Sunday's Obituary: Albert Keys

Alexandria Gazette (Va)
3 November 1897

HANGED HIMSELF IN HIS CELL.

Albert Keys committed suicide in jail in Manassas yesterday to avoid being tried for the attempted murder of Stuart McInteer. A few years ago Keys was a prosperous and respected merchant of Potomac City, in Prince William county. Reverses in business and dissipation changed him from a useful citizen to a reckless man. About three weeks ago he got into a difficulty with Stuart McInteer over a house. Being under the influence of liquor he made a murderous assault upon McInteer, inflicting a painful gunshot wound in his left arm. He was immediately apprehended and placed in the county jail to await the action of the grand jury. Instead of showing remorse he expressed regret that his effort had been so unsuccessful, saying he "had shot to kill." He hanged himself with a cord to a brace in his cell.

Friend of Friends Friday: Committed to Jail: Robert Steward

Richmond Enquirer (Va.)
28 May 1824

WAS committed to the jail of Prince William county, on the 20th day of January 1824, a negro man who calls himself ROBERT STEWARD, of very black compexion, about 27 or 28 years of age, 5 feet 6 1/2 inches high, had on when committed a new fur hat, a blue cloth coat, a striped vest and pantaloons. He says that he is free, and came from Petersburg. The owner of the above negro is requested to come forward, prove property, pay charges and take him away, or he will be dealt with as the law directs.

A. MILLAN, Jailor

March 19.
804--w12w

Crime & Punishment: Wanted Freedom During Holidays

Washington Herald (DC)
23 December 1912

WANTED FREEDOM DURING HOLIDAYS

William Eggleston, Who Escaped from Occoquan, Makes Pleas for Few Days More

"Say, I just wanted to be out on Christmas for a little celebration," said William Eggleston alias William Walton, twenty-four years old, alleged professional bicycle thief, as he left police headquarters last night to finish a term of a year and a half at Occoquan workhouse, whence he escaped on Wednesday.

"I think you fellows might have waited until after Christmas to pinch me," said Eggleston, who began his sentence at the workhouse on Thanksgiving Day. Eggleston was "picked up" on suspicion by the police of Alexandria while, it is alleged, he was trying to sell a bicycle, which the police believe was stolen.

Detectives from Washington identified "William Walton," as the  man called himself, as Eggleston, wanted as an escaped prisoner from Occoquan. Eggleston declared he would have returned to the workhouse voluntarily if he had been allowed to remain at liberty until after Christmas. "A bird in hand is worth two in a bush," said Guard Hall, of Occoquan, as he started for the workhouse with the prisoner. 

Eggleston is unmarried and lived in Arlington,. Va.

Newspaper Tidbit: Three Prisoners Flee Manassas Jail

Evening Star (DC)
28 October 1939

THREE PRISONERS FLEE MANASSAS JAIL

Sheriff J. T. Kerlin of Prince William County, (Va.) and his deputies today were searching for three prisoners who escaped last night from the Manassas Jail by digging through a brick wall with a stove poker. Washington police were asked to aid in the search.

The escaped men, police said, are A. Keller, 42, and two youths about 20 years old -- Charley Hall and Oscar Verran. It was believed they caught a freight train out of Manassas.

Jailer Joseph Garner said three other men in the jail did not join in the break.

Friend of Friends Friday: NOTICE: Committed to Jail (Sancho) (1804)

Alexandria Expositor for the County
9 July 1804

NOTICE.

WAS committed to the jail of Alexandria county, district of Columbia, a Negro Boy named SANCHO -- he is about four feet six inches high, about fifteen years of age, of yellowish complexion, and impediment in his speech -- his clothing are ordinary -- he says that he belongs to colonel Thomas Lee, of Prince William county, state of Virginia, and at present is hired to Thomas Newman, of Fairfax county -- the owner of said slave is hereby required to come and prove his property, pay charges and take him away, otherwise he will be disposed of as the law directs.

JAMES CAMPBELL, Jailor.

June 7

Friend of Friends Friday: March Term of Quarterly Court (1859)

Alexandria Gazette (Va)
14 March 1859

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY COURT

The March Term of the Quarterly Court of this County, adjourned to-day. All the causes on the civil Docket, which the parties were ready to try, were disposed of.

