The New York herald., 1876-09-02
THE DEATH PENALTY.
Execution Of Hillary Page, the
Virginia Fire Fiend.
END OF A CRIMINAL CAREER.
Page C0nfesSes His Guilt and Admits the Justice
Of His Punishment.
RICHMOND, Va, Sept !, 1876

penalty OF his to-day the Court House OF that
county, by stranguation, in little less time than
twenty minutes He taken from the jail Of Hen
rico county, where had been confined for safe keep
ing, this morning at O'clock aud was conveyed
in covered wagon strongly guarded Chester Court
House, distance OF over fourteen miles. The wagon
and guard there at eleven and he confined
In the county jail till hapast twelve. During this
time he visited by members Of the press whom
he stated that he guilty OF the crimes OF which he
convicted that his sentence just and that he
had made his peace with his Maker. He was
composed, and seemed to be perfectly re-
signed to his terrible fate. The structure which
intended Tor a scanold iscrabe and horrible
contrivance. II consisted OF Two Embarked pine up
rights and a BEAM about twelve feet IN height,
beneath which few rough boards, three feet
Inches high, with trap in the centre, aud this
called the platform. II assembled by single step
from the ground and rickety and unsafe stand
At hafpast twelve O'Clock the condemned
driven from the jail to the place of execution,
rivng there at twelve minutes TO Soon atorward
he stepped nmby upon the boards and took his posi-
lion directly in the centre and tho trap door
c0lored clergyman then made a few appropriate
marks as . substitute for funeral Sermon and
another colorcd brother mado a very impressive
prayer.
THE EXECUTION
When the preacher left the boards the executioner
and assistant pinionsd the victim and then tied
pcce Of black cloth his face They took grun
farewell and stepped down. At seventeen minutes past
the prop jerked out by the executioner, the
doors swinging to tho right and left, and Page fell
rAGE's cKIMx.
From the 18th OF March, 1874 the 18th OF January
1875 q reign OF terror existed in the county OF
Chesterfield, caused by tho repeated midnight ap.
pcaon OF the torchlwithout detection. Sixteen times
fifteen OF these in the darkness Of night aud in
the broad daylight at IL A. L., had ilend in human
shape applied tire, attempted ignite the dwellings,
servants houses barns stables and other outhouses
pn plantation known Summer Hill, the and
residence OF Mr.. Frank G. Rurn For long
tho entire community OF Chesterfield were constantly
In state Of CONSERVATION, doubt gloom and anguish,
resulting from apparently never to TO satisfied
system OF midnight coniagrations Tho risk OF Mr..
itufu had become great that no insurance company
solution OF the terrible mystery OF the burnngs does
he probably owe it that tho homes Of himself and
family do not lie among the smoudering runs OF
numerous buildings. Mr.. Rutin employed a large
number OF negro servants, among whom were Hillary
Page, his wife, and daughter. His son, whose
name was also hillary, aged about nineteen years
was one OF Mr.. Runin's most trusted and ialth-
Iul doInestics Summer Hill IS situated about three
miles below this city, on the line OF tho Richmond and
Petersburg turnpike. Two hundred yards from The
road IN ma a 'nick grove. !" Mr. kalhn's maasion
blackcned chimney, tho solo remaining monu-
ment Of a cottage which was occupied by Mr..
18th Of March, 1874 1t discovered about eight
O'Clock A. NJ, Mr. Ruin, Jrs attention being called
1t by the exclamation oi one OF the negroes.
''LoE', FRANK, FEE?"
They were halt mile Oh, working IN field, and at
that timc the nanes were bursting from the roof OF
the house BY the time Mr. Ruinn could II with
his help the flames had made surh Roadway that there
nothing LETT to do but try to save the iurpiture
burned TO the ground and 1t generally regarded
most unfortunate but exceedingly mysterious
cdent
THE SECOND FIRE
On the night oi the 23d OF March, 1874 just ten
days after tho burning OF tho cottage and when all
family were wrapped In peaceful siumber ut the hour
of one A. NJ, they we're startled and aroused by the
cry OF "FIre fire, lire. J." Mr.. Ruhn rapidly,
and found Hillary Page, Jr., who gave the alarm.
and stated that the stable fire. Every
soul on the place at once quickly aroused
the horses but tandipg their Efforts tour out
OF the i've animals which were in the stable were
roasted and burned alive ono only being saved.
