Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-16


ard called his captains together. and
through them put the entire force on
the lookout for the man wanted. though
only those who were put in immediate
charge OF the case were acquainted with
its nature.
ON THE TRAIL QUICKLY.
When Mr.. Griffith made his report to
the police he did not know that his
daughter believed her assailant to be
the walter who had been bringing her
meals. "A fortunate circumstance gave
THIS clue and led TO the spotting of the
offender. Sergeant Hall was near the
mouse when another man from Scheiser's
named Eggleston walked up 10
the back-gate with the lady's dinner.
His raps on the gate were unheeded. nor
ala the ringing OF the door-bell bring any
response. Then Sergeant Hall walked
back to Schleiser's with the waiter, and
taking him over TO the station-house.
had long talk with him. which sats-
hed the detective that Fife was the
guilty person. The only adverse crcum-
stance was the fact that the description
given did not fit Fife in some particulars.
When 1t was suggested to Mr.. Griffith
that the negro who had been carrying
Mrs Marks's meals might have been her
e'0eidtt, Ht promptly TeplleQ tndt tNlS
was his daughters conviction
Then the man seemed clearer. several
conferences were held among the officers,
ana t1fe's arrest was decided upon. News
OF the Chestnut Hill episode had been
received in the mean time. and the two
cases were pushed along together The
officers are fully satisfied now that Fife
is the man. who. for some weeks. has
been stopping ladies on the streets and
trying 20 hug them.
MAKES SOME ADMISSIONS.
The negro did not seem to be surprised
when arrested and went along with the
officers quietly. He at first denied all
knowledge of either case. but finally ad-
mitted having been at Chestnut Hin at
the time Miss Russell was assaulted.
and partially confessed to having been
at the Griffith residence Wednesday
morning.
He recanied shortly afterwards though
and denied positively that he had been
on Franklin street since last Monday. He
was seen in the Jail by Dispatch re-
porter, and stOutly maintained his inno-
cence. He said he saw Miss Russell and
the other ladies, and saw Miss Russell
fan. He heard her scream, too. but did
not know what caused it. He denied
having been TO Mr. Grinith's residence.
that he had left his home at 9 O'Clock
Wednesday morning to go to the Old
Dominion Preserving Company's works
TO seek employment, and rode as far
as Sixth and Broad streets i'm the wagon
OF Butcher Shoemaker This put him
within two blocks of the Griffith resi-
dence at about the same time the as
sault was committed. but, according to
his story, which appears extremely inn
\. Ill Al 4
Dominion Preserving Company the mo-
ment he alighted from Shoemaker's
wagon. and rode down to Nineteenth
and Cary streets on it. The darky was
tripped on several points in his story, and
contradicted himself fatty in several par
ticulars
HE MAY BE HANGED.
Fife is a burly-looking, dark mula.to
His nose spreads almost over the entire
front of his face. and gives him rather
a repulsive appearance. He was not the
least bit scared when told that there was
a probability of his being lynched, and
laughed al the idea.
He will be given speedy trial. and if
a jury can be obtained to-day it is more
| than likely that he will be convicted to-
night. He will tried in both cases, and
as the Legislature passed an act in Jan
uary 1894, making the offence punishable
by death or Imprisonment, as the jury
may decide. the impression generally pre-
walls that he will be given the extreme
| penalty.
The courtroom will be cleared, and
none but court officers. jurymen, and re-
porters Will be allowed therein. Com
monwealth s-Attorney Richardson will
prosecute the cases. and said yesterday
that he hoped to secure conviction in
both
Fife doesn't bear a good reputation. He
has several times been in the Police
Court though only for fighting His
father, who now lives here, is said TO
have been arrested in Goochland county
about twenty years ago for the ruin of
q mulattO girl. lie escaped however,
and the man who was alleged TO have
been connected with him IN this case
was subsequently lynched in another
State for a similar offence.