The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-18
HOUSE Is BURNED
TO 70 HIDE MURDER
Seven Arrested for AtrOciOuS
Crime in Virginia.
FAMILY KILLED FOR MONEY
Investigation by Authorities Indi-
Gates that the BeautifuI sIipwith
Home Was Set on Fire by Per-
sons Who Had Robbed the Prem
ises and killed the Occupants.

Richmond Va. Feb. T7.-Seven persons
are In iaH as q result OF the investiga-
tons bv the authorities Of the county OF
Powhatan or the burning Of the home
Of Mrs. Robert Skipwith. in that county.
Friday night and the death Of tie owner
Of the place, and also that Of Walter G..
johnson. a young married man and
farmer OF the county, who, with his fam
Ey. lived in the home OF Mrs. Skipwith.
The fact that J0hnsOn's wife and baby
were not burned 20 death ar the same
time IS regarded as an act Of Providence.
They had gone from the home 10 spend
the night
Robbery was the motive for the crime.
Taken to Richmond for Safety.
Joseph Taylor and his cousin. Isham
Taylor. were brought 10 this city late
last night and lodged IN the tail here.
Sheriff Baugh says he was afraid TO risk
the safety OF the prisoners in the county
fail. as the farmers Of that section were
much aroused at the enormity Of the
crime with which the men stand charged.
Stepney Johnson, q boy. Annie Taylor.
wife of Joseph Taylor. Fleming Johnson
and Robert Taylor. half brothers 10 JO-
seph Taylor. and John Anderson. have all
been sent 70 the county jail at Powhatan
courthouse 10 await the converting Of
court on Tuesday Of next week.
What is declared 70 be conclusive proof
Of the robbery has been found IN an out
house were located Two handsome re-
vOlvers which belonged 10 johnson, and
which he always Kept under the head OF
his bed. these were IN an Old cupboard
n the Clubhouse where no member OF
the family had been seen for a long
time, and they were under the head Of
the bed Friday morning.
In barn on the premises the officers
found a large quantity Of old jewelry
that belonged 20 Mrs. Skipwith They
also found some crockery identified as
belonging 10 her. This was hidden under
quantity Of hay that had been IN the
building Tor a year or more.
Opinion Of Officers.
The officers express the opinion that
the crime was committed several hours
before the fire was discovered. and that
the IRE was intended TO conceal the roo
berry and the murder. They say that
they think the men went 10 the house
while johnson was escorting his wife q
a party n the nelShpornooG and robbed
the old woman and possibly killed her
and that while they were thus engaged
Johnson returned home and surprised The
intrUders white they were going through
Johnson's part Of the house. Johnson IS
thought 70 have had about S2,009 IN cash
on his premises.
Joseph Taylor was reared IN the neigh
borhOod and has always borne a good
reputation Sunday afternoon he Ofici-
at6d as driver Of the vehicle that car
RED the Charred remains OF Mrs Skip
With and AR Johnson TO the cemetery.
and was one Of the Witnesses before the
CoroneT's jury. He maintains that he IS
innocent OF the crime. but he does not
undertake 20 explain lust how the prop
erty which belonged 10 MIS- Johnson, and
which was In the house q short while be-
fore the fire. was found concealed under
the roof OF his house