The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-06-30
Iz7Q 9 e t. 4 : MO u II II II r. VS.

city to aid him in any way in detecting
arresting and convicting the heartless
incendiaries. The young men. under
the direction of MIR. II l.. Watts. rein
forced the police force to guard the city.
These kept the gang from applying the
torch until the most desperate ones were
in the custody Of the law.
During the first thee months Of this
year there were eleven incendiary fires.
and nine Of these occurred during the
windy month OF March. Besides these
there were several attempts where waste
and other nflammatory materials were
found. AS am informed, since the Sth
of April there have been no known at
tenapts to burn building in, the city. or
suburbs, where the nefa4rious crimes first
commenced In 1898.
Early In April traces Of crimes which
occurred on the night Of the 10th Of
March, were discovered which were
promptly followed up by Officers Abbott
and Warren. who arrested Frank Linn
and Med" coleman on the Sth Of that
month, on the charge OF housebreaking
The cases were called for examination
before the Mayor on Saturday, the 10TH
Colonel Il. r. Griffin, the able Common
Wealths attorney, being unavoidab bly,
absent from the oity on that day, Mayor
Baird, inasmuch as we had voluntarily
rendered our Services to him at the pub
lie meeting, sent for Major ]. T.. Crock
er and myself 10 conduct the examina-
ed the examination as far as we could
on that Saturday. and then the Court
adjourned the cases until Tuesday the
18th. That day Colonel Griffin was on
hand, and took the lead In the prosecu-
ton. requesting US to continue, for the
work ahead seemed to rapidly increase
IN extent as we progressed. It was re-
ported that number Of lawless confed-
crates were still at large, who, as the old
English forms of indictment would say
mot having the fear Of God before their
eyes were moved and seduced by tile III
stigation Of the devil" to commit arson,
the most heinous of all crimes
Tending the examination Of Linn and
Doleman, Jobson and CriSmond were ar
rested on circumstantial evidence, which
distinguished attorney said was not
sufficient to hang yellow dog. How
ever. the Commonwealth's Attorney and
his aids warmed to their work, and la
bored by day In the now hard contested
legal examinations, and by night seek
Ing information and evidence. Little by
little IT vas gathered or rather extracted
from reluctant witnesses. We knew 1t
was Of vital interest TO all good citizens
to stamp out the lawlessness which
threatened the destruction Of our city,
and this was the powerful incentive for
our laborS.
ed able and distinguished attorneys for
their defense except Linn. We were in
formed OH the 2Sth day Of April by the
vigilant and active Deputy Sergeant Abb
bolt that he had made q voluntary con-
fession and desired to see the represen-
tatlVe or the Commonwealth to ask for
mercy.
we met him in the parlor OF the Tailor.
where he made free confession Of his
own offenses. and gave lnforma ton of
offenses Of others. We then told him
mat II ne would consent to become a
W1fnpI9 4 Tny,,r1 ~,
true testimony, we would limit his pun
ishment He consented to be Il witness
and put himself In the hands Of the
Commonwealth
fle further Informed us that some
time in January coleman told him that
Jobson wanted him (Doleman) 10 help
burn Whitehurst Hall, and he tDoleman)
refused that night; that about eight or
nlne days before the big ii.e that they
tJohson, coleman. and Limp were stand
ing outside OF the gas house talking
| about It. coleman said, "NYait for =
windy night"
The morning Of the eth. about 9
O'Clock, the three We're in coference at
Linn's house. Little Johnnie Taylor
was present. Jobson said, This will be
a good windy night"
They agreed 20 help him. but Johnnie
Taylor told his mother when She re-
turned from the Hospital Saturday at )
CLOCK That afternoon, and she told Linn
II he went out that night she would 20
with him, and coleman had a pain in his
shoulder, so both remained home and
dld not help Jobson kindle the great con
Hagra ton which destroyed SO much
property and frightened so many women
and children for many long nights after
FOR the safety Of their lives.
Ihese disclosures gave us hone for the
conviction of the principal inccndiar!es
but in the struggle we found many diff.
culties. The friends Of the prisoners in
Jan and OF the suspects al large were ac-
i've ana Vlsllant. Our movements Were
watched. reported and discussed in SUI
bu!ban bar-rooms. Threats and innuen-
does sometimes came to our ears. but we
pressed the enemy and gave little at
tention to their apo!ogists.
On the SOth Of April Cr!smond, strick
en- by conscience-.th tortures; Of. til q
inward hell" made a full and free con
fesson to Deputy Sergeant Abbot
Ills friends, with the consent of his q :
torney, placed him III the hands of the
Commonwealth
before this confession we had only the
clrcumstantial evidence adduced ~ tha
Mayors Court, and Inns hearsav he
!o'S herein stated. The former seemed
10 De generally regarded as insrfTicien :
go conyice Jobson and Crismond 50 wa
were compelled to utilize Crlsmond as q
witness for the Commonwealth in or1ar
10 secure the punishment OF both ar the
persons who engaged in the incendia risn
OF the 9th OF March, embra cling Tho
"nitehurst Hall and Fiske's dwelling.
ne spread o! the latter fire seemed to
DE frustrated by Proyidential aid h,rt
for which interposition greater destruce
non or property than that from White
hurst Hall would have followed and Ios.,
Of life might have resulted.
we concluded from our Investigations