Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-17
ACCUSED OF MURDER :.
Seven Persons in Custody to
Answer Serious Charge. :
ROBBERY WAS THE MOTIVE
Man and Woman Killed and Valua-
bles Than Removed.
BURNING OF HOUSE FOLLOWS
Virginia Authorities Investigating
Triple Crime in Powhatan County.
Theory of the Officers.
BURNING OF HOUSE FOLLOWS
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star
RICHMOND, Va. February 11.-Seven
persons in Jail result of the in
vestgationS by the authorities of the
county Of PowIatan of the burning of the
home of Mrs. Robt. Skpwith in that coun-
~ Friday night and the death of the own
er of the place. and also that of Walter g.
Johnson. young married man and farm
CT of the county, who, with his family.
Nyed in the home of Mrs. Skipwith. The
fact that Johnson's wife and baby were
not burned to death at the same time is
regarded as an act of Providence. They
had gone from the home to spend the
night.
Robbery was the motive for the crime.
There is not a circumstance lacking to
demonstrate that such the purpose
of the perpetrators. In fact part of the
loot has been found i'm the home of Joseph
Taylor, a colored farm hand. employed by
Johnson less than two months ago, and
it has been identified as the property of
Johnson by his widow. 1t was concealed
in the garnet of the cabin occupied by
Joseph Taylor and his wife.
Two Taken to Richmond.
Joseph Taylor and his cousin, Isham
Taylor. were brought to this city late last
night and lodged in the Jail here. Sheriff
Baugh says he was afraid to risk the
safety of the prisoners in the county Jail,
IS the farmers of that section were much
aroused at the enormity of the crime
with which the men stand charged.
Stepney johnson. a boy; Annie Taylor.
wife of Joseph Taylor; Fleming Johnson
and Robert Taylor, half brothers to Jo-
seph, and John Anderson, have all been
sent to the county Jail at Pcwhatan.
Court House to await the converting of
court Tuesday of next week
Is rod he
of the ROBBERY has been found. In an out
hGuse were located two handsome re-
volvers which belonged to Johnson. and
which he always kept under the head of
his bed. These were in an old cupboard
in the clubhouse, where no member of
Inc FAMILY had been seen for long
Time, and they were under the head
Of the bed Friday morning
In barn on the premises the officers
found large quantity of old jeweIrv
that belonged to Mrs. Skipwith They
also FOUND some crockery identified as
belonging to her. This was hidden under
q quantity of hay that had been in the
puiding Tor year or more.
Opinion of the Officers.
The officers express the opinion that
the crime was committed several hours
before the fire was discovered and that
the nre was intended to conceal the rob-
berry and the murder They say that
enc! 'iihh 'ie men went 10 the house
while johnson was escorting his wife to
a party in the neighborhood and robbed
the old woman and possibly killed her
and that while they were thus enga sed
johnson returned home and surprised the
ihtruoers While they were going through
Johnson's part of the house. Realizing
that johnson. who was six feet five in
heisht and very strong could easily have
overpowered them both, they used the
mans own weapons on him and then
proceeded to rob his quarters
johnson is thought to have had about
1000 In cash on his premises. having
beer thrifty farmer, and that fact Is
beileved to have been known to Joseph
Taylor, for johnson had lately disposed
or his crop of tobacco for several hun
dred dollars and had obtained more money
from the sale of produce Then, too his
wife, whose father had lately died, had
received part of his estate.
Maintains He Is Innocent.
Joseph Taylor was reared in the neigh
borhood and has always borne a good
reputation. Sunday afternoon he offici-
ated as driver of the vehicle that car
ried the charred remains of Mrs. Skip
with and Mr.. johnson to the cemetery
and was one of the witnesses before the
coroners jury. He maintains that he is
innocent of the crime, but he does not nm
dertake to explain just how the property
which belonged to Mrs. Johnson. and
which was In the house short while be-
lore the fire, was found concealed under
the roof of his house.
Inc men ana women agree that the fire
was discovered by them about 12.3o at
night, but there are witnesses who de-
clare that they saw the blaze two or three
miles away not later than $50 O'clock
All the negroes involved in the affair
lived within mile of the scene of the
md