Commonwealth vs. John Simpson, charged with Simple Larceny, was continued, a material witness against the accused being absent.

Commonwealth vs. Jim, a slave, the property of Wm. M. Lewis, charged with an assault on John Thompson, with intent to kill was tried, and Jim convicted of the offence. The Court sentenced him to sale and transportation beyond the limits of the United States, and remanded him to jail, to await the requisition of the Executive of the State.

Prince William Democrat

Newspaper Tidbit: Virginia Legislature (warning to Fishermen) (VA Law enacted 1819)

Alexandria Gazette (Va)
17 July 1835

[COMMUNICATED.]

The following extract of a Law, passed March 2d, 1819, by the Virginia Legislature, is worth the attention of Fishermen, some of whom are in the habit of collecting large numbers of vagrant idle free negroes from abroad for seine haulers, the pernicious tendency of which, has already been felt by the holders of slaves in our section of the State. [See revised Code vol. 1, page 438.]

A Citizen of Prince William County, VA.

"Every master of a vessel or other person who shall bring into this Commonwealth, by water or by land, in any vessel, boat, land carriage or otherwise, any free negro or mulatto, shall forfeit and pay for every such offence the penalty of three hundred thirty-three dollars thirty-three cents, one half to the Commonwelath for the use of the library fund, the other half to the use of the informer, to be recovered on information in any court of record, and the defendant in every case shall be ruled to special bail."

PWCo Item: Brentsville: April 26, 1869

Alexandria Gazette
28 April 1869

LETTER FROM PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY
[Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette]

Brentsville, Prince William County, Va., April 26, 1869

A colored man named Wm Tuell, living near the town of Dumfries in this county attempted, yesterday, to kill his father. It seems there had been some dispute between William Tuell, jr., and another black man, in which the father of the former, also named William Tuel, interfered, and his son took a double barreled gun and shot him in the top of the shoulder near the collar bone. They were sitting at the supper table when the difficulty occurred and the shot fired, and the load is still in him. His recovery is generally despaired of, as his wound is a very severe one and at last accounts was bleeding profusely.

The criminal was arrested by Marshall Davis, esq., Deputy Sheriff, on a warrant issued by Wm. Frazier, esq., and was this evening brought to this place by Mr. Davis and lodged in jail. I understand a pistol and a very long knife were also found on Tuell's person.

This case will come before the grand jury at our Circuit Court, the second Monday in next month.

I am informed this is not the first offence of Tuell, but that he stabbed a white man some time since, and shot at a colored man but a short time before he attempted to kill his father.

TYRONE.

PWCo Item: Letter from Prince William (11 February 1870)

Alexandria Gazette (Va)
11 February 1870 (pg. 2)

LETTER FROM PRINCE WILLIAM
[Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette]

BRENTSVILLE, Feb. 9 -- The February term of Prince William County Court was held yesterday and day before. There was a pretty general attendance of people.

Judge J. W. Moore delivered an address on the issues of the day. W. C. Balch, esq. and Judge Sinclair also spoke. I heard that after the above gentlemen finished, two Conservative colored men spoke.

The following cases were tried:

Com. vs. Hoor, assault and battery -- verdict not guilty. Clark & Gen. Payne for defendant.

Com. vs. Beender, (colored) petit larceny -- verdict guilty and imprisoned 30 days. Clark for defendant.

William Fuell a colored man, sentenced six months ago to 9 months imprisonment in the county jail, was released.

An effort was made by Round, Commonwealth's Attorney, to get the Court to release Franklin Taylor from jail. He is confined in default of giving $1000 bond to keep the peace. This is a novel move for a Commonwealth's Attorney, especially as Taylor has, it was said, threatened boldly and openly to burn all the property that two gentlemen in the county own, and to kill then too, in less than twelve months. The Court very creditably refused to entertain such a motion.

The two men, Henderson and Nelson who are confined on charge of having entered and robbed the store of Davis & Lynn in this county, made a desperate attempt a few nights ago to break jail by prizing the bars out of the jail window, working through the side which was decayed, and pulling out the bricks with their bands. The noise was heard, however, by W. N. Tansill the jailor, and the progress of it arrested.

Mr. Tansill then ironed them, and Henderson with his naked hands snapped one of the chains entirely in two pieces.

