The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1907-02-15


rested.
At Dorchester, Va, one Of the most
cruel crimes was committed. Assist
ed by two other negroes he threw a
man into a burning coke oven and
then fastened the lid down. This was
in the year 1901.
The following year he was gambling
with two negroes at New River, and
in a dispute he shot and MORALLY
wounded them both. lie left them
both dead in the room and WAS not
arrested.
AT Nutall, ". Va, a white man
named John johnson was shot and
instantly killed by Hill. Johnson
had threatened the life Of Hill, 30 the
latter said, and when they met it was
on a railroad track. Hill secreted
himself behind a freight car, and
when Johnson came opposite him
he fired a bullet through his body.
Johnson fell dead in his tracks
At Pennington Gap Hill declared
that he assisted in beating negro
boy to death. This was three years
ago. The boy was dubbed until he
fell dead
At Arbuckle, w. Va, last winter
Hill murdered Frank Pollard, colored,
who was from Amherst county. This
crime was committed over woman.
After the murder Hill fled from the
place.
At Mud Lake, Va, he helped muir
der man about a woman. There
were three Of them in this crime, two
Of whom were captured while Hill
made good his escape. The two were
given eighteen years in the peniten-
tiary.
At Emporia, Va, Massie Hill spent
much time, and broke in several
houses there last summer He rela-
ted to his guard Wednesday an awful
plot which he had made and was
about to carry into effect when he was
arrested for vagrancy and held until
the authorities Of Prince Edward
were given possession Of him. lie
said he had watched for some days
the movements of the cashier Of the
Emporia bank, and had planned TO
enter his dwelling house at night,
murder his wife, and under threat OF
taking the life Of the banker compel
him to 20 with him down to the bank,
unlock the doors and let him help
himself to as much money as he
wanted.
After the murder Of Mr.. John
Grubb, for which crime they were
hanged this morning, Rullin and Hill
burglarizel two dwelling houses at
Gayburg, y. c., aud shortly before
coming to Tuggle they had broken in
four residences at Charleston, W. Va.
After the killing and burning Of Mr..
Grub, Runln and Hill separated at
Weldon, y. G.
On Saturday last Massie Hill indi-
Gated that he wi he'd TO make his will,
saying that he had some money hid in
a place he would designate provided
he could give it to the person he want
ed to have ii. For his acsomm0 iation
the following will was drawn for his
signature:
~, Massie Hill, now ia the jail OF
the county Of Prince Edward, and
sentenced to be hung on the 10Th day
Of February, 1907, do hereby make this
my last will and testament
~ give and bequeath all property OF
whatsoever kind Of which | may die,
seize and possess, 10 my friend and
Spiritual advisor, Rev. r.. a. p. Cheek,
of the town of Farmyille, Va.
lSignedl "Massie Hill.
"Signed and acknow i'm our
presence as witnesses, we being tOgeth-
er at the same time and i'm thepresence
of Massie Hill.
"a. ID. Watkins,
81. l.. Hart
Hill then in presence Of his spiritual
advisor, Judge Watkins and the WI.
ter told where he had hidden a sum Of
money amounting to S223.55 and
twelve or 70 rteen watches. He wish
ed the watches returned to Jew from
whose store he had stolen them. He
gave minute direction as TO how the
hidden treasure could be reached,
stating the exact railway fare and re-
assured those about him that the
money would be easily gotten after the
point was once reached. He would
not tell where the money and watches
were. however, until Rev. Cheek and
the newspaper man had promised him
in good faith that they would both
together make the journey Of more
than one hundred miles for the buried
treasure. The trip was made. Call
ing to their assistance a dauntless
resident Of a quiet little town near the
border line Of two States the three be
gan at the cold, dark midnight hour
to delve with the vigor and spirit OF
veteran Yukon river gold seekers, and
continued ceaselessly at their labor UNI
til driven from the search by their fast
fading faith in Massie Hills repeated
solemn protestations that the treasure
was there. Returning to Farmyille
Hill acted as though it was a great
surprise to him that the money had
not been brought back, and stuck to
the original story that it was at the
spot he had so plainly designated, I'M
ill yesterday when he acknowledged TO
the Herald reporter that it was "all a
Joke" Asked why he executed a will
and deceived his spiritual advisor, the
condemned man said, with a broad
smile, that he "wanted TO have one