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

around his PROSTATE form. Hi de
clares that the old man was not dead
when Ruflin put the blaze 10 the place
for he was rolling back his eyes and
Gearing his throat all the time Ruilin
was ransacking the various drawers
for cash.
Neither Ruilin nor Hill had been
neglected since they were sentenced
to death, and they have had daily
spiritual advice from the colored pas
tors Of the town. Hill had several
days before his execution made an
earnest profession Of religion, and re-
joced in his hope Of salvation. On
Wednesday his sister, about whom he
talked so much aud expressed the de
sire To see once more before he died,
came to Farmvile from the mountains.
She was admitted to the Jail and the
meeting and parting were both very
affecting. 1t was the only time Mas
sic Hill has been cen to shed a tear
lie wept bitterly, keeping 1t up for
long time even after his sister had
taken her last farewell Of him.
Immediately after the bodies had
been cut down they were prepared for
shipment, and this afternoon were
put aboard the 1888 o'clock train for
Charlottesville, where they will be
received at the University Of that
city.
a few days ago an inter lew was
had with both Ruilin and Hill the
purpose Of which was to have them
relate their past lives Of crime. Ruilin
said he was 80 years old, was born in
Wayne county, y. G. When about
- or % years Of age he started in
crime. and his first ofense was the
stealing Of three head Of cattle. For
this he was arrested and while await
ing trial broke Jail.
lie entered i'm the night time the
residence Of Mr.. j. +. Walton, Of
Farmville, and stole his watch and a
small satchel, and after discovering
that the latter contained no valuables
he threw it away. Not so very long
ago he visited Farmville again and
during the night he went into the res
idence Of Mr.. ID. +. Elan and carried
oTa very fine gold watch. Ruflin
said that when he was leaving town
that night-he thinks between two
and three o'clOck-wh lie crossing
Hurd's field some dogs chased him.
and thinking that they were hounds
that had been purposely put upon his
trail by pursuers, he dropped the
watch and took 10 his heels.
Some OF the burglaries Ruilin has
committed were told to us as follows:
At Hanley, w. Va, he robbed post
Office and store, carrying away only
$40. This was probably in 1898.
The same year he entered two stores
at Prospect, Prince Edward county,
and continuing on his way down the
Norfolk and Western he broke into
dwelling at Burkeville and one at
Blackstone. For these he was ar
rested, tried ard given Is years in
each case. lie served in the peniten-
tiary nearly nine years when the Gov
ernor i'm 1905 paroled him. Ruilln
upon rcgaining his freedom immedi-
atelv resumed his old work Of burglar
ling, and this was done throughout
three States, Virginia, North Carolina
and West Virginia. lie broke into
dwelling houses in the following
places after being liberated from the
penitentiary:
Gordonsville, Ashland two at Cliff
ton Forge, two in Coyington, Bedford
City, Salem, Radford, Christiansburg,
Chester, Buchanan and three at Buena
Vita.
I'm North Carolina, Ruilin confessed
to the following burglsries: Two
dwellings i'm Weldon, in Halifax, /
i'm Enfield. i'm Tarboro, Pin Williams
ton. bar room and dwelling house in
Robinson, four dwellings in Ayden, ]
i'm Durham, > in Oxford, 3 dwellings
and one store in Henderson, in War
renton and OF in Littleton.
In West Virginia: Ruiiin said he
had successfully escaped after
committing ;he following burglaries:
Two at White Sulphur, 3 in Romeo
verte. > in Anderson, in Talbot, , in
Henderson, > in Quinton, 3 in Prince
at Skaters, a company store at Alas
ka. 3 i'm Beechwood, l in Demmock, ]
at Harvey, > at Mcdowell, , at Fire
Creek. at Echo, store and 4 houses
at Sewell, barroom at Fayette Station,
dwelling at Nutalburg, another at
Fayetteville, barroom in Montgomery
store and 3 dwellings in Mt. Carbon, 2
dwellings and a store at Payne Creek,
dwelling at Charleston, , at st. Al
bans. / at Barboursville, at Hunting
ton, . at Guyandoite, ] in Wheeling
at Union, at Lewisburg.
Runin said he had never killed a
man, nor participated in murder be-
fore the time Of their Staying Mr..
Grub. To effect his escape when in
close quarters he has shot at pursu-
ers and been often fired at by them,
but luckily none Of the aims were ae-
curate, and he was glad to say he had
not shed blood.
Massie HIPS list Of crimes is as
lengthy, and probably contains some
which stamp him as even a worse
character than was Ruilin. He was
Just twenty-five years old on the 9Th