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January 14, 2021 / Joanne Yeck

Buckingham County Crimes: The Murder of Meade Hanes, Part I

buckingham county, crime

Well Water, Virginia. Postal Map, 1896.

In the spring of 1913 a shocking murder took place near Well Water in Buckingham County, Virginia. On May 5, Mott Robertson Glover shot and killed Meade Hanes. The following day, the news was reported in Richmond under the headline: “Confesses Crime And Surrenders: Mott Robertson Glover Tells Officers Of Shooting Meade Hanes.”

A short article introduced readers of Richmond’s Times-Dispatch to a story that they would follow well into the summer. Details were sketchy and this report, sent from Buckingham, was printed on May 6:

Mott Robertson Glover came here this afternoon [Buckingham Court House] and stated that he had shot Meade Hanes in a field on the Hanes farm. Young Hanes is a boy about sixteen years old, and son of Supervisor J. B. Hanes. Mr. Glover gave himself up to the officers of the law and was placed in jail. He made no statement as to why he committed the deed, but it is current rumor here that Glover and young Hanes were pleased with the same young woman. Mr. Glover is a son of Charles L. Glover, of this county, and the nephew of R. G. Robertson, of Lynchburg. Sen. Hanes Gale (sic) has been employed as counsel for defense.*

There was a large crowd here in attendance at the good roads meeting, but there was so much excitement caused by the shooting that the meeting broke up at once.

*Sen. Sands Gayle.

This report, though brief, was essentially accurate and would be repeated and elaborated in many articles to follow.

Over the coming weeks, Slate River Ramblings readers have the opportunity to experience this lengthy and tragic story just as it unfolded in 1913. Here’s hoping it will capture your interest as it did mine.

Coming Next: Buckingham County Crimes: The Murder of Meade Hanes, Part II

← Buckingham Houses: Locust Dale, Part VI

Buckingham County Crimes: The Murder of Meade Hanes, Part II →

34 Comments

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Joanne Yeck / Jan 28 2021 1:44 pm

This comment was submitted by Harry S. Holman:

Meade Hanes’ death was one of the major tragedies of Buckingham County. When I first went to “Humanity Hall as a youth, the people in that community still had vivid images of the slaying of that boy. He was standing near the road, below the house when he was mortally shot on that day. I could show you the exact spot. His old home was originally a Holman home, bought by Col. Elijah Hanes in 1848. He was the founder of the famous Humanity Hall Academy–a classic school for boys in that part of Virginia. The school was continued by his son, Maj. Garland Hanes and his wife Mary Blackwell Hanes, daughter of Dr. John C. Blackwell and his wife, the former Mary Bretonia Letcher (sister of Gov. John Letcher and first cousin once removed to Pres. Sam Houston of Texas). Meade Hanes’ father, J. Blackwell Hanes of “Humanity Hall,” was a child of that union. When Meade was murdered, he lived with his parents and his father’s sister, Sallie E. Hanes, who was a teacher and a dear friend of my Grandmother Holman. She often visited in that home when the two of them were mere girls. Sallie died young. Meade’s mother was the former Ada Carter. She and her husband had four children: Meade, born about 1899, Carter, born in 1903, J. Blackwell, Jr. (b. 1907), and Elijah Houston (b. 1910). The girl in the story who captured Meade’s heart was Evie Clyde Holman, daughter of Samuel Leake and Virginia Whythe Eldridge Holman. They lived where Alton Hanes lives today–just below Hanes’ Chapel Church.

