Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-20
CRIME CnNFENNED.
The Prisoner Admits Being Aces
sorry Before the Act.

Special telegram 70 the Dispatch.l
EAcTyIfLE, VA, March lg.-The trial Of
J. }. Bunting Tor hiring aud procuring one
Samuel Rosne 10 set fire 70 and burn bis
(Bunting'0 property IN Cape Charles IN
January lat was called to-day. The prisoner
pleaded not guilty 10 the charge In the IN
diciment. The entire morning was speut IN
securing Jury, two venires having to be
summoned. Alter a jury bad been emna-
neled TIE Commonwealth introduced three
witnesses to prove the confession OF Bunt-
ing g. 10 having hired K0ane to ire the
building. rs well a. 10 prove the fact Of burn
ING. the object OF which was TO defraud the
virginia Fire and Marine Insurance Com
rnnv. they having policy OK $1,000 on Toe
building.
The prisoner, who was represented by
Nessrs. Neelv, Fltcheu. and Mears, was
then placed upon the stand by the
defence. lie testified that be aid
hire and procure ROane 70 FIRE ihc
buildIpg. a. stated IN his previous confess
sion. saving that he was 40 harassed by credi-
tors for long time previous that his mind
had become unbalanced, and that he was De-
iermined 10 do something 20 get rid OF their
imDOriunlties, and resolved that the best
thing 10 do was TO get the insurance. 10
addition 10 that he testified that be had
much family trouble, which, adted TO the
financial trouble, caused him 10 become
reckless and be thought AT one time OF taking
his life and thus end his career.
Two other Witnesses were introduced 70
prove his previous good character; which
closed the testimony.
AT $3.50 =. n. argument before the jury
was commenced. +. J. Spady opened for
the State In speech OF one hour. and was
followed by judge William T. Fichett Ia q
speech Of IN hour. Hon. John Nicely, OF
Norfolk, closed for the defence IN an elo-
Guent appeal. lasting an hour. setting forth
the utter impossibilliy for sane man 70 be
guilty OF snch crime. ana committed I'M
der such extraordinary circumstances.
BuutiuQ's wife and two children were
present, which added sOlemnlty TO the 0ccs-
sion and created much sympathy FOR the pri-
soner. Who sat near them aud wept most OF
the time.
At the close Of Mr.. Neely's address he
was loudly and vociierously apDlauded. and
it was some time before the officers OF the
court could command silence, when the
Court spoke in plain terms that the Ike
must not occur again.
Mr.. Spadv then closed for the state In
strong and powerful speech Of an hour.
The case was given to the jury 81 $40 7.
VI. At $3.50 they reported tba. there was no
probability Of their agreeing tonight, when
the court was adjourned until tomorrow,
ard the Jury placed ia the hands OF tue ohi-
GERS OF the court.
A. previously reported IN these columns
Bunting was an influential and bighly.re-
specied citizen Of Cape Charles and owned
valuable properly thfre. and II was a shock
10 the entire community when 1t became
known that b. was tue insL2atOr Of tie
crime. Much Of bis Indebtedness was IN
Baltimore. where he enjoyed good credit.
and no suspicion was entertained even by
them but that he was an honorable, upright
citizen. The property has since been sold
and hi, creditors made secure.
Lloyd Whte. prominent farmer OF this
county. died yesterday afternoon aztec an
illness OF only two days. He was seized
with a congestye chill on Sunday. aud
another on Monday, which ended his life.
Up to sunday he was in perfect health and
was one Of the jurors In this term OF the
court, and sat in 4 case on saturday.