Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-12-04
MAN AND WOMAN DIED
IN DARK OLD DUNGEON
mouldy Bones and Rusty Pan indi-
cate Tragedy Occurred Many Years
Ago, But No Solution OF the Mystery
Has Been Offered Even by Oldest
Residents.

hlCf NUM-, ' "a, Dtt. ohSAS
tons were found last evening in a
sealed dungeon ten feet below the
surface of the street by workmen de-
molishing the cid building at Cover
ror and Ross streets.
Under a bricked over trapdoor they
found the CHASTITY remains of what
this morning proved to be two human
skeletons.
The bones were. covered with mould
and were crumbling to pieces with
age. but by the dim light of Ian
Tern it was asceTtained that one heap
of bones repre- scented the skeleton OF
man. the other that OF woman.
Not the slightest clue was furnished
as 10 their identity or age. The damp
mould was thoroughly examined for
buttons or pieces OF jewelTy. but moth
Ing was found save small fragment
of cloth and several wisps Of reddish
brown hair.
The cell Is of solid brick construc-
ton. even the floor being paved. 1t
is divided into two connecting cham
bers. The door leading through the
roof had been sealed down. no one
knows how many years ago, and brick
paving laid over it. The walls drip
with a foul dampness, spiders. long
dead, have spun their webs, which
now hang wet and mouldy in the
brick corners, while a shiny green
moss covers parts OIL the floor.
In Different Chambers.
In one OF the chambers lies the
skeleton of the woman. The mans
skeleton is in the other. BY the re-
mains of the woman was found the
rusted remains Of what appeared to
have been an old iron dish or frying
pan.
Some distance frcm the skeleton
was found parts Of the skull which
had been dragged away by rats. Sew
erai teeth picked up indicate tnst the
woman was very young. the teeth be-
ing quite sharp, smooth and exec ilent-
" preserved. Lying near this skeie-
ton were found the skulls of two
'enormous rats, which had been dead
so lcng that only the heavier bones
remained.
AS to how these two people-this
man and woman-came Into the cell.
as 10 their death and the probable
causes Of 1t, speculation is staggered
The house near which they were
found dates back to the middle Of the
last century and has served as .
dwelling. hotel, club. hospital and
tenement.
When built the house was In the
most fashionable residential district
Of the city, but this changed later in
to the business section as the CITY
moved westward. until the old house
ceased TO be used as a dwelling. Pass
ing through various hands IL was mo-
ally practically Misunderstanding all
the while its secret Of the skeletons.
According TO the best information
obtsinable the house was built in the
early f0's by a wealthy Irishman,
john Cullen. who had come to this
country direct from Dublin He never
lived there. however. but lived 10 the
immediate uetehborhood, Just across
the street.
Was the Richmond House
After his ocath in 1852, the house
changed hands several times. and vas
during and Immediately after the war
the Richmond House. one OF the frs
hotels in the city. II was later used
a. a club house. bu: was converted
into hospital in 1889 AMI fo- the
following ten or fifteen years vas the
nroDerty Of the late Dr. Hunter Nc
CURE.
Recently. Il was uscd As q kind Of
tercmons hcuse. Then furnished
rooms we're rented. and fnaIiv the
old building was bought Nv the Rich
mond Press. which corporation T. nov
making improvements and additions
with the view Of establishing It's print
ing plant there
That there vss a strange mystery
connected with the houec many years
seo was asccrtaired this r1oTninV
from a. ANTIQUARIAN. who tod weird
story Ct a very beautiful daughter OF
(continued ca Fourth Fazs.)