The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-11-26

THE PESlTENTIARY FIRE-REPoRr OF THE
BOARD OF DIREcToRs-TH THE FIRE THE WORK
OF AN IHCENDrARY-THE WAY 1T WAS Done.
The Beard Of Directors OF the Penitentiary
have completed their investigation OF the
recent fire at that institution, by which sew
eral large workshops and much valuable
stock were DESTROYED. Their report will be
presented 10 the Governor to-day.
The evidence taken shows that the off,
GERS and guard were In no wise blamabte !:
that, they performed their duty faithfully in
making their rounds that night; and that
the alarm was promptly given upon the dis
coyery Of the fire.
Silas Morris. 4 convict, made statement
to flle Board which furnishes very reason-
able theory, il not convincing proof, rs to
the origin OF the fire. He says that recently,
IN conversation with convict named Jeffer-
son Brocken borough alias Brooks (colored),
sent Tor life from Hanover county for arr on,
Brockenborougsr told him that he was guilt
less OF the CRIME Of which he was convicted,
but that he wanted to set fire to house
he could do it so IS never to be discovered.
Norris asked him how he could do it.
Thereupon he explained.
He said the instruments he would use
would be a piece OF punk, an oiled string,
and three or four matches. He would have
the punk tied to one end Of the string and
the matches TO the other. Then he would
lire the punk mt the end iarthest from the
string and place the whole arrangement
upon the floor. The punk would burn very
slowly and make no blaze, and after five or
six hours the tire would reach the string,
run along it, and then lisht-t the matches,
and SO be communicated to the material he
wished to igEite.
1t seems probable that when Broken.
borough was detailing his pian to Morris
he had in mind tic burning OF the work
shops; perhaps hoping that all the reniten-
tiary buildings would be destroyed. An
other convict stated TO the Board that
Brockenb borough told him the day before
the fire, 'Tou will have holiday to.mor-
row." Chow do you know" that man
asked. Brockenborough responded, "Ncv-
er mind; you will have holiday tomorrow
and for good many days after, too"
Now as 10 the animus: Brockenboroush
WAS employed in the caQpcr-shop. Quite
recently Mr.. Jarvis, the manager there, had
| occasion to reprimand this man. lie was
very insubordinatc, and upon Mr.. Jarvis
seizing Il S!ave 10 warn him TO behave HIM
self he raised his aGze and threatened to
strike Mr.. Jarvis. For this misconduct SUI
iSEluICUucUu SNauu Iull lllu uOSSCus
it was not difficult for Brockenborough
to get piece OF punk from the timber-rile.
and to arrange his incendiary apparatus
among the combustiElc material in the
cooper-shop. AS for the oil. string, and
matches, it is believed that he got them
| from fciow-convict who worked at the
engine. That man, on the evening preced-
| ing the fire, took from the engine-room to
place OF safety bis working-cothcs-a
thing which he never did beforehand also
fifty cents in moneg which he had there.
AS Brokenbororgh is in the pcntentiary
| for life, 70 farther punishment in that dl-
rection can he awarded him. Hanging may
not be too good fcr him; but as the work,
shops were not inhabited, that penalty
could scarcely he awarded him even il very
clear proof OF his guilt were estabised
| but Colonel Swami says that he shall sec
that Brockenboroush is not allowed to mix
with the other prisoners again.