Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1889-01-23
A FIRs-Rue coNeesses.
A Straage Case Uncovered at tape
Char'es Ci;y-sent TO Jail.

"a AnfRh'AfN
Charlea Ci;y-sent to Jail.
]. J. Bunting, the self-acc used
diary of the fire at Cape Charles City,
Va, on last Thursday morning, at a
hearing before Mayor Sterling Of that
town yesterday divulged all about the
mysterious affair. as the Baltimore sun
reports il;
Before day on Thursday morning
last the entrance TO the Masons hall,
which is above one of the largest stores
I'm town was discovered to be on fire
The surroundings justified the conclu-
sion IL was the work of an incendiary
A detective was employed to ferret out
the perpetrator. IL was but short while
before a clue was found which being
followed up, led to a suspicion resting
upon the now self-accused. The suspi-
cion reached the ears Of the suspected
party who, perhaps, thought that album
dant proof had been secured, and it
would be better for MIN to divulge his
part In the crime.
''Tbis party was j. J. Bunting, owner
Of the building and Of six Others. IN the
block Bunting yesterday called upon
Captain G. g. Savage and told him that
he was instigator in the fire; that he had
paid a colored man by the name of Sam
Roane $40 to fire the building; that he
had an insurance of $4,000, and that he
was fearful that the policy would be can
celed, as the company did not want the
risk that he was unwilling to 60 with
out insurance; that he had determined
to have it burned that Roane had agreed
to do the JOB and he had made the at
tempt three days previous, but that II
was not success that he had urged upon
Roane the necessity of his burning the
building; that it should be done upon a
windy night; that he made the at
tempt the second time and was sue
cessful, but that IL was discovered in
time TO prevent the destruction of the
building; that he had seen ROane since
the fire and that he was the one who ap-
piled the torch
"Roane was seen and denied the whole
story, and said that he was at home and
sick at the time. Upon being hard
pushed and informed that Bunting had
confessed and implicated him also, he at
last confessed and said that he was the
guilty man and had been paid by Blunt
ing He then told the whole story, cor
relocating Bunting in every particular -
Both Bunting and Roane were taken to
Eastville Jail last night The case is
very mysterious. From a financial stand
point there was no excuse for burning
the property. 1t could have been sold at
any time for 81, 900, and was paying in
terest on eight thousand. In addition to
that Bunting owned some 81, 900 of other
property in the same block that would
have been burned had the fire gotten
under full Roadway, and the latter had
but a small amount of insurance. The
only solution is that he owed some money
and that he was fearful that he could not
meet the payments, which so preyed
upon his mind that il became unbalanced
and the crime was the result.
Bunting has stood high in the com
and was considered a successful
business man, having accumulated all of
his property within the past FIVE years.
He was a member of the City Council for
two terms and refused a nomination for
a third term. lie was an officer in the
Masonic Lodge Of Cape Charles and a
past officer in the Ancient Order of
United Workmen and Knights Of Pythias.
His downfall is surprise to every one
and created great sympathy for his wife
and children, who are almost heartbroken
at the turn in affairs.