They have since been ironed more securely. Henderson was married on Tuesday -- made arrangements on that day to rob the store -- robbed it on Friday night, and was arrested in a day or two afterwards in the presence of his wife, and a large portion of the goods were found opened on the bed near him. His wife who is of respectable parentage and possess some beauty is, greatly horrified at the conduct of her husband, as I learn.

Candidates for office are thick as "leaves in Vallombrosa." One gentleman last Monday I understand was so full of speech that the chairman of the meeting found great difficulty in inducing him to simmer down and let of steam without going through the process of a general explosion, while another in his great eagerness to speak suffered his coat tails to be nearly torn from his body in spasmodic efforts to bring him to a sitting position.

There will be a general convention held here next Saturday week, the 19th inst., to consider county matters, make nominations &c.

TYRONE.

Newspaper Tidbit: With the Rambler -- Brentsville

If you haven't checked out the Library of Congress's online newspaper archive, Chronicling America, it's definitely worth the time.  (And it's free!)


Evening Star (Washington, DC)
2 January 1916

Manassas News: Investigation of Prince William Jail... (1912)

Alexandria Gazette
23 March 1912

MANASSAS NEWS ITEMS

Investigation of Prince William Jail
Enthusiastic Good-Roads Meeting at Nokesville

(Special to the Gazette)

Manassas, Va., March 23. -- The State Board of Charities and Corrections have called on the Prince William county committee for their annual report as to the conditions of the county jail and almshouse. This committee consists of Dr. H. M. Clarkston, of Haymarket and Mrs. Emily C. Round and Dr. J. Mayre Lewis, of Manassas. Information as to any case of indigent, crippled or deformed children needing hospital treatment is specially called for, by the secretary of the Commonwealth in order that the board may endeavor to have such subjects treated free of cost. The board urges that the county make better arrangements for its poor, and especially the feeble minded children and advises that the "Poor Farm" be sold and arrangements provided which will be more in accord with the present ideas of twentieth-century civilization.

At a meeting of the Manassas Rod and Gun Club a committee was appionted to petition Commonwealth's Attorney Thomas H. Lion, for an enforcement of the law with regard to the obstruction at Occoquan creek.  Last spring the board of supervisors of Prince William and Fairfax counties appointed committees to investigate and report upon such obstruction, which has done, but so far as ascertained no further action of the respective boards in relation to the matter has been taken.

There was a large and enthusiastic good roads meeting at Nokesville, Wednesday at which Melvin C. Hazen of Washington, presided. A committee was appointed to canvass Brentsville Magisterial district in the interest of a bond issue for public highway improvement. The committee will recommend a bond issue for the district of $36,000 to be apportioned as follows: $12,000 for the Quebec-Miami Highway; $9,000 for road from Nokesville to Greenwich; $8,000 for roadway from Nokesville to Aden; $7,000 for roadway from Brentsville to intersect with the proposed international highway.

The bi-county convention of the W.C.T.U. embracing the counties of Fauquier and Prince William were in session here yesterday with a large attendance of delegates. Mrs. Sarah Hoge, state president of the association, and noted for her ability as an oratorical and forceful speaker delivered a very interesting address in the Presbyterian Church last night to a large audience.

Governor Mann has appointed Mrs. Emily C. Round to represent Virginia at the Southern Sociological Congress to be held in Nashville, Tenn., on May 7-10.

A valuable horse belonging to Harry Tyler was killed by train No. 13 on the Manassas branch of the Southern, Thursday.  The animal was appraised at $230.

Friend of Friends Friday: Runaway: George Car

Virginia Enquirer
24 April 1832

NOTICE -- Was committed to the Jail of Prince William county, Virginia, on the 18th day of January last, a Negro Man, as a runaway, who calls him self GEORGE CAR; he also declares himself to be free, and from Loudoun county; he is about 25 years old, about six feet high, dark complexion, and several scars on the fingers of his left hand; he had on a pair of dark colored corded pantaloons, an old blue cloth coat. -- The owner (if any there be) is requested to come forward, comply with the law, and take the property

BASIL BRAWNER, Jailor

Brentsville, March 18, 1832

105-w12w

Newpaper Tidbit: Serious Malfeasance in Office, if True (1868)

Richmond Whig
8 December 1868

Serious Malfeasance in Office, if True

Brentsville, Prince William Co., Va., November 29, 1868 -- Mr. Editor -- It is charged that a bold plan was arranged by the sub-jailor here and John T. Keys, who is confined under indictment for rape on his daughter, to effect Keys' escape to-night, but William E. Goodwin, Esq., the vigilant and exceedingly efficient sheriff of this county, getting wind of the plot, came with a posse this evening about 3 o'clock and took special charge of the jail. He placed a guard of five men to watch the prisoners, and turned the jail keys over to the guard.

