Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-04-04
-FOUR MEN KILLED
BY ELECTRIC WIRES
Series of Fatal Accidents Occurs
During Storm on Nine
Mile Road
FATALITY IN PENITENTIARY
c. P. Moxley Meets Death AL
most in Front of His Home.
Others From Country.

Three men were instantly killed by
a live wire at Twenty-ninth Street and
tho Nine Mile Road about 1890 o'clock
yesterday morning. Two horses and
a mulo were killed AT the same spot.
and the bodies OF nil lay in the slush
and snow OF the road until late ycster-
day afternoon awaiting Identification
and removal by Detective Sergeant
Willy. who was sent to the scene In
the patrol Of tho First Precinct Sta
tion.
Last night Houston Iincy, a trusty
convict In tho State Penitentiary, was
instantly killed In Attempting to re-
move fallen wire in tho State prison
yard.
Tho dead in tho accident on the
N'ne-Mlle Road are:
c. p. Moxley. 2so2 N1ne-hI,le Road, a
1torekeeper about thirty-hve years OF
age
Charles Fl. Beadles. forty -scven years
OLD. farmer living near Enfield, King
William County
{. Roy Chcnault. thirty three years
OLD, also farmer and living close to
Beadles. In King william County
Their team. consisting OF mule be-
~ i'thhics IL nOTSe, inc
property OF Chenault was killed out
right when the dangling end Of ,ele-
phone wire. which had crossed high
power cable, was blown across their
oacks The animals dropped dead In
their tracks. short distance down
the road lies the body OF another horse
tho property OF David Donati OF the
stony Creek Distillery. which was
killed by the same means
UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE
WITH FAMILIES OF DEAD
Communication with persons living
near Enfield and Brandyw!ne, In King
William County, was cut of yesterday
afternoon. and II is Improbable that
tho immediate families OF the men VIII
be notified of their deaths until to-day
Persons living near them who had ex-
pectcd to return to their families yes
terday afternoon or last night gave up
the attempt on account OF the i,npassa-
bic condition OF the roads and the vto-
lencc Of the storm. All OF the teie-
phone lines are down. and II is prob
able that the news OF the death OF the
men VIII not be taken TO their families
until to-day. when relatives OF Readles
Will undertake the trip
The bodies OF Chenault and Beadles
were taken In charge by representa-
tives Of Bllley's undertaking cstab-
hshment, ut the direction OF Detective
WHY. who assumed charge OF the sit
uat!on on the Nine Mile Road as soon
as he could get 10 the scene, and are
at the undertaking room in this city.
No arrangements for the funeral had
been made last night.
MOXLEY KILLED ALMOST
IN FRONT OF HIS DOOR
The death OF Moxlcy was the first
TO take place. According to the in
formation given Detective Willy by
Mrs. Moxley. who was hysterical and
4. tmost prostrated by the death OF her
usband. the man started for Rich
ond shortly before 1890 o'clock yes
rday morning. He left home accom-
MED By n small boy. whose name had
been ascertained last night The
rglinE wire was almost before his
mt gate. and It Is presumed he at
npted TO move II so as TO allow his
-eRm 10 get into the road. but this Is
not definitely known, as tho boy Is
the only living eyewitness to the cleo
trocu;ion.
The team must have become fright
ened when the man dropped in his
tracks. for neither II nor the boy has
been seen since. Search was insti-
luicN' Oui All eiloTlS IIllcu 10 discover
the whereabouts Of either up to a
late hour last night.
Moxley was lying dead In the slush
OF the road when the team bringing
Chenault and Beadles back TO their
homes from Richmond entered the road
about 200 yards below Moxley's place
Here another wire danGled In the wind
II Is said. and IT is thought It was
blown across the backs OF tho animals
They fell In their traces, their feet
together and their backs toward the
sides OF the road. 1t is presumed, there
being no eyewitncsses to this accident.
that the men got out OF the wagon and
went to the assistance OF the animals
They either grasped the wire or n part
OF tho animals harness or their bodies
all or which was charged with the
deadly current. The contact caused
their death.
MEN FALL DEAD
IN THEIR TRACKS
The men fell stone dead in tho road
beside the bodies OF the beasts 1t
was not until some time after their
death that the accident was discovered
| by persons passing along the road.
Some one hurried to the stony Creek
Distillcry. and from there telephoned
the news to Richmond. The police were
notified and orders were given from
headquarters that Detective willy should
take Major Werner's automobile and
! proceed to the scene. The car suffered
r. blowout before 1t reached the First
i station, and it was necessary to tako
the patrol wagon and complete the
Journey In 1t. This is said TO have
been done In record time.
Detective Willy searched the cloth
ing OF the men, and from receipts found
on them learned their names.~ He sue
ceeded In notifying Undertaken Bliley
and In having the bodies removed.
After this he had the contents OF the
wagon stored in private room at
Mrs. Moxley's house, and they are be-