The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-02-26
A FULL CONFESSION.
The Chest sterf7eId FtresFiend Tells
What He Knows About
House Burning.

Hildrey Page. the young colored man who
is under sentence of death for burning in
the nighttime dwelling on the farm Of Col.
onel Frank 6. Ruffin, in Chesterfield county,
is confined in the Jail of this city. He was
long employed by Colonel Rufin as sta.
bIe-hand, and during the year 1874 used bis
leisure moments ia firing all the build.
ings on the place. He applied the torch
twelve or thirteen times, and succeeded in
causing the total destruction of four or five
houses, Including an clubhouse usually occu-
pied by farm.hands, for which crime he was
tried and convicted.
Yesterday morning q representative Of this
paper went 70 the Jail TO have some converse
ton with the condemned. He is confined in
one of the strongest cells the prison affords.
In the night he wears shackles, chained to
the floor. In the daytime they are taken off
and replaced by ball and chain, and he
is allowed to walk about the inner jail.yard.
Deputy Sergeant Briggs opened the heavily
barred gate leading into this yard, aud called
out "Hidrey Page" Hildrey was no doubt
in his cell then, and probably could not
hear; but two or three Of the other
prisoners repeated the call, and be re.
sponded "Here.a AS he came forth he
slung the ball, which is fastened to bis
leg by clasp and chain, over his shoulder,
and walked to where Mr.. Briggs, Mr.. John
Wren, and the representative of the Dis
patch were standing. He vas asked if he
bad anything to say which he cared to have
published. He without hesitation replied that
he had no objection to telling anything be
knew. Looking at him, as he talked in milo
ard rather careless way, there was notElng
10 indicated brutal or ierocious character. He
IS seventeen CT eighteen years of age, but ap
pears twenty ortWeuty-onc, and is full-groWD
On his upper lip there is the first faint symp
toms OF a moustache. bis face seems like ar
honest one, and bis eyes arc clear and kindly
but little restless. His hair is cut mode
ratc!y close, and he wears dark cap. lie j:
manly in form. and so far from revealing BIZ
uue character b. disappearance, is more pre-
possessing than Iegroee of his age usually
are
lie converscd in quiet sort Of way, an(
used but fe~ words. but was altogether o
case.
Reporter Hiidrey, want you to tell mt
ali about the burning of Colonel Rutin'I
houses. Did you have any help:
UiIdreS: no, sir: done it all myself.
Didn't your mother tell you not to burr
any of the LouSes:
No, sir: she didn't know anything about
it.
Didn't your father know?
Ns sir; never told nobody.
Well, HiIdrey, tell me the truth what in
duced you to burn the houses:
Well, l hardly know how 1t was.
couldn't stop myself. The devil moved me
on.
You say the devil inspired you to set fire
to the houses; couldn't you resist him?
No. Sometimes | tried to, but couldn't
He kept tugsing at me.
Had Colonel Rutfin ever been unknd to
you?
No.
Had you any il-reeling towards him or
any Of his family5
No.
Did you fIl up that stove-pipe with the
cumbustible stuff found in 1t?
No; had nothing to do with that.
How did you sleep last night after the SEN
tencc?
l didn't sleep very well. l was awake
almost all night. I couldn't 60 to sleep for
thinking.
How did you employ yourself?
/ got up and prayed some.
lave you any hope of pardon?
No, sir.
How do you propose TO spend the time
from now TO the 30th Of April, when you are
to be executed?
l am going to pray.
Has any minister of the gospel been visit
ing you!
No; but Judge Weisiger promised to send
one over from Chesterfield 10 talk with me.
Here Mr.. Wren, through whose instru
mentality chiefly Page was arrested. and
brought to justice, asked Page if he bore him
any ill-will. Page replied "No."
Reporter: Hildrey, are you satisfied that
you had a fair and impartial trial!
Hildrey: Yes.
Was the statement made by Mr.. Wren on
your trial correctI
Yes, sir.
When you tried to leave Mr.. Wren's room
on the night Of the arrest, What was your
purpose!
/ was going away.
Hildrey, when you felt like setting fire to
a house didn't you have it in your power to
control yourself!
No, sir.
Have you given up all hope of lifeS
Yes, sir.
After this talk he was sent back to bis cell.
1t is evident that the condemned man does
not altogether appreciate the gravity OF his
situation, though he says he does. His frame
of mind is not what may be called cheerful
nor on the other hand is he thoroughly cast
down. 1t is difficult to understand his feel
ings. lie is tolerably intelligent, and his be
havior in prison is good. From. the fact that
some books of an immoral character were
found upon his person when he was arrested
it is supposed he can read, and that in
other respects than incendarism he has beer
deviating from the strict paths Of virtue anG
honesty.
CHANcERY COURT OF RICHMOND, THURS
DAY-Judge Ed,rard II. Ftzhugh presiding
The following cases were disposed Of:
Slaters administrator Us. Warwick, &c