Everything else connected with the stable was de-
Broyed.
DWELLING
Mr. Ruffn, having gone 10 Danviiic on business
the 3lst OF March, 1874 his the house TO
assist in taking OF the iamiiy A little before
day break on the following morning old Hillary Page
up from The servants house to the Kitchen in
ihc basement OF the dwelling kindle the fire his
vile, who was cook, to get breakfast He discovered
that tho basement iull OF smoke, but could find
20 fire. There were no embers in the fireplace and
becoming satisfied that The house Itself
Oh ire, he gave the ALARM Mr.. Ruliu, Jr.,
aroused by his aunt, who said, "For Gods
FAKE, FrauK, get up; the house 10 on fire" He
down stairs and by that timo II was found that the
smoke WAS issuing from the floor OF large porch
wnch the whole length OF the of the building
level with tho second story The floor ripped
up The frc cxtinguished which this er
rbly daboical attempt at Wholesale murder arson
After this attempt tho properly more closely
and for four weeks no fresh attempts made aud
Ihe disturbed neighborhood had begun 70 grow quiet
THE TORCH
But they were long destined to remain in peace
On the night Of the 10Th OF April the dwelling house
was again fired. and exactly IN the same place be-
lore 1t the place OF all others 10 The total
destruction OF the house and ITS inmates had tue at
tempt proved successful Mr. Ruihn himself dlscov-
cred It, 1t was burning with full blsze, 1ut
lly ex,nguishcd with tho which had placed
ABOUT tue house in barrels.
THE rIESD STILL WORK.
Mr.. Rufhn secured heavy crop of hay, the last
load OF which had been stored away the 10Th july
1874, and arrangements had been made TO l
next day. Before morning. however at three % CLOCK
the barn discovered be on trc aud everything
In Il was destroyed except fourteen The
eighteen horses that were stabbed in il
Page. JE, went down 10 the barn and
NAMED there, contrary to his custom. In
gong there he accompanied by other negroes
fathcrs big coat TO soep to which Page responded
"Yeu had better not; something Is going TO happen to-
night, and you might not bring 1t back" HIS two
companions retired TO sleep ia the barn. leaving Page
sitting the doorway, and Ia Lzf hour ailcrward
he came and woke them up ana sand the barn
hrc They ran out and found ano,her negro ou,slGc
already "noilcring nrcn The fire. riglnated in the
% ives. end o, The building, iniy leo fee,
his manager arrived time To iourt,on
ol the borses Two other negroes again arrested
Tor tnis but they. too. discharged by the
lining magistrate About "A month iaIor negro named
Silas Fowkes also arrested charged with the burn
isy OF the farm, aud a very srong made
against him. He committed aud sent To tho
Grand Jury tor indictment, which accordingly took
place, and for the urst tlmc the community believed
they n solution OF the mysterious burnngs.
Hts trial to have taken place the 18Th oil ieu-
ruary, lssa
THE fiRxps LAST FINE.
Happily, however Tor fowSes, another terrible con-
nagration took place which was of such agrsnt and
baROarous nature to bring the pending mystery OF
the burnipgs cuminaioD resulting the sneStuil
discovery vi the incendsry. On the evening OF the
)Sgh Of January, 1878, Mr. Eutu detained Rich
lnond later than usual by meeting the State
Grange Accompanied by one oI hts sons be arrived
1t homo in timc Tor tea IL dark Page
WAS summoned take the horses to the stable "a
new one with n capacity lor only three horses and
"A carriage IL had only been constructed about two