Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-02-03
Akfanoria@a}&tte.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1877.
The Hand Of Fate.

| Some months ago genteel-looklrg French
man, about 81 years of age, giving the name
CT Isaac Riche came 10 Augusta county aud
purchased some land 10 retired cove in the
| Blue Ridge mountains, not far from Waynes-
| boro, and 90 it built neat cottage. He was q
| man of many accomplishments and spoke sew
| era languages, but was very reserved and made
| few acquantaucas. Among those few was the
| his letters directed. They were all foreign let
| ters, and chiefly from France. He was gentle.
! manly 10 his maouer, aod gained the goodwill
of the few persons he knew.
% Tuesday evening last a stranger got off
the train and asked for the Bruce House, 10
Wayuesboro, aud then asked where the Rev.
Mr. Hlldebrand lived, Being told that it
was five miles out OF town be got horse
aud the same evening rode out there
He stated to MIR. Il. that he was a farmer
looking for farm, and talked about who lived
on the farms around Riche being mentioned:
he said he knew him and manifested wish for
Nlr. II. to ride there that evening, but that
gentleman declined, saying be would 20 the
next morning. The stranger, who afterwards
proved to be New York detective named
Newcomb returned to Wayuesboro. That
night he secured the services Of Billy Shep.
herd, the barber, aud naxt morning drove with
him iu Il sprlng wagon 10 Mr. lis. Who ac'
companied him TO Riches, who was found at
home and alone The stranger presented
Richie letter which be recognized as from
his brother, whereupon the detective drew
revolver aud pronounced him his prisoner,
much TO the astonishment OF Nlr. tllldebrand
and the colored driver.
Richie was thundcrstruck aud sunk to the
H.rip IIS
placed him 10 the wagon and drove to WayDes.
boro, where he roued him, and putting him
in a freight car, started East with him before
the Waynesb0ro authorities knew anything Of
il. During the drive 10 the town the prisoner
spoke but once after leaving his cottage, and
that was remark ~ to tie right road. He
spent his time making memoranda III 4 note
book.
The accused was formerly school teacher
10 France, from whence he fed to escape
prosecution for rape committed Oh one OF his
pupils. The detective said he had Travelled all
over the United States in huutlug him. He
was GnaIIy discovered by letters put 10 the
French postot1cc by his brother, who was
watched. The last and fatal one when 1t ar
rived at the New York postothce was gwen 10
Newcomb by the U. 5. Marshal, and he mod
lug it directed to the care OF Key. y. Hide.
brand, Wayncsboro Augusta county, va,
brought it to its destination, and 1t was this
that he handed Richie. tic also had the pho
toyraph of the accused, received from the
French pclcc. The detective said he expected
large reward. The peDaIty OF Riches crime
is the cuillolinc. .-IStuuntom IiMdicutoy.
A case coming within the cXtraditlon treaty
existing between the republic Of France aud
the United States came up yesterday before
Commissioner White Isaac kech, French
man, was arrested by Deputy Marshal New
comb on afidavits presented by the Frencl'
Consul General at this port, charging lteci
with the commission VI very serious oiieDre
undcr the French laws. The papers I'D the
case show that the accused was a teacher 10
government Institution for learning IN the WI
lare of ErirucOurt, in France, which was at
tended by the children OF the villagers that
Recb, during the years 1875 e. had committed
outraycs on several OF The youthful pupils, aud
that The specific charge against him, ana 90
which the papers Tor his arrest here anI extra
dlion are based, was Tor violation OF the per
son OF Anna Almap, elrl between twelve and
thirtceD years old 1t IS also stated that tho
knowledge OF similar outrage coming 10
the cars of the mother OF one OF his Victims
she died from the shock: Kech ihmeuiatG'Y
Acd TO this country, making his way to the
acres OF wild land at Waync5boro', on Il credit
of 5000 Here he remained isolated and prob
ably secure from the reach Of justice had he
continued to reside in the forest shanty he bad
erected for himself; but III an cvlI hour he came
to Newark, n. j., and resumed his old occupa-
finn Of scbo3hDaster Here tie 5Iecpess eye
of Justice got squint ol him, and lie decamp'
cd, seekiuy again his Virginia home. But the
eve Of Justice uocrringy pursued, and his coun'
trymap Dubert was on his track, traced him 70
his lair, arrested him aud brought him here.
Rech is about thirty six years OF age retlcc0t
as to the charge CT any OF the circumstances
i'm nIicatinc him, bui half admits that he will
ro,,ro to France without putting the trebch
authorities to any trouble 10 proving case up
der our laws justifying his cxtraditlon. Pend
ing further examination into the case hecn Zee,
lies in cell at LudIow-srect iall-New Y9rH
Herald.
~, SPECIAL NOTICE.