Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1876-04-01
4 W asnll. n. County scn.n,.n

e,fafd inouf itei ssfeiritig cotftty of
/ Washington. il Hafy'ard wlliril we
I give ~ Of interrs; to some Of tlip rea-
drrs ~ tie lSDEPENDEvT, At beast :
Ia the nrjg5borin2 village of
D,wnsviilt.a Val ~ four MILES sinth
] % Willlauspor la Wasting on ro.
/ there has llvf,i t0r a number of wears
family of wealth and Influence by
the nameof Long. or iIiis family
two sons now survive. named rpSppc
lively Simon and benjamin, bet ween
whom for years an intense degree of
enmits has existed. Both were in
illttntial in the community and both
possessed means, although widely
differing in habits and character.
Simon il rather the most peacraliIe
in disposition, and we believe is a
preacher Of the TINKER church. One
year ago the barn on the farm of ST.
mon was burned. together with a
large and valuable crop and some
stock. The loss Was Il heavy one to
Simon, and he almost alone suspect
ed his brother, his near neighbor. of
being the incendiary, and proceeded
quietly to track him down. To the
surprise of a large community Simon
on Saturday last obtained warrant
upon which Benjamin was arrested
an hour or two afterward in the town
of Williamsport. The arrest it seems
was anticipated by benjamin, who
had gone to Williamsport for the
purpose OF having it served there
rather than in townsville. At the
request of the prisoner the constable
carried him to Hagerstown in order
that he might avail himself of the
writ of habeas corpus, the charge not
being one upon which magistrate
cold accept bail. AT Hagerstovn
Benjamin employed as his counsel
Messrs. Seyster, Freaner and Hamil-
ton, but Judge Alvey declined to
hear the case before Monday. 1t was
then late Saturday evening. The
constable, rather than be the means
of having so prominent citizen as
Mr.. Long incarcerated in jail for for
Weight hours returned with him to
Williamsport, and then allowed his
prisoner to go to his home near
townsville on his parol of honor not
to escape but to appear in Hagers-
town Monday morning. Benjamin
made good use of the time between
Saturday night and Monday morn
ing in ascertaining what the evidence
was against him. He discovered
that his negro aecomplice had be-
trayed him, and impaired the infor-
nation to Simon that he (the negro)
had burned the barn at the instiga-
ton of Benjamin. Also that two
respectable white men were ready to
swear that they had been solicited by
the accused to fire the barn, but de-
clined. This frightened Mr.. Long,
and he failed toput in his appearance
Monday morning, nor has he been
seen since, although diligent search
has been made for him in all direc-
tions. Altogether the case is a re-
markable one, and the community
in which the men live has been in
tensely excited over the affair for
several days.
Benjamin is shrewd bold uuscru-
pulous fellow, capable OF many good
actions, but indicative and quarrel
some, delighting in nothing so much
as litigation. The records of Wash
ington county court will show that
he was once party to a lawsuit
about hog that lasted fof twenty
years. Notwithstanding his pugna-
cious propensity he was popular and
few men exercised greater political
influence in the neighborhood in
which he lived than Benjamin Long,
now a fugitive from justice, charged
with firing his own brothers barn.
Both brothers have grown up fami-
lies.
Surrendered Himself.
We published a few days ago from
the Cumberland Times, an account
of the arrest and subsequent escape
of prominent citizen of Washing
ton county, charged with setting fire
to the barn of his brother some time
ago. Mr.. Benjamin Long, the party
accused, returned on Thursday last,
was committed to jail, and then
brought before Judge Alvey on a writ
os habeas corpus. The Hagerstown
Neecs of Friday has the following:
"Messrs. Seyster and Freaner ap-
peared for the prisoner; their object
in hearing the case was to hold the
prisoner to bail. Michael Robinson
lcolored) % years of age was the first
witness for the State. His evidence
was strong, and tended to fix the
guilt upon Mr.. Benjamin Long. He
testified positively that he robin
sony did the firing at the instigation
of BENZ. Long, as he alleges, to pre-
| vent Simon Long from buying the
Woolford property. There were two
other witnesses for the State, but
were returned not est. -Four wit
nesses were then called for the de-
A A L., IL I