Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-04
DIED IN THE FLAMES
A TERRIBLE HOLOCAUST IN HEN
RICO COUNTY.
MOTHER AID CHILDREN BURNED.
The House Destroyed and the Trio
Consumed with It--Shcrin Soto
tppcnr-scbooI Teachers Examined

|
Residents OF Henrico, in the neighbor-
hood of Malvern Hin, brought inforrna-
tion TO the courthouse yesterday con-
corning frightful holocaust which oc-
Cured near the historic battlefield Mon
day afternoon. In some manner the
homo OF John Roberts, a farmer, caught
fire. and was entirely consumed, and his
whole family. consisting OF wife and
two small children, lost their lives In
the flames.
How the fire originated or how e hap
pened that the three victims were unable
to escape from the flames Is not and
probably never will De known. Roberts
has not a very large farm. but he was at
work in a field out OF sight Of the house.
and therefore knew nothing OF the hor-
rible calamity that had befalicn him and
his until some time after the fire fiend
had concluded it's deadly work.
| FOUND THEIR CHARRED REMAINS.
when he finished his daily toll. Roberts.
| who has the respect OF all who know
him. shouldered his hoe and started home
wards He was Mortified when he turned
corner 60 see instead OF his home,
| mass Of charred wood, ana with quick
| pace and frantic manner he hurried TO
the spot, and tearing the timbers away
| with his hands, soon uncovered the
! charred bodies Of his loved ones. He
| summoned assistance as quickly as pos
| sble. but naught could be done for the
| mother and children. as life was long
| since extinct. The only way that Roberts
| can account for the horrible accident Is
| that his wife and children were asleep
when the cabin ignited from the fire.
| which had been built for the preparation
OF supper
The sheriT's Ray Not So Large.
The Investigation by the Henrico Board
| Of Supervisors OF the receipts and dis
| bursements OF the Sheriff Of that county
| has brought TO light the fact that this
| official is well paid both by the State and
| the county for his services. though he
does not receive anything like the COM
pensation that Il would appear from
| cursory examination OF the figures that
| no does.
Last year he was paid by the State and
| county, exclusive OF the small revenue
| derived from his Circuit Court attend
ance, about $500 but out OF this he had
TO pay his two deputies their salaries,
| and feed and clothe Tie prisoners In the
county Jail and care for al the lunatics
OF the county. until they could be placed
In one of the State hospitals
OFFICIAL EXPENSES NOT KNOWN.
Owing to his absence from bis office
| yesterday. on account Of death - his
| family. Sheriff Solomon could not be
| seen, and hence statement Of his oiii-
| cal expenditures could not be gotten. IL
Is known. however, that the county pays
him a salary of $500 per annum. and
the following statement OF the amounts
| paid him by the state for the fiscal year
| Of 1861, exclusive OF the sums paid him
| for attendance upon the sessions OF the
| Circuit Court. was gotten from the Office
| of the Auditor Of Public Accounts:
| July. 1896 criminal expenses ........slOl -
| August, 1885, criminal eNponseSa,... Dol y
| October, 1896. criminal eXpcnses...... 20 %
| October. 1896, criminal expenses..... 90 20
| October. 1896 lunacy .......,.......... 30
| November, 1856, criminal expenses. H9 Ol
| December. 1896. criminal expenses. Zlb %
! December. 1886. criminal expenses. u 20
| December, 1886, lunacy ............,. 20
| December. 1896, lunncy ............. Z Is
December. 1896. criminal expenses q. q 30
| january, 1851, criminal oXpenses.... ~ 10
| February. 1897. criminal expenses, al %
| February. 1897. criminal expenses. 90 %
| March 1897 criminal expenses ...... 80 90
| March. 1897, criminal expenses ~ 10
| March, 1891, criminal expenses ..... 40 "
| April 1897, criminal expenses ...... zSl 70
| May, 1897, criminal expenses ........ zl5 =
| May. 1897, criminal expenses ........ - y
May. 1897. criminal expenses ...,.... q %
MAY. 1891. lunacy ..................... -
| June. 1897, criminal expenses ..,.... zu %
---
| Total ......... ......... ....s's.s. f-iFi %
THE REMAINDER NOT SO LARGE.
The checks from the state, together
| with the 81. 800 paid the Sheriff by Hen
| rico, aggregated Sl46l.53, but the county
jail IS always about half full OF prison
ers and as Mr.. Solomon does not stint
the unfortunates committed 10 his care
Il costs him no little TO feed and cioths
| them. His two deputies are also wen
paid and there are many expenses. sucr
as the summoning OF jurors and VIII
nesses, that have 10 be borne by th'
| Sheriff
During his incumbency in otiice Mr.
Solomon has had two hangings anc
these gruesome ceremonies were expen'
siye. For each Of the executions the state
| allowed hin s. but ne never collected
these amounts. asserting that he would
not receive blood money"
! When approached by a Dispatch mar
with reference TO Mr.. Solomon's pay
| Auditor Marye said that ho got but Httle
more than many other Sherins In the
II
| State. The reason for his getting any
more was explained by the Auditor "a
be because OF the fact that his county ID
adjacent TO Richmond. and naturally has
| a large number OF criminals 10 deal with.
Examination OF Teachers.
a teachers examination was conducted
AZ the county courthouse yesterday by
Superintendent RUSSELL and fourteen
Young ladies' and gentlemen who desire
to become pedagogues presented them
selves. The asplrants were Misses Miriam
Allen. Grace McAlpln, NJ Blanche CHM.
W. May Hatcher Rosa g. Hyde, Jennie
A. Hayes. Mary Lorraine, Grace u. Den
zler. Augusta Meyer. Jessie q. Potter.
and Messrs william r. Dickinson, Robert
Rlves' and n. Carter Scott.
The examination embraced reading,
SPELLING. writing arithmetic, grammar.
geography, history, physiology, hygiene.
drawing. and the theory and practice OF
teaching.
The examination will continue through
out to-day.
coz. of