Rumor is that the prisoner, John T. Keys, had arranged with the sub-jailor, a man named Charles Wright, to give him one hundred and seventy-five dollars, and that he (Wright) for that "consideration," was to open the prison doors.

No one here doubts that a scheme was on foot for Keys' re ease.

Correspondence Fredericksburg Herald

Crime & Punishment: Thomas Daniell (1792)

Virginia Gazette and Agricultural Repository
14 June 1792

THOMAS DANIELL, personally appeared before me  Alexander Lithgow, Esq., Justice of the Peace for the County of Prince William, maketh oath on the holy Evangalist of Almighty God, that an escape from either the Prisons at Alexandria or Dumfries other than a termination of his life during the whole of his confinement, never was directly nor indirectly with him in contemplation, and that such an alternative never has or ever shall enter his mind or breast, that no consideration on Earth shall cause him to prove unfaithful as a Prisoner, either to his friends or adversaries. Given under my hand this 19th day of May, 1792.

ALEXANDER LITHGOW

After seven months experience of my fidelity as a prisoner, for more than ten times the amount, in value of the new writs, immediately, on a DISMISION, of the former ones, it was most unmercifully circulated, that I intended to break Jail, to frustrate so cruel a report, occassioned the above affidavit.

Agents in London have caused arrests to take place in New York, Lord Mansfield's opinion and practice was invariably not to demand any kind of bail on processes, or affidavits issuing from any foreign courts of judicature, for reasons of exemplary, justice and policy.

Travel Tuesday: Robbery on O., A. & M. R. R.

Alexandria Gazette (VA)
9 December 1867

ROBBERY ON O., A. & M. R. R. - On Saturday evening last, a lady traveller on the Orange, Alexandria and Manassas Railroad passenger train, from Lynchburg, was robbed, previous to the arrival of the cars at Manassas Station, by a man named James A. Keys, of Prince William county, Va., who stole her pocket-book from her muff, which she left on her seat while she went to draw a glass of water. The conductor, Mr. Benjamin Pauli, being informed that the theft had been committed, commenced at once to search the passengers, and soon found the missing book in the boot leg of Keys. When the train reached Manassas, Sheriff Gooding, who happened to be there, was informed of the occurrence, and, with the assistance of Charles M. Whittington and Rhody Fewell - as Keys resisted and showed fight - effected his arrest, and carried him before Justice Butler, by whom he was committed to the jail at Brentsville.

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]

Newspaper Tidbit: Jail Escape: James Cornwell

Alexandria Gazette
10 October 1810

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, to wit.

ALEXANDER HENDERSON, one of the Commonwealth's Justices of the Peace of the said County, to all Sheriffs, Mayors, Bailiffs, Constables and Headboroughs, within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

WHEREAS complaint is made to me this day, upon the oath of Samuel Davis, that James Cornwell, laborer, who was lately committed to the jail of the said county of Prince William, by warrant from Henry Washington, a Justice of the Peace for the said county, on suspicion of felony, did on the night of the twenty-sixth instant did forcibly escape from the said jail, and is now going at large. These are therefore, in the name of the Commonwealth, to require you, and every of you, in your respective counties, cities, towns and precincts, to make diligent search, by way of hue and cry for the said James Cornwell, and, having found, to sieze [sic] and retake, and safely convey, or cause him to be safely conveyed, to the jail of the said county of Prince William, there to be kept until he shall be thence discharged by due course of the law.

Given under my hand and seal this twenty eighth day of September, 1810.

A. Henderson (Seal)

Dumfries, Sept. 30-Oct. 3. d2w

Newspaper Tidbits: Crime and Punishment

Alexandria Gazette (Virginia)
10 October 1810

Prince William County, to wit.

