Dispatch, January 3, 1889

Untitled

Infrastructure -- Public : ChurchesMoral -- Murder

Onancock, January 1, 1889.

The remains of the late Rev. George Bradford, who died suddenly here last Saturday night of heart-disease, were taken to Hollies Baptist church to-day, near Pungoteague, where the funeral services were held in the presence of a large concourse of people. Rev. John W. Hundley, pastor of the church, conducted the services, after which the body of the venerable minister was laid to rest in the old church-yard beside the ashes of his ancestors. The deceased was lineally descended from one of the original settlers of the Eastern Shore, who in the early part of the seventeenth century took up all the land living in what has been known since then as Bradford's Neck, on the seaside. Up to a short time before the war the most of this land had remained in the Bradford family. The deceased was a man of fine mind and very remarkable memory. Though not a student he was perhaps the best-informed man on the early history of the Eastern Shore, and doubtless many interesting and valuable facts of local history have perished with him. His mother, who some time ago died at the ripe old age of ninety years, had seen and talked with Elijah Baker, who somewhere about 1780 established the first Baptist church on the Eastern Shore, near what was then known as Dale's Gift. Mr. Bradford had been in the Baptist ministry for fully fifty years, and was always welcomed into Eastern Shore homes as a genial and delightful companion. He had marked talent as a humorist, and was universally popular, especially with the young. He was almost patriarchal in appearance, and used to tell how he had been thrice taken for the President of the United States -- twice in Maryland and once in Virginia.

The failure to secure an analysis of the stomach of William Taylor, who is supposed to have died some time ago from the effects of poison administered by his wife, has caused the trial of Mrs. Taylor to be postponed till the next term of the County Court. In the mean time she is contained in jail, and appears to be in excellent spirits. Some of the testimony before the grand jury that found a true bill against her yesterday was very damaging. In her statement before the coroner's jury she confessed to having bought strychnine in Temperanceville some time last October, but said her husband had sent her after it and had given her the money to pay for it. It was proved yesterday that on the day that Mrs. Taylor purchased the poison her husband was down Gargatha bay catching fish, and when he returned home found his wife absent with his horse and carriage, and he had to borrow a neighbor's team to bring his fish &c., home from the landing. Evidence was also adduced to show that improper relations existed between Mrs. Taylor and James Dix alias Townsend, who lived with the Taylors and helped in working the farm, and that Taylor some time before his death had spoken to some of his intimate friends about his wife's conduct. She has always borne a bad name in the community, and this tends to strengthen the suspicion against her. For several days past James Dix has not been seen about Modest Town, and it is believed that he has left the State. The agent at Hallwood informs your correspondent that Dix came to the station Saturday afternoon and inquired when the next north-bound train would come along. He remained till the freight-train arrived, and then disappeared and has not been seen here since. Suspicion against him as an accomplice of Mrs. Taylor is very strong, but as yet no evidence has been brought to light that would justify his arrest.