The grief of this event caused the collapse of Mr. Hanes, who was at a government meeting in Buckingham C. H. He and his wife sold “Humanity Hall” about ten years after the murder. The purchasers were Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Charlton. I personally knew her, and in her last years she lived in a house along Route 20 nearer Slate River. After the Charltons left “Humanity Hall,” it was sold to Humanity Hall Hunt Club. This was a very active group when I was born, and the property was managed by Mr. Charles Spencer of Buckingham C. H. Mr. Brooks, who was the Pres. or Vice-Pres. of C. & O. Railroad was a member of the group. I remember him staying at “Humanity Hall” when he was about ninety-five years old. The Club sold the property a few years ago to Mr. and Mrs. Ray Stokes of Lynchburg, Virginia, who are active in the business of marketing period antiques. They have taken great care in restoring the old home to its former beauty. Mr. Blackwell Hanes died about 1923; but, his widow survived many years. She lived in Dillwyn and was still living in 1939. Carter Hanes graduated from V.M.I. in engineering in 1925 and went on and took a master’s degree in engineering. He taught at V.M.I. and later at Rutgers University in New Jersey. He came back to be an administrator at V.M.I., and I remember him still living in Lexington as a retired colonel. He corresponded with me in the late sixties or seventies. He later moved to Gloucester, Virginia, where he belonged to Ware Episcopal Church–where he was a leading churchman. He died while living in Gloucester on February 10, 1991. He married, but had no children. His brother J. Blackwell Hanes was a very important person in Dillwyn in my memory. He was known by his friends as “Blacky” Hanes, and he was remembered for having a drug store in Dillwyn. I remember visiting him at his lovely, brick home high above Route 60, near Buckingham C. H. He explained to me that in his youth the community in the vicinity of “Humanity Hall” was populated by most-excellent people. He married Miss Nancy Trible, whom I remember visiting on another occasion. She died in 1975, survived by Blacky and three daughters: Temple, Mrs. Temple Hanes Boitnott of Roanoke; Patti, Mrs. Patti Schmidt of Fullerton, California; and Elizabeth Hanes, Dr. Elizabeth Hanes Thomas of Chevy Chase, Maryland. Evie Clyde Holman later married a first cousin of Meade Hanes: Houston Gary of Buckingham–a descendant of Ayres Spencer– and they had a son–possibly other children. The son born to that marriage was Mr. Richard L. Gary of Richmond, Virginia, who owned one of the leading men’s clothing stores on Broad Street–not far from the Capitol. His store was named “Marshalls.” He has died in recent years and is survived by three children: Richard L. Gary of Richmond, Peggy Gary of Virginia Beach, and Abby Gary Thomas of Mechanicsville, Virginia.

Reply
- Catherine Levering / Jan 28 2021 3:30 pm
  
  Mr. Holman,
  
  Thank you for providing these details and insight into the family of Meade Hanes.
  
  I have always wondered why a 30 year old man felt he was in competition was a 16 year old boy.
  
  If you would be so kind as to share some of your insights into my Glover and Christian families, I would be so grateful.
  
  Please let me know if it is possible to get in touch. Thank you
  
  PS – Joanne, I would be happy to provide you whatever information you would like in regards to this or the other Glover brothers incident. Additionally, I have pics and info on Bond Hundred, the current name of the Christian family home (in which Mott grew up in). Thanks again for all your efforts. So wonderful.
  
  Reply
Catherine Levering / Jan 28 2021 11:38 am

Mott’s older brother, Samuel Glover is my great grandfather. I just discovered this horrible incident last year while reviewing newspapers as part of my research. I won’t spoil the ending.

Seventeen years earlier in 1896, Sam and his oldest brother, Christian, were shot by a local man over some dispute. Both survived.

Mott, Sam and Christian are the are the sons of Charles Lindorf Glover and his wife, Anna Elizabeth “Bettie” Christian.

If anyone has information on either family, I would greatly appreciate if you could get in touch with me.

Thanks to all who manage this site. Great information and fun facts.

Reply
- Joanne Yeck / Jan 28 2021 1:53 pm
  
  Catherine,
  
  Many thanks for your comment. I wonder how the incident involving Mott’s older brothers affected him. Lots of installments to come concerning the murder of Meade Hanes.
  
  Joanne
  
  Reply
buckctyva / Jan 20 2021 3:00 pm

I am excited to see how this plays out.

Reply
- Joanne Yeck / Jan 20 2021 3:51 pm
  
  Thanks for your comment. Lots to come!
  
  Joanne
  
  Reply
Doug Wright / Jan 14 2021 7:31 am

You’re right, this is interesting. Anxiously awaiting the rest of the story.

Reply
- Joanne Yeck / Jan 14 2021 7:33 am
  
  Doug,
  
  Thanks for your comment. Many, many installments to come.
  
  Joanne
  
  Reply

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