The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1906-08-24
JESSE RUffIN DELIVERED.
Brought to FaFmyille and Identified as
One of the MuFdereFS Of Mr.. Gfubb.

One Of the MuFdefefS Of Mr.. GrIIbb.
sheriff Dickinson returned 10 Prince
Edward ON the midnight train Friday
having in custody Jesse Ruilin alias
William Ruflin charged with being
one Of the murderers of John Grubb,
merchant and postmaster at Action,
better known rs Tuggles. When he
reached the jail Ruflin, who was both
handcu He'd and manacled, was assign
ed a cell on the lower floor, and Dep
uty Sheriff Bliss left To keep watch
over all the prisoners
Saturday morning the prisoner was
visited in the Jail 10y Commonwealth 5
Attorney Watkins, in whose presence
Massie Hill. another negro under ar
rest for the same crime, ne having
made "A full confession, idenlllled
RuiHn. In fact the recognition was
mutual, only Ruilin addressed Hill as
Johnson, but acknowledged they had
travelled together and were together
at Tuggles on the 9Th day Of June, the
date of the murder.
Rufin talked freely TO the officers
at the jail Declared he never knew
a man called Railroad Bill, and that
only he and Massie Hill whom he
knew as Johnson were together at
the store Of Grubb that day.
Mr.. r. b. Prince was admitted To
the jail and at once identified the
negro as one whom he waited on IN
the Grub store and changed ten
dollar note for on June 9TH.
Runin was later asked if he wanted
70 waive examination and have his
case 90 to the grand jury lie
wanted an examination. This was
held within the prison before Justice
J.L. Hart. only one witness was eN-
ammed, hc being the confessed accom-
plice and accuser Of Ruilln-M assic
Hill. The witness repeated what ne
has frequently told. That Rulln and
Railroad Bill committed the murder,
robbery and burning while he ana
another negro whose name he did not
know. stood watch on the outside:
lie heard several pistol shots and
afterwards saw the flames bursting
from the wooden structure. After the
crime had been completed all four
walked down the Norfolk and West
ern tracks to Farmville, where they
sat i'm front Of the tool house and wait
ed fora passing freight train.
Runin was asked If he wished TO
question the witness. After mo-
ments hesitation he replied that be
believed not. eff man will stand
and tell such thing AS that, ] VIII
leave it with the Lopl to work out.
Asked if ne wanted To testify he SAID
he did not. His ease was sent OH To
the grand jury.
! Ruiliu did not question the wines.
Just before the examination of the
prisoner was commenced Ruiliu mo
toned To the sheriff To hold his ear
close. indicating that he wished To-
whisper something 10 him. Imam UNI
dertone he asked permission 10 ialk
priyately with Ma,sie Hill. This be-
ing denied him, the prisoner then -ug-
gested that if the officers would allow
him to see Hill alone he would have "a
talk with him which they could hear
from a hidden position. He was ask
ed what he believed would be accom-
plished by such an interview, aud his
reply was that Hill's statements made
to them would not tally with what he
would tell him, and thus the officers
would catch hill lHilD in lie.
Rufin was arrested i'm Wilton'
HEREFORD county, y. G., charged with
carrying concealed weapons, and 1t
was from description given Of him by
Massie Hill that he was he'd Tor the
Virginia authorities.
Immediately after his preliminary
examination arrangements were made
for Runin's removal to Lynchburg for
safe keeping, the Jail structure here
being considered Inadequate I'm It's lock-
ing devices TO insure the keeping OF a
man Of his reputed skill at making e.
cape.
Rutlin is the same man who some
ten wears ago broke into the residence
of Mr. J. +. Walton, Of this place and
stole a fine gold watch He was soon
afterwards arrested IN Holloway coun-
ty for burglary and given long tern
in the Virginia penitentiary. Mr.
Walton's watch was found on the
prisoners person when arrested al
Nottoway and returned 10 him.
Runin's record for the past iiileei
wears is said TO be Of the worst charac
ter The theory Of the officers here
now is that there were only two in the
crime committed at Tuggle's. and tina
they were Massie Hill and William
, Rullin.
Hampden.Sldney College.
II isa matter Of great grauiicalloi
To all of the friends of Hampden-Sid
- .Ina nrnf Inrnn. Il Ilnrnlnm