Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-12-11
FOUND DEAD IN A
SEALED DUNGEON
Man and Woman Evidently Buried
Alive Long Ago.
WORKMEN MAKE AWFUL
DISCOVERY OF BODIES


Lovers-Mystery Is Strange One,
and True Story of Affair May Never
Be Known.
Richmond, Va, Dec 4.-Skeletons
were found yesterday in a sealed dun
geon 10 feet below the surface of the
street by workmen demolishing the
old building at Governor and Ross
streets
Under a bricked-oyer trap door they
found the remains of man and a
woman The bones were covered with
mold and were crumbling to pieces
with age Not the slightest clue was
furnished as to their identity. The
damp mold was examined FOR buttons
or pieces OF jewelry, but nothing was
found save a 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 chambers.
The door leading through the roof had
been sealed down, no one knows how
many years ago, and brick paving laid
over it.
In one of the chambers was the
skelten of the woman. The mans
SHELTON was in the other BY the body
of the woman was found the rusted
remains OF an old iron dish or frying
pan.
Some distance from the SHELTON was
found parts of the skull, which had
been dragged away by rats. Several
teeth picked up indicated that the
woman was young, the teeth being
sharp, smooth and excellently pre-
served. Lying near this shelton We're
found the skulls of two enormous rats,
which had been dead so long that
only the heavier bones remained.
AS to how these two persons came
into the cell, as to their death and the
probable cause Ct it, speculation is
staggered. The house near which
they were found dates back to the mid
die of the last century and has serv-
ed 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 into he business section as the
city moved westward, until the old
house ceased to be used as a dwelling.
Passing through various hands it was
finally practically Misunderstanding
all the while its secret of the skele-
tons.
According to the best information
obtainable the house was built in the
early 40's by wealthy Irishman.
John Cullen. After his death, In 1852,
the house changed hands several
times and was during and immediate
ly after war the Richmond House. one
of the first hotels in the city. 1t was
later used as clubhouse, but was
converted into hospital in 1889 and
for the following 10 CT Is years was
the property of the late DR.. Hunter
MCGUIRE.
Recently it was used as kind of
tenement house. Finally, the old build
ing was bought by the Richmond
Press, which corporation is now max
ing improvements and additions with
the view of establishing its printing
plant there.
That there was a strange mystery
connected with the house many years
ago was ascertained from an antiuuar-
ian, who told weird story of beau
tiful daughter of former resident of
the house and several unfortunate
love affairs with which she was con-
nected. The young lady was named
Atelia (the last name the gentleman
refused 20 disclose) For love of her
young man named George Spalding,
he said. committed suicide. while an.
other man, Thomas Wynn. is said to
have been mysteriously murdered in
a quarrel in which her name was
mentioned.
The positions of the skeletons would
indicate that the woman--or young
girl-died lying at full length. The
bones of the other skeleton show that
the man died while crouching or
kneeling in a corner.
The sealing was so carefully and
thoroughly done that it would be
practically impossible for the utmost
sound made by person thus impris-
oned to be heard above, while no
sound from the outside world could
leak down into the dungeon
How long the bones have lain thus
undisturbed no one may ever know.
The remains of the old frying pan
bear mute evidence that food was
probably passed down into the cell
before it was sealed and the victims
left to die alone and hopeless in the
darkness.