The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-08
GOVERNOR OFFERS
REWARD FOR NEGR0E
Petersburg VIII Also Attempt to Dis
cover Slayer of Policeman II. E.
Beasley Sunday Morning.
DOUBT wooDLEY's GUILT.
II. It. Harrison Held Up and Robbed
of S500-Methodist Preachers Meet.
Hastings Court. Reconvcnes-Y. NJ.
G. A. to Have RaIly--Mrs. Weech
Addresses Mothers.

Petersburg. Va, Feb. 7.--Grave
~doubt expressed by the Petersburg
Police Department today of the guilt
OF Robert Woodley, a negro who Is
being held upon suspicion of being the
murderer of Patrolman Robert f.
Beasley at 4 o'clock yesterday morn
ing. 'Woodley is a negro OF unsavory
reputation, but his connection with
the murder of Patrolman Beasley has
not been positively established. Many
conflicting stories and wild rumors
were circulated throughout the city to-
day with regard to the actions of the
negro at the time of his arrest by Of
ficers Gordon and Faison shortly be-
foreeft O'Clock last night.
Woodley is alleged to have exclaim-
ed when approached by Ohicer
Gordon: Il amt killed no policeman"
and numerous other stories as to what
other persons would testify to as to
Woodley's movements late Saturday
night and early Sunday morning have
proven groundless.
7 Woodley's mother claims that he
reached home Saturday evening about
7 o'clock and did not leave again. This
statement, the police are confident can
be disproven. The blood stains which
are supposed to have been found on
the Negroes clothing last night will
have to be tested by a chemist to fully
establish that they were caused from
blood or some other red substance.
THE front OF the shirt which woodley
wore was wet when he was placed
under arrest and bore n stain closely
resembling blood and. II this be
proven, 1t Is evident that he made an
effort to wash the blood stain or.
Governor Henry C. Stuart this
afternoon advised Mayor Cabaniss
that he had offered a reward OF $500
for the apprehension Of the murderer
and like amount will be offered by
the city Of Petersburg. 1t Is probable
that this will be supplemented by q
purse raised among citiSens OF the
lefty.
The Petersburg police are exerting
every possible effort to apprehend the
fiendish murderer, and while II may
take some days to establish the
identity of the negro, II is believed
that II will be only matter OF time
and diligence upon the part OF the
Petersburg department of which Reu-
ben r Rag1and Is the efficient head,
and with whom several of the shrewd-
est officers in Virginia are associat-
ed.
The body of Mr.. Beasley was taken
to the home of his parents in South
West Street today. The funeral will
4. be conducted from st. Johns Episco-
pal Church, of which he was valued
land consistent member. at O'CLOCK
tomorrow afternoon by rector, Rev
> Pembroke w. Reed, assisted by Rev
IF G. Ribble, of ST. James Episcopal
> Church. Richmond, former rectoi
of st. Johns.
, Had Mr. Beasley lived until the Str
inst he would have been thirty sis
wears of age The bludgeon witt
which he was slain Is OF hickory wood
. three feet nine and one-half inches fr
, length seven and one-half inches In
. circumference at it's largest part and
weighs three pounds and ten ounces
The murder is one OF the most heinou'
that was ever committed in Peters
thaYg and Is the general topic of dis
lcussion in every section of the city, by
both the old and young OF all classes
Hastings Court ReConveneS.
The Hastings Court Judge Mullen
PRESIDING will reconvene pursuant &c
adjournment at 10 o'clock tomorrow
morning for the completion OF the
docket of the January term, The first
case upon the docket is that OF
,, Charles L. Ramsey, young white
man. charged with highway robbery
Robert Gillian. Sr
Mr.. Harrison Robbed.
Mr.. r. r. Harrison, an aged and
wcll-known citizen, residing on High
land Terrace, reported 70 the police
: this morning that he had been held up
between and o'clock Saturday
night by two white men and robbed
Of $500 Mr. Harrison, according to
his statement. was only short dis
H.. II ,, af xxgTn c
! grabbed by the two men and relieved
of his money
Methodist Ministers Meet.
The Methodist ministers OF Peters
burg held their regular weekly meet
! ing at the washington-Street Church
this morning, with Revs. l.. T. Hitt
IT, r. Eggleston. ]. L. Edwards. F. G
Davis II. W. Neville. NJ. c. Colonna
I and others In attendance. Excellent
= reports were made by each pastor al
t to the conditions Of his church and
= 1t was determined to hold simultan'
$ eous evangelistic services in the
:, Methodist churches of the city. begin
ming April 8.
r A campaign with a view Of increas
/, ing the membership In the Youns
n Mems Christian Association will bs
c inaugurated tomorrow evening. The
opening speech WAL no NSAA'S ~
: Governor Henry Carter stuart, follow
h ed by an address by State Secretary
d S. A. Ackley. OF Richmond. who VII
have charge of the membership cam
,. paign. It is the earnest desire OF al
;" interested to increase the member
: ship OF the association to one thous
= and.
r KelIey-Harmon.
o Miss Marie Louise Kelley, o.
;. Florida. and Mr.. Clarence c. Harmon
: formerly of Pennsylvania, were united
e in marriage at 1880 o'clock last even
n ing at the WashingtonSt Street Christian
lChurch by the pastor. Rev Clarence
:, H! Poage. Mr. and Mrs. Harmon W.T.
t reside at Hopewen.
e Mrs. Smoot's Brother Better.
: Mrs P c. Smoot, Of the West End
L was advised by her husband .odai
= that the condition Of his brother tt
e whose bedside he was called at Char
u lottesville yesterday, was favorabie
Mr.. Smoot was operated upon FOL
: peritonitis and his condition was al
: first thought to be serious.
Mrs. Weech Addresses Mothers.
The Parent-Teacher Association OF
l. the Stonewan Jackson Schoo. met II
: regular monthly session this after
noon, with a good attendance. The
= ...~r,;,.,. 1,,ac addressed nv Mrs. ANY