The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-06
TRIED tn BURN
LAWYERS HOME.
Negroes Believed to Be
Seeking Revenge on
Mr.. Wendenburg.
DWELLING. WAS in
A LIGHT BLAZE
Fire Discovered Last Night BY
Mrs. Wendenburg Just in
Time to Prevent the De-
struction of House.
Negro Begged
at Door.

a dastardly attempt to burn the dwell
ing of Mr.. Il. O. Wendenburs, in BartoA
Heights, was made last night, and bu,
for the fact that the flames were dis.
covered in the nick OF time by Mrs.
WendenbtirG, who sounded the alarm,
the house would have been destroyed with
its contents. Neighbors volunteered and
after desperate fight against odds the
blaze, kindled in n; small room in the
rear of the house, was cxtngulshed.
( Hounds were placed on the track OF a
negro who had appeared at the home
shortly before the fire was discovered
and asked for something to eat. He was
seen acting in suspicious manner about
two squares from the house. Immediately
before the finding of the blaze. The negro
was traced for some distance but was n
nally lost.
officers from the county were notified
at once and did duty around tbs
house last night. They are using every
means to capture the criminal who tried
to fire the home of the Common wealths
attorney for Henrico county.
Mr.. Wendenbnrg was not at home ut the
time the fire stnrted. but had left Rich
mond or the s o'clock car in r'Eponse to
n summons from his wife. who told him
of the suspicious acting of the negro
who had sought something to eat in the
1t Is the belief that the negro, after
leaving the front door. walked around
to the rea of the house and ascended Il
pair of steps that led to the small room
on the second floor. a mattress was in
the room and paper was scattered about
the floor. 1t was the intention of Mr..
Wendenburg to have the room newly pa
pered to-day. and for this season lit was
out of order. A lighted match thrown
among the scattered piles of paper could
have easily started the blaze, which, IL
allowed to gain any S;rNlind. would have
swept the house away in I, short time.
Start Dogs on Trail.
The alarm was turned In 10 Rady,,
drug store, and the entire volunteer fire
department responded ,;t once. Neigh
bors rushed to the scerc and ussisted liz
removing much of the furniture. This
was considerably damaged and the water
damaged other furniture. The bluzc
however, was confined solely to the room
In which it originated.
When Mr.. Wendenbrrg arrived he at
once started the dogs on the trail of the
negro. and believes that he will. with
the assistance OF tho officers of the
county, be able to land the man behind
the bars. III arrested no will be given u
speedy trial. for the sentiment OF the
people in Barton Heights who learned OF
the dastardly attempt of the fire fend.
is such that they would not be interfered
with In meeting out swift Justice.
The negro had evidently some knowl-
edge of tho dwelling and about the habits
of those there. The man-servant and the
cook had Just left for Richmond, leaving
Mrs. Wendenburg with the nurse and her
child.
After informing the negro who came
to the front door and first asked it Mr..
Wendenburg was at home and then ask
ed for something to eat that there was
nothing cooked in the house, Mrs. Wen-
denburg returned to the sitting-room ana
told the servant to lock up the house. It
was while going around through the
different rooms at this time that the
blaze was discovered.
The fact that the negro asked if Mr..
Wendenburg was at home points TO tile
conclusion that his mission mt the house
was not to ask for something to eat.
One of Several Attempts.
Other attempts have been made recent
ly to burn the dwelling of Mr.. Wen
denburg. A few weeks ago pile of
wood in the kitchen was seen on fire
and this was put out narrowly in time
to save. the home 1t was found later
that the wood had been saturated with
oil. The person had ignited it by throw
Ing n ball of paper through q window,
Mr.. Wendenburg has within the past
Illoiltll received tSeNefal anonymous ana AZ
threatening letters. written apparently by
a negro The writer of these letters hns
said that he. intended burning the dwell
ing, and that all tho watching by the on
GERS could not stop him in his determine
ton to wipe out the place. Mrs. Wen-
dcnburS has kept pistol near her hand
at every minute through the day and
night. and the servants have been i'm
structed to shoot any person who acts
in a suspicious manner around the
house,
The motive any one could have tor
wanting 10 burn the dwelling of Mr
Wendcnburs is not positively known. AS
commemorative attorney OF Henrico
county he has prosecuted many negroes
for various crimes. bsit none Of these
can be connected with the writer OF the
threatening letters which, 1--we been fol-
lowed by the attempts TO fire tho house
Recently lie secured death sentence
for Austin JohFspu Charged with crimt-
nal assault. and some think that on this
account friends of the condemned ncsri
may be seeking revenge.
The matter will be cleared UP IL it
requires the united efforts OF all OF the
officers and several special detectives,
=