Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-07
MR.. FEITIG VISITED,
WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT THE KILLING
OF THE PEDDLeR.
His Acquaintance with Rosdeitcher-Last
Night mt His House-The Per-
sons Accused.

At the same time he was robbed OF all
the money he had upon his person, and
he was never able to tell with any certainty
who il was that was so mean as TO take
from him his hard-earned substance and
infict wounds that were TO result IN
death.
Mr.. Feitig's home. which is about three
quarters OF mile from this city. is about
half way between the Nine-Mile road and
Oakwood cemetery. IL IS a cosy ittie
dwelling situated among grove OF trees
and thoroughly suggestive OF happy
home.
1t was visited yesterday by q Dispatch re-
porter who was greeted by Mrs. Eeitlg, a
pleasant-looking little woman who speaks
English with slightly German accent. Her
countenance beams with good nature and
hospitality. She was surrounded by several
brght-eyed little children, who were Just
eating their supper.
THE CHILDREN AND THEIR KITTENS.
Several kittens in the room added TO the
cheerfulress and tranquility of the scene.
The little ones peeped suspiciously at the
visitor, but were admonished in the
tongue OF the Fatherland" TO RESTRAIN
their childish curiosity and were shortly
afterwards retired TO their beds.
Mr.. Feitig's residence is on the old
Pevton Johnson. the proprietor of the old
Powhatan House, now Ford's Hotel III
has very pleasant location and is reached
by a road through a grove OF cedars. III Is
cultivated a. a truck-tarm.
TALK ABOUT THE KILLING.
When the reporter first arrived Mr.. Feitig
had not returned from the city, where be
had been on business. but his wife talked
quite freely about the peddler's death.
She regretted that the unfortunate occur
renee had happened on their place.
Mr. Feitig, she said. had been very
much worried about tie Dotorlety thus
thrust upon him and regretted very much,
not only for his own sake. but also for that
of his children that Max was wounded
on his premises.
When Mr.. Feitig arrived he greeted the
newspaper-man with considerable cor
diality, saying | am glad to see you and
TO let you have my views. They have ar
rested that poor fellow. Thornton Adams,
who has ALWAYS worked so hard. and now
he will have TO spend the few dollars he
has saved for lawyers fees. l know ne is
not guilty. and can't see why he was ar
rested on the accusation of that negro sui
ly."
ACQUAINTANCE WITH THE PEDDLER
"How long have you known Rosdeit-
cher. and what do you know of his charac-
ter z" asked the reporter.
"Well, | have known him ever since he
was a little boy" replied Mr.. Feltig,
"when he first came to this country. llived
with INV father then and Max used to
hang around his house, doing odd Jobs ana
picl<ing up a living the best way he could.
Then he disappeared for a considerable
while, and when | saw him again he was
peddling.
About eight years ago he turned up
again and complained to Inc about the
hardships Of peddler's life. | told him /
wanted hand at that time and would hire
him. | agreed TO pay HIM - a month.
He. however. worked only one day, saying
after the expiration of that time that he
wanted to go to town and would be back
Monday"
BEFORE THE COURT.
"Ve never returned" continued Mr..
Feitig, land did not hear from him again
until | was called to testify before the
United States Court In the case In which
he was accused of passing counterteit
money in the state of Pennsylyana. l did
not see him then. From that date until
about June 29th of this year had seen
nothing of him. One day he came up
while we were digging potatoes and stopped
his horse before reaching the house and
assisted us. He said to me: Mr.. teltlg,
can | stay here overnight | told HIM
that had no objection. but that had no
room in the house, and if he wanted TO re-
main he would have to sleep III, the
barn. i would rather sleep outdoors
now said he. He stayed here that Satur-
day night and Sunday night, and Monday
morning he remarked Il am going to
help you pick up your potatoes for letting
me remain here" He assisted US all the
morning on Monday. and in the evening,
accompanied by Sully, he carried a load OF
potatoes into the city to John Wesley.
The next morning he said; Are you go.
ingt pick potatoes AGAIN. lreplied Yes.
and he said: Well. | reckon l will help
YOU to finish / am not in hurry
THE FATAL DELAY.
"On Tuesday he carried another load of
potatoes to Richmond with Sully and they
appeared to me to be very intimate. On
his return he lounged about the place for
some while, and finally said he intended
seeing some of our neighbOrs to sell them
some of his wares. as he was gong TO
leave early the next morning.
THAT night | was out in the yard get
ting M some vegetables. and Max was in
the house with Sully and Adams making
trades, and there showed his money so that
both men must have seen II. lie com
menced Dragging about the means he had,
and my wife, who was busy preparing the
supper, upon hearing him remarked, Max,
YOU are always Dragging about your mo-
ney: you haven't got any. anyhow. AT
this remark. which was made In Joking
way. he pulled out bunch of greenba
and handed il to her, saying see what tins
is She counted the money and found
that he had Sll besides some change
which he was jingling IN his pockets.
sr1LY SAW The MONEY AND LEFT.
"As far as my wife can reoollect," con-
timed Mr.. Feitlg, "she cannot remember
that the sight OF the money attracted any
marked attention on the part OF either
Adams or Sullv, though the latter left the
house almost Immediately. Before his de-
parture nv wife had paid him S2:73, the
remainder of his months wages. lie had
spent all of the rest having procured small
sums at different times until ali but TINS
was paid hlm. " ,,.
in some of his books and asked me TO read
to him from Mental Philosophy. select
ed paragraph on Dreams when
proved very interesting to us all. though
the language was rather too deep Tor
Max Adams was present at first, but
lett after awhile and retired TO his room.
RETIRED TO TIE SHED.
ircSe0tlV NlbN ilhNc " ~
away in the morning, so will go and lay
down He left Us then, aud | continued
reading TO my wife until about 1880
O'clock. when we also retired.
"The next morning about o'clock got
up and raped at the window for Tom
Sully TO get up and hitch my horse to the
buggy. He was not in his room, although
| can't remember an occasion before when
he wasn't on hand. lthen aroused Adams,
who came down and hitched my horse for
me.
"while driving out the yard / noticed
that Max's horse was tied, although the
night before it had been left iii the pasture.
1 thought there was nothing strange in
this, as remembered he was going to get
up early and 60 away.
TOLD OF THE OCCURRENCE.
Coming back from the city about 1890
o'clock met Sully and Adams with my
wagon carrying load of rye. They stop
ped me and Adams said Max is the
worst sight ever saw in my life. He says
his horse kicked and bit him and he looks
like he is dead 1t was evident during
the conversation that Adams was much
shocked aud horrifed at the occurrence.