The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-02-08

THE HAND OF FATE.--Some months a2t
a genteel looking Frcnchn2an, about 81 years
of age, giving the name OF Isaac Richie
came to Augusta county and purchased some
| land in n retired cove il, the Rne Ridge
| Mountains. not far from N'aynesborp. and or
it built a neat cottage. lie was a nan o.
many accomplishments and spoke seyera
languages, but was very reserved and made
few acquaii.sances. Among those few was
| the Rev. Jacob IIlldebrand. to whose care he
had bis letters directed. They were all lot.
| eign letters, aud chiefly from France. lfe
was gentlemanly in his manner, and gained
1.-The good will of the few persons he knew.
/ On Tuesday evening last q stranger got of
| the train and asked for the Bruce House. il,
| Waynesboro, and then asked where the Rev
| 31r. lildcbrand lived. Being told that il
| was five miles ont Of Town. he got a horse.
and the same evening rode ont there He
stated to Mr.. II. that he was farmer look
| ing To-, Il farm, AVID talked about who lived
on the farms AROUND. Richie being meil.
| toned. he said he knew him and manifested
q wish for Mr.. Il. to rIda there that evening,
| but tliat gentleman declined. saying he would
| go the next morning. The stranger, who
afterwards proved to be a New York detec-
| tive named Newcomb, returned TO Waynes-
boro. That night lie secured the services OF
| Billy Shepherd, the haTber and next ,norn-
| ing drove with him in a spring wagon to
Mr.. HIS, who accompanied him to Riches,
who WAS found at home and alone. The
| stranger presented Richie n letter, which he
recognized rs from his brother, wiierenpon
| the detective drew i revolver aud pro.
nounced him his prisoner, much to the aston
I ishment of Mr.. Hlaebrand and the colore,l
| driver.
| Richie OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, aud sunk to the
ground, Offering no resistance. His capfo.
placed liinl III tile wagon and drove to
Waynesborn, where he ironcd him, and, put
| ting him ii freight car, started East with
him before the Waynesboro authorities knew
anything OF it. During the drive to the town
the prisoner spoke bnt once after leaving his
cottage, aud that was 4 remark as TO the
right road, He spent his time making me-
moranda ina notebook.
The accused was formerly Il school teacher
in Franco, from whence he fled TO escape Il
prosecution for rape committed on oae OF his
pupils. The detective said he had travelled
all over tile United States In hunting him.
He was finally discovered by letters put in
the French poss-ofice by his brother, who
was watched. TIE last ard fatal one, when
it arrived at the New York post Office, was
given to Newcomb by the U. 8. Marshal, and
he finding it directed to the care of '!Rev. j.
Hildebrand, Waynesboro, Augusta county.
Va" brought 1t to It's destination, a,.d it
was this that III handed Richie. He also had
the photograph Of the accused, received from
the French, police. The detective said he
expected large reward. The penalty OF
Riches crime is the guillotine. = indicator.
The New Yorl, Herald, Of the 4th, gives
the following further particulars Of Richie
and his conduct
A case comm. Within the extradition
treaty existing between the republic Of
France and the United Sta'es came up yes
terday before Commissioner White. Isaac
Richie, a Frenchman, was arrested by Deputy
Marshal Newcomb Oh affidayits presented by
the French Cons.,l General at this port,
charging Richie with the commission OF 4
very serious offence under the French laws.
The papers 10 the case show that the accused
was teacher in government institution for
learning in the village OF Ereneourt, in
Of the villagers; that Riche, during the years
1857, had committed outIages on several Of
the yapthiul pupils, and that the specific
charge against him, and on which the papers
for his arrest here and extradtion are based,
was Ion violation Of the person Of Anna AL
! man, q girl between twelve and thirteen
years old. It is also stated that the knowl-
edge Of q similar outrage coming to the ears
of the mother Of one OF his victims, she died
from the shock. Richie Immediately fed to
this country, making his way to the State Of
Virginia, where he purchased 164 acres of
wild land at Waynesboro, on credit Of 9200.
Here he remained isolated, and probably Sc
cnre from the reach Of justice, had he con-
| tin,lea to reside in the forest shanty he had
erected Tor himself; but in an evil hour he
| came to Newark, N. j.. and resumed his old
occupation OF schoolmaster. Here the sleep
less eye Of justice got squint at him, and
he deeamced, seeking again his Virginia
| home. But the eye Of justice unerringly
t,l<1 TtNh :
on his track, traced him to his lair, arrested
him and brought him here. Richie is about
36 years OF age. reticent as to the charge or
any Of the circumstances duplicating him,
but half admits that he will return to France
| without putting the French authorities to
any trouble in proving case under our laws
iustifyiEg his extradition. Pending further
| examination into tile case, Richie lies in 4
cell at Ludlow street jail.
-----
The first Shad OF the season received last
week by the Boys that mean business
STUFF BROS.
The CONCERT FOR THE POoR.-Nearly
| Eve hundred people were at the Grange Hall
| last Friday night, to listen to the musical
entertainment given for the benefit Of the
pool. A large stage has been erected in the
| HALL which has entirely remeded the faulty
acoustics, and it is now much better adapted
to musical concerts than any building in the
city. The softaet note ia distinctly heard in
any part s'f the room, and the harsher and
| higher ones are mellowed and robbed of their
acuteness. The change wrought BY this adj
dition is wonderful, and surprised all. even
thosf. whose. wise predictions had declare d
| that no alteration could be made that would
remtdy the evil complained OF.
OF the entertainment it is only necessary
to give tile programme. together with the
names of the performers. 1t comprises the
very cream OF musical selections, and was rem
| dered by the best amateur talent ia the State.
Indeed, few professionals equa! in sweetness
and cultivation the voice Of Mira. Bumyard-
ner, willis. those OF the other voealists were