The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-02-11
Tried TO Avoid Suspicion by I'M
pIicating a White Man.
TOLD CONFLICTING STORIES
Negro is OF Forbldd1ng counteuaae,e aud the
Evidence Is So Strong Against Hin that
No One Doubts His Guilt-Will BE
Taken to the Lnuenburg jail.
1t is Probable He VIII
eoufess Crime.
fspecisl Dispatch to The Times,


BLACKSTONE. VA, Feb. 1o.-Tha
murder Of Mrs. Faust will not go ur,-
avenged. Her murderer has been caught
and IS now safely III tho hands OF .,,s'
officers. Your correspondent left him at
l. O'Clock tonight at the house OF .tis-
-tice j. G.. Blackwell, in LunenburS5 conf.-
ty. twelve miles from here. 1t IS neither
Sidney Hanlbrick, one of the former sus-
poets, nor the woman previously men-
toned, but Otway Epes, q negro between
twenty-five and thirty years old. and of
as forhidding u countenancc as one would
wish to behold
WILL lie BE. LYNCTIED?
The question: to be asked is Will he t'1
1ynched? I can state that he will not
be tonight. Farther I cannot vouch for,
but with the assurances of the officers
and each Individual present tonight the
cuprit will be landed safely in Lunen-
burg jail tomorrow.
The circumstances attending his appre-
hension are as follows: In following every
imginary clue or reason and also tho
whereabouts of every person in that
neishborhood on the night of the murder.
it was learned that Otoway Epes had
worked the cay previous to the night OF,
the murder at Mr. j. Il. SINNERS, who
resides at Netherlands; that he lefr
there after eating his supper to go to his
home upon the farm OF Mr.. Nat Mathews.
about four niles distant: in going horne
he had to pass through tho Faust home
stead. This would put him along there
carly III the night.
He seemed to apprchend that he woulof
be called upon to give an account of him
SELF and, therefore. would anticipate this
by claiming to know the. guilty party.
TILE NEGKO'S STORY.
TIewcnt to his father with the tale that
{: white man committed the crime; that
in passing through the Faust farm and
after having passed the house, where he
saw Mrs. Faust through the window, he
met q white man, Mr.. Dan Grafton. the !.
son-in-law OF orr. Rickers. He spoke to
Mr.. Grafton, but Sot no reply. In a few
moments he STOPPED and before going on z
heard the screams of Mrs. faust. crying
for help. lie was then about three hun-
dred yards distant. He then ran off. fear
ing harm from Mr.. Grafton should he go
to the assistance of Mrs. Faust.
His father. doubtless believing this
story, went to Skinner with the informa-
ton. Mr.. Skinner communicated it to
Magistrate Blackwell. Mr.. Blackwell was
at court to-day, and together with MIR.
your correspondent. decided to at once
investigate this matter.
BADLY MIXED.
Proceeding to the home of tMr. sIati-
ews, Mr.. Blackwell went to the negrofs
kouse and brought him to the siatliewn
residence. There III the chamber of the
latter he told his story to the three OF
| u.s. We questioned him closely and soor
got him badly mixed. He made nuruer-
Gus contradictions and finally could not
tell his original story straight. Among
| other things, had he left Mr.. Skinner
| at the time he stated, about $50 o'clock.
| he would have reached the Faust house.
which is one and one-half miles. by I
| clock.
William Seay. who had fed the stoct
| the previous evening testified at the
coroner,s inquest, that it Was nearly
before he left. while the murder was
known to have been committed after
that hour. This proved too much for
Epes. and 1t was decided to hold him.
Proceeding to the home of JustTo
Blackwell, about three mics distant. shs
! prisoner riding behind your correspondents
on Il mule, with the others carrying
| lantern. as it was then about S o'clock.
| reaching tho house of Justice Blackwell.
| he at once sent for several neighbors and
witnesses, previous arrangement ha.inss
, been made with Constable Fowikes to b.
| present
PROVED ALIEI.
The trial was then gone into. aIr.
| Grafton was OF course able to prove az
alibi by several members OF his family.
The prisoner viii be kept there to-night
and taken to Lunenburs Courthouse to.
morrow rs mentioned above. all pres
ent determined that ths prisoner should
liavo safe eos,y.uct 10 ji!i.
| Your correspondent having eo'1sersed
with the prisoner quite q lot. being iefs
/ Will, him for over IN hour alone. he sol
livery confidential. but stuck to his Whit
man story Jss, as Was leaving. how
ever, 81 which had TO do hurriedly in nrasr
to see this to you. he called me to one
side and begsed mo to Tersain VITA htra- s1ra.s
II 7fr-o,,, ,ir,,s,lEE IN Third Paxsl