Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-12-16
nCounyW December
Death in a Sealed Dungeon.


Evidence of terrible and mysterious
tragedy in Virginia was unearthed in Rich
mond, Va, last Friday, when skeletons
were found in a sealed dungeon ten feet
below the surface OF the street by work
men demolishing the old building at Gov
ernor and Ross streets.
Under a bricked-over trap door they
found the remains OF a 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 iewelry, but MOTH
ing was found save a small fragment OF
cloth and several wiSpS OF reddish brown
hair.
The cell is OF solid brick construction,
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 skele-
ton OF the woman. The mans skeleton
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 skeleton 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 preserved. Lying near this
skeleton were found the skulls OF two
enormous rats, which had been dead so
long that only the heavier bones re-
NAMED.
As to how these two persons came into
the cell, as to their death and the probable
causes OF it, speculation is staggered.
The house near which they were found
dates back to the middle OF the last GEN.
fury and has served as a 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 the business section as
the city moved westward, until the old
house ceased TO be used as dwelling.
Passing through various hands il was fl
nally practically abandoned-holding all
the while its secret of the skeletons.
According to the best information OBJ
taiuable the house was built in the early
4O's by wealthy lrishman, John Cullen.
After his death, in 1852, the house changed
hands several times and was during and
Immediately after the war the Richmond
House, one OF the first hotels in the city.
II was later used a clubhouse, but was
converted into hospital in 1899 and for
the following 10 or 10 years was the prop
erty of the late Dr. Hunter Mcclure.
Recently il was used as a kind Of tene-
ment house. Finally, the old building was
bought by the Richmond Press, which
corporation is now making Improvements
and additions with the view TO establish
ing its printing plant there.
1t is said that the cells may even ante
date the house which is being torn down
on the property. The records show that
the property on which the vaults were
found was at one time in the rear OF the
Governors mansion, the street having
been cut through in 1872.
That there was strange mystery con-
nected with the house many years ago
was aScertained next morning from an an
tiuuarian, who told a weird story OF a
beautiful daughter Of a former resident OF
the house and several unfortunate love
affairs with which she was connected.
The young lady was named AteIia the
last name the gentleman refused TO dis
close.) For love of her young man
named George Spalding, he said, COM
mitted suicide, while another man, Thom-
as Wynn, is said to have been mysterious
ly murdered in quarrel in which her
name was mentioned.
The position OF the skeletons would In
dcate 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 thor
oughly done that il would be practically
impossible for the utmost sound made by
person thus imprisoned to be heard
above, while no sound from the outside
world could leak down into the dungeon.
How long the bones have lain thus un-
disturbed 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 il was sealed
and the victims left to die alone and hope
less in the darkness.