The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-12
TWO TO DIE FOR
GRUBB MURDER.
Find Both Guilty and Sentence
Them All in Period Of
Two Hours.
JUDGES TERRIBLE WARMING
Brings to Minds OF Condemned
Enormity of Their Crime.
Brown Set Free.
JUDGES TERRIBLE WARMING
tspeolal 70 The Times. pIspateh.

"A
F'ARMyH4LE, VA. January 11.--1he
adjourned session of the special term of
the Circuit Court of Prince Edward re-
convened this morning at 10 O'Clock. with
Judge George J. Hundiey on the bench.
and in less than two hours after wards
both William Ruffin and sMassie Hill mad
been arraigned and tried by two separate
juries. convicted of murder In the. first
degree and sentenced to na4is on, The
18th day OF February.
Rufin was first brought into court,
along with John Brown, whom both Ruff
fin and Hill had falsely accused OF being
their accomplice in the murder of air.
John Grubb.
Detectives Robinson and Taylor had re-
turned from West Virginia. where they
were sent Monda@ after witnesaes. whoTi
John Brown claimed could testify In his
behalf. The officers brought back with
them positive evidence that at the time
of the killing of Mr.. Gru!b. on tho night
of June 5th last, Brown vas Mt work IN
West Virginia His employer sent an
affidavit to that effect, and states that
II 1t be necessary he will come in person
TO testify.
Judge Hundley, after telling Brown that
1t was the bad company he kept which
brought this trouble upon him. and ad
vising him to go to work and keep away
from rufIian companionship, discharged
him from custody.
Both Plead Guilty.
William Ruffin's case was then. called.
Upon hts arraignment he pleaded guilty.
and only one witness was examined for
the Commonwealth. Mr.. Harry Prince.
who lives near the scene of the murder.
He testified to having seen the prisoner
at Tugsles on the day of the crime. June
Z 10nk RufY3r w aGkpI 4 hpw W oh el n
testify, and replied that he only wanted
to say that there was no other person
connected with the murder and robbery
but he and NIassie HILL The case was
not argued. and the jury considered their
verdict only long enough to write and
properly sign 1t.
Massie Hin, a stalwart. giant-like ne
gro. was next brought into the court
room, arragned, and he pleaded guilty.
Only one witness testified in. his case,
the same that gave evidence in Ruftins.
The jury returned "a verdict of murder
in the first degree
Warning to Others.
Judge Hundley Immediately sentenced
both the prisoners. addressing himself
first to Rufin in the following words:
Jesse Rufiin, it is not my purpose
in passing sentence on you to say one
word that might unnecessarily harrow
or wound your feelings. could not
add to your punishment If I would.
and would not IL I could. for your
punishment is heavy enough. Inas-
much, however. as the object of all
punishment is to deter other men from
the commission of crime, as we'll as
to punish the perpetrator of the crime,
deem 1t incumbent on me to say
something in relation to the awful
crime of which you have been found
guilty by a jury OF your countrymen.
On the 5th day of last June, q quiet,
peaceable and honest citizen of this
country was alive and well in the pur-
suit of his calling. He was more than
an honest, quiet, peaceable citizen; he
was n servant of the living God, known
and loved for his Christian character
and good deeds. On the morning of the
9th of June, the bones of this good
man were found amid the ashes of
his home. He had been robbed ana
murdered in his own house. and you
have been convicted of this awful