Early this morning
!. they were alsen TO al spot where, the