The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-09-02
HANGING NEAR RICHMOND.
Az EXCURSION TRAIN RUN TO THE
PLACE OF sTRANGLING.
Whishcv. Lemona de. watermeions. and PIGS
sold In the Beoths Near the GA isw--The
Penalty Of 1ncendia rism IN virginia,

fhACE OF hfRANGL
whIshcv. Lemora de. wate-mc,ons. and PIG.
roid In the Booths Near the Ga isws-The
Penalty Of Incendia r'sm In virginia,
RICHMOND, Sept. HILLARY Page was
hanged day for burning the dwelling house
Of Col. FIR ncis q. RUM In Cbesterne d county,
re,r Manchester, on a night In july, 1875 Tho
law in this state for arson Is as follows;
" any person In the nicht malicousy burn the dwell
eu st IRE To- n ANY ~ inc ' burnn Whereof
such dweing house, Jail, PRISON shall be De troyed
tc july nnd that ~ tho une OF committing toe offence
@fas oS eGs p Be- IN s
tiary notices. than nye nor more than ten years-lSS
Page was only IL years OF age, and weighed
about 40 pounds. Tho ugh 80 young. he con-
fesscs that he had set Are to property belonging
to Col. Rufn sixteen times.
lie was arrested in this city by Mr. John Wren,
Feb II, 1876, aud was committed on Feb. %.
on the third count OF indictment No. ], which
charged him with burning two-story barn on
the night OF July %, 1874, belonging to Col. Ruff
1n in which several servants were sleeping. On
Feb. % he was sentenced to be hanged On the
Both OF Apfil. 1875. His case was then taken to
the Supreme Court OF Appeals, and on April b.
1870 the Judge rendered his decision sustaining
the appeal on the ground that the barn where
the persons slept was not a dwelling. This WAS
looked upon as mere bubble. However, a
new trial was ordered, and in NAV following
PAGE was convicted on indictments and Doth
for airing the same housed, and was sentenced To
be hanged Dec. 10, 1875. An appeal was again
taken to the Supreme Court In November on
both indictments, twsnty-three bills Of excep-
ton being died to Nc. Z. The decision Of the
Judge was reserved until Feb. 3, 1875, when in
dctment No. was set ASIDE and the ruling of
the Circuit Court on Indictment No. was at
nrmed. The prisoner was sent back to the
Circuit Court for new sentence. July IA, 1875,
was the day hxed for the hanging.
Page had able counsel, who tried every way,
Including the insanity plea. TO clear him.
Der OF good citizens OF Richmond and Manches-
ter. Gov. kemper respited the prisoner until
to-day (Sept. ID. In order that experts might ex-
anime the criminal aud see II there was any
degree OF insanity to be found. Accordingly
two superintendents OF lunatic asylums made a
thorough examination, returning report that
he was perfectly sane. Even after this, Miss Eliz
Van Lew, Postmistress Of Richmond. and other
sentence COmmuted.
ra.e during the trial made a great many con-
Trajectory confessions. AT one time he said
he had accomplices, and had two negroes
rested but nothing was proved against them.
Then he said he alone did tue burning.
In jail he cOnfesses to nave committed his
wolk only for "devilment." Som etimes dwell
inRs, sometimes barns. sometimes smoke
houses, and sometimes tool houses were the
objects OF his attacks. Kerosene, grease. and
light wood were generally used IN the bendish
work. The Insurance companies refused to
take risks on Col hufin's property, and for the
protection OF himself and family he had to re-
move from HE beautiful farm to Richmond.
city for safe keeping, the Chesterfield Jail being
considered unsafe. A week ago he attempted
to break Jail by dashing u bucket OF water into
the guards face, hoping to blind him 80 that he
Che prisonerl could pass out OF the door THIS
attempt proving unsuccessful PAGE for the nrst
time seemed to realize his terrible fac.
The hanging to-day was at Chesterfield Court
House. fifteen miles from this city. A large
crowd assembled early upon the Court House
green, aud at ~ o'clock Il was estimated that no
less than 2,UC persons, black and white, were
rpl had ha
not ready to die. Yesterday your CORE
spondent visited him In his cell and asked,
Are you PREPARED To die1 Do you believe you
yOus, faint replies came, Yes" He added
that he alone did the burning. Tho Rev
hessrs. Bings and Brown were admitted to his
cell, and al ADMINISTERED religious consolation. At
y ,rting the Rev. Mr. Binga handed him a blank
book requesting him to write his name and age,
which was done In legiole hand.
At R45 the prisoner was ttk9u from Jail and
conducted 10 tue seanoid In tue pines half a
mile west OF the Court House. The galiows was
erected oy Gabriel NunalIy. scanold builder Of
Chesterfield Court for the past twenty four
used to-day was small and rough, tho platform
measuring ten by four and a half feet, and was
three feet ten incnes from the ground. Inc two
preachers occupied positions on the scaYold.
present against committing crimes. At l:17 the
drop Tell. here " as fail " 81 feet aud tn Is.
with the stretch OF the rope, let down Page )
not broken, but death came by strangula-
ton. For TWO minutes his struggles were vio-
lent. Al l;3U his pulse ceased TO beat. He was
then taken down and buried at the foot Of the
scanold.
1ne crowd was Of an idle and curious. rather
than OF sympathetic nature. Nhiskey, lemon
ade. watermelons, aud pies were sold IN booths
burg Railroad Company ran an excursion train
frVm here 10 the place uf hanging.