Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-04-13
ATROCIOUS VILLAINY.

~ NOClOOS NILLAINY
We noticed in shor, paragraph in our last paper the
destruction by fire Of In. Court House of Hartford
County, IN. CO. and have since received the following
particulars OF that disastrous event in letter from
friend at Win,on dated on Tuesday.
Our village was alarmed yesterday morning about
clock, by the cry OF fire. and il discovered that
the Court House and adjoining Offices were wrapped in
flames! The bre spread with such rapidy a. to render
1t impossible to save the records of the Court which
win the building in which they were aimed fell
prey to the devouring element. The Jail took FIRE pc.
vcrai times and the prisoners turned out to assist
IN extnguishing 1t. The Stage Hotel, kept by Mr. c.
NJ smith directly opposite, narrowly escap.d for some
lime II was thought 10 be impossible save liz & if il had
taken hre' the whole square must have shared the fate
OF the Court House they were saved, however bv
great eSertion, and the Circumstance OF light breeze
blowing the flakes of fire in a contrary dire cton
1t could be doubted for a nome mt that IL was the
act OF an cendiary, and suspicion rested on person
VINO was under State prosecution for forgery but adj
United to ball. and who lived about rs or 80 miles d-
tant Tbs suspicion was strengthened by the fact that
The noise OF horse going Of town al full speed bad
been heard just before the alarm given and az N
the conjecture we'll founded) he must nsc.ssariiv
pass through Murfreesborongh his way home
messenger was forthwith despatched to that town az
miles from Wnton) to put the citizens the alert TO in.
orcePt or overtake him. This vigilance our part wa.
crowned with complete 'uccess. The incend,ry proved
to be nely unkro in this part of the country
After p@rpe'ratng the foul deed he had noun ted his
horse TO return 10 Northampton where he belop ocd
bh' being ignorant Of roads ha missed his way So
That he did not get to Murfre esborouch until after oar
messenger lad arrived therr; ard il being BY that time
arOunl
OF tho town discovered, but he was detected ami by
twelve o'clock, safely moored to The ring bolt, of our
Jail.
He has confessed The fact in every particular and
,ses mat ne Vas hirsd TO commit tho act by WRIGHT
ALLEN, the person al fret .u,pected with view Of
destroying the forged bond which he sppo.ed 10 be FL.
ed away in the Clerks office, and thereby defeating the
prosecution, which was 10 have como in Gate.-the
Judge having removed the trial last week to that coun-
" but in this he has been dsspponed-tLe Clerk had
the bond and records relating 10 the pro;ecuiion AZ HE
house in Mnfree borough, making copies TO take 10
Gates; and they the only papers that were out Of
the oifte when the fire occurred. Allen il t,ken and
confined With his adjunct in this villanous af,ir."
| We have learned some further particulars from yen.
emsn who arrived in Wednesdays stage from Muir
peterborough. The negro being scored the Sheriff
was seut With posse, TO apprebend his employer whom
they found al bic resdencc. He spurned the accuse
ton protested his ignorance Of the whole affair."
ring that he knew nO'hng OF the negro that he would
aot dare, IN his presence TO charge him with 20 foul
Grim sud refused 10 be taken into custody, until adj.
mon'hed by the Sheriff that he must 90 with him Ell
thor dcdd or alive; when he succumbed. In order TO
test the truth Of his declaration that he and the negro
were utter strangers 10 each other number OF gentle.
men severay passed i'm review before the latter
and the question asked in relation TO each l. Uai
the man who employed you" 10 which he answered in
the negative, until tie prisoner was brought before
hin, when, without waiting for the question, no cx-
claimed That is the very mani" lie stated tia, the
prisoner hsd contracted to give him 800 and suit nj
clothes lof burning the G. House That he reached win.
ton on sunday night and having procured fire, proceed.
Ell Al ont midnight To put in practice his nefarious er
rand; but the night being very dark and fearing lest he
might apply Inc torch the wrong house he kindlsd
fire on tie beach, by the light Of which ho was ena.
bled 10 Distinguish the Court House anil having set fire
to IT, he remained until he it in hsmes, and then
OF homewsfd The consequence Of The destruction oil
The records, compiling those Of The superior well
The county court, may readily be supposed 10 be serious
and affecting, involving The CELEBRATION 10 nnmbercs