PWCo Items - 19 July 1875

Alexandria Gazette (VA)
19 July 1875

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY ITEMS. -- John Lynch, a member of the 43d Congress, from Maine, purchased at Trustee's sale on Thursday last a tract of land situate about two miles from this place known as "Fairview" containing 115 acres, having upon it a fine brown stone quarry, and well watered.

The bridge across Cedar run at Brentsville having suddenly become in an unsafe condition temporary repairs are being made to it. It is said it was damaged by the passage of a dozen cattle across it.

The Board of Supervisors at their meeting this week, levied for county purposes, fifteen cents on the hundred dollars of property.

James W. Carr has sold his farm at Bristoe station containing 210 acres to a Mr. French of Lycuming county, Pa.

A little child of Mr. Halpenny, near Bristoe fell on an axe on Wednesday last and cut his head very severely. 

-- Manassas Gazette

Crime & Punishment: Brentsville Jail Break: John Wordier

Alexandria Gazette (Alexandria, Va)

4 December 1855

BROKE JAIL -- John Wordier, who had been committed to the jail of Prince William County, Va., by the warrant of a Justice of the peace, on a charge of horse stealing, broke jail on Saturday, the 1st instant, at Brentsville.  His flight was not discovered till after dark. The jailor took the night train of cars on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, at Bristoe station, and went up the line to Colvin's where he got off and remained, until the train returned to that place, where he resumed his pursuit by taking the cars to Alexandria, thinking it probable that his late prisoner might come on the train at some intervening station.  When the cars reached Union Mills, they were stopped to take on a supply of wood, and the fugitive came into the cars where the jailor was, and on seeing that he was recognized, tried to escape by leaving the cars in haste, but the jailor pursued and arrested him on the platform, took him into the cars and brought him to this city, intending to return with him on the morning train to Prince William, and place him again in jail.  After arriving in Alexandria, the jailor took his prisoner to S. Catt's tavern, at West End, where he intended to stay until the cars were ready to leave in the morning, and about 5 1/2 o'clock, A.M., the captive again escaped, and could not be found.  The jailor gave notice to the police that the thief was at large in the vicinity of this city.

The Daily Express (Petersburg, Va)

6 December 1855

John Wordier, a horse thief made his escape from the jail of Prince William county on the 1st inst. He was subsequently arrested in the cars by the jailor and taken to Alexandria, but managed to get away again and is now at large.

[John Wordier was eventually caught.  In March 1856 he was again sentenced to jail for "grand larceny and lunacy."  Interesting that the jailor is never named in either newspaper report (which was very likely a relief to him!) ~cgl]

Wednesday's Child: Joseph Randall

Manassas Journal
July 28, 1916

CHILD DROWNED

Joseph Randall, the 5-year-old son of Lucian Randall, manager of the farm of County Treasurer J. P. Leachman, was drowned Saturday in the waters of Broad Run, near the bridge at Bristow station.  The child was riding a horse to water when he was swept from his seat by the current of the swollen stream.  His father, coming from the cornfield, a short distance away, arrived too late to save him.  Other persons in the  neighborhood hastened to the spot, but the small body had disappeared.  The horse floated half a mile down stream and escaped.

The child's body was found Sunday afternoon where it had washed ashore in the woods of Compton farm, about two miles from the bridge.