The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-02-23
jury that the time was so,near at hand when

jury That the time was so'near ut hand whe.
their arduous duties Wese.to be brought tor
close. They occupy the position of arbite
between the oppressed citizen on the on
band, aud the prisoner arraigne,
Tor trial on the othsr.. It
tune, If the testimony justitfes 1t, that som
example should be made, in order that tb
laws OF this land may be carried out. Her,
We pnd that Innocence Is drIpoh from hi
paradise and the iueeDdiary wieti r Eamins
tsword destroys everything before tiim. TAX
ing all he surroundings, il, after defibera
tien OF falS evidence, you find reasonable
hypothesis for foubt, it Is your duty to- ac
qcit him; if, on the other hand, there be nc
such Tessoagele doubt ef his guilt, it is-yonr
lduty To- EEonaance verdict of guilty, b
the penalty what it nay. Colonel lhmbeYl
then Procecaed to saTtbat it was first neces.
sary 70 find whether this burning was dome
In the night.sAne, and read from the books
to show what IS meant by "uight-tine."
He then. reviewed the testimony on this
point, and concluded that it was beyond alt
question that this dwelling house, or barn
| occupetr as a dwelling at the time of the
| fire. was burned 10 the nighttime. He next
argued that from the evidence it was proven
that the barn was occupied as dwelling at
the time, and that Hildrey Page, as young
As he IL, has shown maligDity worthy OF
the greatest criminal, and he is Is who did It,.
He then again: reviewed all the testimony,
and dWelt especially Hpon that Of Wilson
tCary in relation to the OYerepat and the ad-
vice which Hiidrey gave him not to wear It
down to the barn because something was
going to happen that night; +; his (Page's)
knowledge of the fire when it was separated
not only by partition but By another room,
and his suspicious lingering ut the door after
Wilson Cary and Phil. Epps had gone back
to sleep. --. .t... - ..s.
In concluding, he could conceive of no
crime which should receive greater punish.
ment than to be sheltered aud fostered and
kindly treated and to return this kindness
with ingratitude and revenge He hoped
the jury would take the case and perform
their duty faithfully and well. ... ..
WAITING FOB THE VERDICT.
The concluding argument was brought to
close at ten minutes to O'Clock, when the
case was given to the jury and they were
taken to their room. During their absence
there were many speeuations as to the re-
suit. A few persons declared that they would
hang him, some said they would hang them
selves, while others expressed the opinion
that they would send him to the penitentiary.
THE VERDICT.
The anxious crowd had not long to wait,
however, for after an absence Of twenty-five
minutes the jury came again into the court.
room, and after responding to their names,
the clerk said Gentlemen of the jury, have
you agreed upon verdict!
alr. Woodbridge: We have, sir.
The Clerk : Hildrey Page, stand up.
The prisoner stood up. -
The Clerk: Gentlemen of the jury. look
upon the prisoner. What say you, is he
guilty of the felony of which he stands in-
dicted or not guilty?
Mr.. Woodbridge Guilty.
The clerk, taking the indictment, read g.:
"We, the jury, find the prisoner
equity
"as charged in the third count in the indict.
ment"
The third count is as follows:
"For burning certain other house, a
barn, and stable OF +. u. Rutfin on the 29ih
of July, 1874, at the hour of , O'Clock in the
night, the same being an clubhouse, not nd.
Joining the dwelling.hOu'e nor under the
y (
same roof, but some persons usually lodging
therein ut Gight-to wit: Philip Epp5, VIII
liam Otey, George Preston, William Caring.
ton, and Carter Booker"
The names Of the jurymen were called out,
and each one, after being asked by the judge
if he agreed to the verdict, responded in the
affirmative,
The court discharged the jury, and com.
mended them highly for their patience aud
attention. He remarked that in all OF his ex-
perence he had never seen more faithful
venlre.
The counsel for defence moved to set aside
the verdict as being contrary 10 law and the
evidence, and said hat they'Would argue the
motion to-day.
Mr.. Wise said that he had consulted with
the attorney for the Commonwealth and
he had concluded to ask the court 10 dis
charge Silas Fowlkes, who is now in Jail
under Indictment for burning Colonel Ruf-
fiu's barn. He did not believe the evidence
against him sufficient to warrant his contine-
mcnt for Il longer period. The court con-
scnted, and Fowkes will be brought over
and discharged TO day.
In conclusion, it may be very Justly re-
marked that no trial has ever been more
fairly conducted than that OF Hildrey Page.
And Chesterfield may be congratulated upon
having one of the most hish'mlnded and
honorable circuit judges who has ever graced
the ermine in this old Commonwealth.