Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-08-28
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LOCAL AfFAIAA

AAsos.-A case OF rather peculiar character vas
heard before the Mayor Saturday. II In reference
the firing Of hess Hatcher Gentry tobacco factors,
with which the Of tho latter member Of the firm has
been ideuused, but happy TO say only upon
thority that Il utterly Unreliable.
Zsiiel slave tho property Of Mrs. Aune Robinson
brought up charge Of setting Gre tho factory
OF Messrs. Hatcher & Genlry.
wil.on, slave. belonging to the estate Of the lso
John Finders, Esq. testified that he on his way
from the house Of Mr.. Palmer, Of tho executors
the late Mr.. L., he met with Nelson, slave belonging
tho estate at the OF 9Th street, Mr..
Saton residence and In the OF short conver.
ssliou no told him that Ezekiel admitted In his presence
that he hired By Mr. Gentry TO set Gro to the factory
He said IL he did So Mr. g. promised give him money
enough to hold him all hls Rc He said the chips were
already fixed to receive the fro, ard that he then
going to Mr.. Gentry for the key. The witness said he
did not kow EZEKIEL Lvos, himself, with Mr.. Palmer.
N,lsou the fellow who gave this Information precs
ing witness examined. He s,id that day 10 the
early part Of the week before last Ezekiel and himself had
conversation together, up stairs, lat tho factory,
suppose, where they both empoycd In the course
OF which Y. remarked, Il Ia worth while DO Ia
hurry, Mr.. Gentry Is abou. to employ some persou
burn the factory. lie (wness) replied that he believed
no was converted man. aud that God would ior.
give him " no had anything TO do with such affair."
The following Saturday night he was wedding and
on Sunday WAS taken sick. He continued until
gone to tho factory. Tho Tuesday previous Z,kei called
to him at Nr. STATIONS, during breakfast hour,
which was between or o'clock. Ito asked him II 40
the fire the night before Witness replied that he
merely the blaze from the door. Being sick no was
unable to go any to It. Ezekiel In the habit OF
going to see him whenever he sick. Ito mentioned
nothing to Mr. Palmer Of tSe relative to Mr.
Gentry's proposal TO Ezekiel as stated to him.
MI Samuel Buro0 manager In the factory Of Mcsars
Hatcher GENTRY, said when he FIRST the Hre on Mon.
day night 1t seemed to DO In the third story In corner
fronting the dock. He unlocked the office door, when he
discovered that wood partition between the factory and
Office was on fire, together with pile Of slaves back of L.
Ito Immediately set to work and took Of tho Office
everything Of value t. lie then used all exertions 10 nut
out the fire, and with tho aid of few OF tho Firem
who happened to come up succeeded In the mean time
.he IRE was raging In another part Of the building aud
JUST rs soon as the hsmes which consuming the
tlsion were e1tDguuhed person brought hs a,en
ton to the other part fire. Hs hurried 10 the scene
aud found there was general re and that il gained
siderable headway The first fire observed In rim,
garrett where appears lcorice was boiled that
day. WAS however, entirely eItiugushed before sun
se When he (vitness went to tho office door Il was
locked lie unlocked II and discovered upon entering
that the main door securely barred on the inside
lie removed the bar IRON Il in all haste to give free
cess to tho hremen Ii not possible for any person
to have entered by that door except by removing The
from inside which could only be done by entering
the ohee door The key Of that in his possession
and Mr.. Gentry, he believed had another for his
own convenience IL any remained In the Office he
coud not possibly have gotten except by
the door, There was iron grating in front OF all the
doWs on Gary street, but none tho windows fronting
the dock.
corner Of 2ls and Main street, about ten minute, before
the lire broke out The factory which was burned was
situated between elst and 22nd Cary He was
going in the direction OF Mr.. Wm Freemsns where hs
was in the habit OF stopping He about square and
hall from the scene OF tie fire when no lw,uess) mot
hm he never saw him about the factory at that hour
before he had In fact no business there after night fa
Being unaware that the factory on fire ut that time
no put no particular questions to him to where he had
been. The following day however, he asked him whore
he had bsen ana he said a house in Bird n.hapd: bu,
when asked TO go and psrcuare the house his answer
was that no could not do So Ilo admitted afterwards
that he had gone there to convey gal.
lie questioned Mr. Gentry the day after the FIRE as to
whether he had tue other key Of the Office and he replied
not. He said he would look for it. Thursday las, he
agan Inquired il he had found it. and tho reply was no.
Ralph an old negro employed the factory said that
he boiled some corce in the garrett the day on
which the fire took place. He felt confident of having
ernguished tho fire before leaving the factory The fire
by which the lcorce boiled was composed of coke
and wood The position OF the stove was ut the corner
opposite to where the flames first discovered There
was no Ere on the second floor that day any previous
time.
Ezekiel was committed until to day for further eIamna
ton.