Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1870-03-31
letter from Westmoreland GO.

MoNTRoss, Westmorland County, Virginia,
March 26,h, 1870, -Intelligence has been re-
ceived here to day Of a most a~trociOus murder
committed last night in King George county.
| The circumstances, as related By q gentleman
who passed through our village this afternoon,
Immediately from the scene Of The outrage, arc
these: The storchousc Mr.. Frederick W.
Paync, situated about five miles above Oak
Grove, Immediately upon the ridge road lead
ing to Fredericksburg, was discovered to be on
fire about one o clock in the night. The first
alarm given was caused Ivy the explosion OF Il
key of gunpowdcr ignitcd by the flames. MIR.
Austin Rollins and several other gentlemen
residing near bY, being aroused by the cXplo
sion, proceeded at once to the store to render
assistance. Upon their arrival they found 10
living soul present, while the levouring flames
nuickened by a strong March wind prevailing
at the time, were making short work of the
STORE and its contents. Their fears We're at
once aroused Tor the safety OF q youth employ
ed by Mr.. Payne as a salesman, and in whose
charge the store was lett at nleht-Mr. RS
own residence being about O mile distant. A
soon as POSSIBLE examination was made, and
the body OF the youth, Willie Jet, was found
buried in a bulk4of corn that had not yet been
consumed by the fire. His throat mad been cut
sufficiently to produce death, and there were
marks OF severe blows upon the head. Alter
dwight further research discovered the iact
that the Door boy had been murdered IN the
woods near bv, and the body then taken back
to the fire. 1t may be, he attempted escape
and was overtaken. From the numbered tracks
about the store, and to and from the place OF
murder. it is supposed there were not less than
eight or ten engaged in it. The object OF the
hcarlless wretches was, OF course, the mere
plumber Of the goods in the store, and TO a'uue
detection they resorted to the internal agencies
of fire and murder 10 cover their track.
MONDAY, March 2Sth.-Throueh several
gentlemen from the neighborhoGl Of Oak Grove
in attendance upon court here today. | am
pratifcd to learn that seven of the party lln PHI.
Gated in this fiendish outrage have been arrest
ed. and arr now 10 jail in King George, bound
in irons, and the jill strongly guarded. These
are Ill blacks, and so far as their CONCESSIONS
70, 10 white persons are implicated. Ihe first
three were arrested by Capt. g.. g.. Roblcson
and Mr.. VIM. i. Spi!man on Saturday night.
They were taken On the Rappahannock river
while making their way to Essex county wltii
4 boat load of the stolen goods. Information
received from these led to the arrest iast night
oil two otners, tenants upon the farm OF DR..
Thos. r. Dittg, near Maddox. a gentleman
fro:n King George on his way TO court here
this morning, met two more arrested IN Essex
county, and on their way to jail III custody OF
constable G. q. Jones.
Many of the statements OF these prisoners
arc conflicting, but enough has been gathered
from them 10 justify the hope that the whole
party, numbering Il dozen or more, Will be
spcedily captured. The most intense excite
mcnt | learn prevails throughout King George,
and through al! The upper portion OF this
county, and there is i general turnout OF the
,:;ro,. pn,,lipn ANN 06lnrnn man who arc
assisting to procure the capture OF every one l;
ali implicated in this triple crime OF burglary,
murder and arson. The wholly unprOvokcd
and horrible hatchery CT al Innocent boy, III
CAPABLE Of self defeuce in the hands OF a dozen
powcrtul black men, committed IN the dead
hour Of night, when their helpless victim was
entirely without the reach OF assistance or Of
possible rescue, has justly aroused tn" InlIgna
ton Of the whole community, and no one Will
be surprised If the most summary measures are
resortcd to in meteing out the punishment due
to the savage perpetrators.
One OF the men arrested is m Old offender.
Immediately after the election last summer, lie
lead Il party OF his color, who undertook
to mob q colorcd man 10 this village because
he had voted the Conservative ticket. llIs
name is Warner, formerly 4 slave on the lay
Tor estate near Loelstown in this county. Sew.
eral others of this party Of murdcrcrs are from
| the same estate, and rather distinguished tor
their oft committed ~viilanies.
| learn that Mr.. Payne holds Z policy Of in
suranca from the Southern Mutual Fire lnsur.
ancc Company OF Richmond for 81 500 upon
| his storehcusc and goods. This, il Is ought,
! will about cover his loss ir goods. Mr. J.. Is
q son OF the late Tiins. f.. Payne, formerly 81
your city.
This was the day designated Tor the spring
| lawn, ri AVN ,iro,,;k ,o,,,E hat thn indigo tnOllDn
TO enter his appearance upon The bench, 10
court was held. This was anticipated, mas
much as he did not appear to hold tue regular
term in King George last week. The nnly IL
teIliccncn We have had from the Judge l., That
| he is in Richmond. Several OF the more sim
pc minded drnizans Of King George, who at
tended court there under summons to act as
Jurors and witnesses, Wcre heard to express the
| opinion that His Honor might have thought
to give some public notice of his purpose, and
not call them unnecessarily from their plOughs
and anvils. Probably the warlike aspect OF
affairs in Richmond about that time, caused
the Judge to conclude, upon the principle inter
| arma, silent Ie1es, that courts were impractl-
cable.
Although the absence OF the Judge was anti
| cipatcd in this county, the appointments OF
circuit and county courts being colncldcnt,
there was the usual attendance of the citizens.
There was no session, however, Of the lower
court the justices being in doubt OF Their legal
authority to act, ana our sheriff and his deputy
in a great muddle about their tenure OF oIhcc.
In the absence Of any judicial proceedings,
the citizens held 4 public meeting to give cx-
preston to the general scntimentof the county
10 regard to the best means Tor the relief OF
| the debtor class. The meeting was presided
over by Col. Thos. Brown, and addressed by
Gen. Bealc ami VIM. ". Walker, esq. q
committee with Mr. JOHN /. Rice As chair
man, was appointed to draft resolutions. A
copy of these resolutions | will c~picavor to
procure and send you. Is.
TIE STATE JU]DIcIARY.-Wc subjoin 4 com
plete list Of circuit Judges under the recon
structcd judicial system Of the Commonwealth
l.. George Blow, jr., OF Norfolk city: . s.
S. Weisigcr, Of Amelia county. 3. Asa d.
Dickinson, of Prince Edward CO. + VIM NJ.
| Tro3nnp ~ D;tteyluori, on EuSt