ALEXANDER HENDERSON, one of the Commonwealth's Justices of the Peace of the said County, to all Sheriffs, Mayors, Baliffs, Constables and Headboroughs, within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

WHEREAS complaint is made to me this day, upon the oath of Samuel Davis, that James Cornwell, laborer, who was lately committed to the jail of the said county of Prince William, by warrant from Henry Washington, a Justice of the Peace for the said county, on suspicion of felony, did on the night of the twenty-sixth instant forcibly escape from the said jail, and is now going at large: These are therefore, in the name of the Commonwealth, to require you and every of you, in your respective counties, cities, towns and precincts, to make diligent search, by way of hue and cry for the said James Cornwell, and having found, to seize and retake, and safely convey, or cause him to be safely conveyed, to the jail of the said county of Prince William, there to be kept until he shall be thence discharged by due course of law.

Given under my hand and seal this twenty eight day of September, 1810.

A. Henderson (Seal)
Dumfries, Sept. 30-Oct. 3. d2w

~ ~ ~

Richmond Times Dispatch (Virginia)
9 February 1905

WHITE BOYS WHIPPED

Twenty-five Lashes Laid on by the Sheriff for Stealing.

Manassas, Va. Feb. 8 -- In the Circuit Court of Prince William county Judge C. E. Nicol presiding, Harrison Brammel and G. Robert Hales, two white boys, aged twelve and thirteen years, respectively, were to-day ordered to be given twenty-five lashes for committing larceny.  The parents of the boys who reside near Occoquan, were willing that they should be whipped, the boys having entered a plea of guilty to the indictments agains them.

The boys were carried from the courthouse to the county jail, where Sheriff F. C. Rovabaugh executed the order of the court.

Prince William County Items: June 19, 1875

Alexandria Gazette
June 19, 1875

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY ITEMS. -- A dog case was tried on Monday last, and decided in favor of the defendant.  Justice Whiting decided that if a person puts poison in his own poultry yard at night, for the purpose of killing the vermin that had been in the habit of killing his poultry, and a neighbor's dog happened to be the victim, he was not responsible for the loss, or value of the dog.  He therefore gave judgment against the plaintiff for costs.

At the next term of the County Court an overseer for each road presinct [sic] will be appointed, and we understand that Judge Nicol has intimated that he intends seeing that each overseer does his duty, and those failing to do so will have to give way to some one who will.

The colored boy, Edward Stewart Trott, pronounced insane by a jury of the County Court, at the June term, was conveyed to the Central (colored) Insane Asylum at Richmond, on Monday last, by Mr. A. F. Woodyard, the jailor, accompanied by Mr. Matt. Woodyard.

The repairs to the county jail, just completed by Mr. A. F. Woodyard, renders the building more suitable for its purposes than it has been since its erection.  Each cell is now furnished with a flue.

Mr. Peter T. Weedon, who lost five sheep by the ravages of dogs a few weeks ago, had more killed and several others badly damaged on Sunday night last.

Mr. T. M. Houchens, formerly of Alexandria, has established himself in the business of harness making in Manassas.

~ Manassas Gazette

PWCo. Jailors (1823 - 1893)

Prince William County, Virginia Jailors 1823 – 1893 Compiled by Ronald R. Turner
Abraham Millan	1823 – 1824
John Merchant	1825 –
Robert Lipscomb	c1829 – 1834
Thomas T. Fewell	1835 – 1836
William Dickson	1836 – 1837
George W. Clifford	1838 – 1839
George A. Farrow	1839 – 1840
James B. Hayes	1840 – 1842
Richard W. Weedon	1843 – 1848
George W. Clifford	1849 – 1853
Hebron Molair	1854 – 1855
John Goodwin	1856 – 1857
James A. Goodwin	1857 – 1857
Thomas K. Davis (sheriff & jailor)	1857 – 1859
Charles Wright	1860 – 1867
Elbert Wright	1868 – 1869
Wallace N. Tansill	1869 – 1871
John T. Goodwin	1871 – 1873
John H. Butler	1873 – 1873
A. F. Woodyard	1873 – 1879
Mathew Woodyard	1880 – 1880
John S. Tyler	1880 – 1893