The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-09-02
all eyes were directed to him as the guilt,

all eyes were directed to him as the guilty
/ incendiary.
Mr.. Ruf1in could scarcely believe, could
not realize, but it forced itself on his con-
| yiction that the very boy whom he had
raised almost from infancy, who had always
! proved himself honest, industrious, capable,
and faithful; who had earned the conf
dence Of a master and family; who had
/ established for himself that kind Of affec-
ton which always exists between every good
master and every servant who merited it,
should turn out hisarch enemy, was almost
too much for his credulity. 1t was shock
he was little prepared to receive-a truth he
took little pleasure in contemplating. Under
this state of feeling he resolved to move
his family to Richmond, and was actually
forced to leave his home, exiled from his
/ own property, and compelled at old age to
J seek Safety and quiet In the crowds OF city,
llncongenial to his tastes under any circum-
stances, but peculiarly painful under those
that existed.
Detectives Knox, Craddock, and Wren
were next called in to work up the case, and
Wren succeeded in getting n negro boy
named Wesley to get into Hillary's conf
dence. On the 9th Of February the follow
ing dialogue ensued between Hillary and
Wesley
Wesley: Well, Page, what do you think
OF that job?
Page: Well, l don't know; is there any
money in it?
Wesley: Yes; I get S100 month for
burning peoples hoaIses. That is my busi-
ness. / am employed by white gentle
man.
Page: That is very bad.
Wesley: Yes; but / want q partner
that understands business, and if you don't
like it you can do as you please.
Page: Well, / have done that sort .oi
thing, but I did not get any money for it.
Wesley: Well, Mr.. johnson wants mc to
burn house and I am going get $50 as
soon as the job is done, and I will give you
half.
Page: Well. am your. man, because
have done it OIL one plantation twelve OF
thirteen times, and it never has been found
out who did it.
Wesley: Well, il that is so you are the
man am looking for; how did you do it
Page: Well, set the dwelling-house on
fire with paper, and light-wood, and kero-
sene oil; and l set the barn on fire with just
one match. The hay was dry and one match
did the business
This led to an engagement to meet Mr.
johnson, who turned out to be none other
than Detective John Wren. To him Tin the
presence of Mr.. j. F. Sampson) he confessed
everything, having been made victim Of
misplaced confidence. On the 10Th OF Feb
ruary, 1875, he was arrested, examined be-
fore magistrate, and sent to the grand jury
for indictment.
THE TRIALS.
His trial was commenced on the 10Th o
February. He was prosecuted by Colonel
William Ambers, as Commonwealth's attor
ncy, assisted by Mr.. George D. Wise, o
Richmond. The prisoner came into cour
without having employed counsel. IWt
gentlemen, Messrs. B. A. Hancock and D
L. Pulliam, one Of whom was designated
by Page NIr. Pulliam), were appointed bl
the court to defend him. His trial was Ions
and tedious, though it excited the interes
OF many people, both black and White, ant
the courthouse was crowded to its utmos
capacity during the whole time. His con
fession was sustained in all its parts by th'
array of strong .circumstantial evidence
produced by the prosecution but more par
ticularly by the negro Cad Cary, his play
mate. He testified that Page had told hin
that he meant to 60 away, and that he mean
to make his mother 60 to town by destroy
ing everything on the place. That on an
other occasion he had seen Page dip plec
of rome in the tar-barrel, and after 1t hat
become saturated with tar he fished it ou
and wrapped it in newspaper, and tol(
him not to tell that he had it. 1t was alS'
shown that the pipe OF the cooking-stoVe
, when removed. had been found full OF pa
; per and feathers saturated with Kerosene
oil.
) The jury on the evening OF the 22d
February, after having retired about tifteel
minutes, returned verdict OF equity"
THE INDICTMENTS AND THEIR RESULTS.
The indictments against Pagc-four j,
number-were found on the 18th day 0
February, 1875. He was arraisned for ilrs
!, trial February 10, 1915. February 22d tn
Jury returned q verdict OF guilty as charged
in the third count Of the indictment. Ihl
case was taken to the Supreme Court, wher
it was ordered that the verdict of the jury
| against him on the third count be set asid
and the cause be remanded to the Circul
Court for a new trial to be had therein OF
the said third count, for the offence OF felo
niously and maliciously burning barn an'
stable as therein charged.
He was not tried a second time on tina
Indictment.
The indictment upon which he was frs
tried in the first count charged that tn
house burnt was the dwelling Of F. G. Ruf
fin. In the second it was charged to be tn
dwelhng-house of Philip Epps and others
In the third count it was described as Ger
tain house called barn and stable OF on
F. G. Ruffin, the same being an out-hous
not adjoining the dwelling-house, nor un
der the same roof, but some persons usual.
lodging therein at night. The verdict o
guilty, as charged in the third count
amounted to an acquittal rs charged IN tn
first and second counts. He was tried th
second time at the November term, 1873, 0
the Circuit Court Of Chesterfield county
held in Manchester.
He was tried upon another indictment fol
burning the real dwelling-house OF r. G
Rufin. Numerous exceptions were tahel
during the progress OF the trial. Inc lurI
returned a verdict of guilty, rs charged
The prisoner was sentenced 10 deatn, Du
the execution of sentence was suspended II
allow time for an appeal.
The day for his execution was fixed IL
December, 1875, but writ OF error wa
allowed, and OF course the sentence wa
suspended. The case was argued IN TIT
Supreme Court last winter, and they. were
unanimous in sustaining every ruling o.
the Judge of the Circuit Court during tn
second trial. After this he was carried
again before Judge w Weisiger, holding the
May term (1S76) of his court, and the day
OF his execution was fixed in July. Before
that day arrived the Governor, at the ear
nest solicitation Of some humane gentle
men, granted him respite to the first Fri
day in September for the purpose OF having
Ia "a tfx-f h1y