Dispatch, January 23, 1889

Untitled

Moral -- Vandalism

Eastville, VA., January 22. -- Your correspondent, in company with the Commonwealth's Attorney for this county, visited Cape Charles to-day to attend the preliminary trial of J. J. Bunting, arrested upon the charge, according to his own confession, of having caused the fire in the central portion of the place on Thursday morning of last week, which but for its timely discovery would have resulted in the destruction of the entire business part of the town. The facts as developed were both surprising and mysterious, and led to the belief that Bunting must have been temporarily insane -- his insanity caused by his carrying considerable debt.

The facts as obtained are as follows: Before day on Thursday morning last the entrance to Masons' Hall, which is above one of the largest stores in the town, was discovered to be on fire. The surroundings justified the conclusion that the work was of incendiary origin. A detective was employed to ferret out the perpetrator. It was but a short while before a clue was found, which, being followed up, led to a suspicion resting upon the now self-accused. This suspicion reached the ears of the suspected party, who perhaps thought that abundant proof had been secured and it would be better for him to divulge his part in the crime. This party was J. J. Bunting, owner of the building, and of six others in the block. Bunting on yesterday called upon Captain G. T. Savage, and told him he was the instigator in the fire; that he had paid a colored man by the name of Samuel Roane $10 to fire the building; that he had an insurance of $4,000, and that he was fearful that the policy would be cancelled, as the company did not want the risk. He also said that he was unwilling to go without the insurance, and that he had determined to have it burned; that Roane, had agreed to do the job, and had made the attempt three days previous, but that it was not a success. That he had urged upon Roane the necessity of his burning the building, and that it should be done upon a windy night; that he made the attempt the second time, and was successful, but that it was discovered in time to prevent the destruction of the building. That he had seen Roane since the fire, and that he was certainly the one who applied the torch.

Roane was seen and denied the whole story, and said that he was at home sick at the time. Upon being hard pushed and informed that Bunting had confessed and implicated him also, he at last also confessed and said that he was the guilty man and had been paid by Bunting. He then told the whole story, corroborating Bunting in every particular. After the confession of Roane both parties were brought before Mayor Sterling for a preliminary hearing. They waived an examination and were sent on for trial in the February County Court. Both were then taken in charge by the officers and delivered to the jailer in Eastville to-night. The Commonwealth's Attorney says it is one of the most mysterious crimes that has come under his notice since he has been in the office he now holds and which he has held for the past eighteen years, because, from a financial standpoint, there was no excuse for burning the property. It could have been sold at any time for $5,000, and was paying an interest on $8,000. In addition to that Bunting owned some $4,000 of other property in the same block that would have been burned had the fire gotten under full headway, and the latter had but a small amount of insurance. The only solution is that he owed some money and that he was fearful that he could not meet the payments and that this so preyed upon his mind that he became unbalanced and the crime was the result. Bunting had stood high in the community and was considered a successful business-man, having accumulated all of his property within the past five years. He was a member of the City Council for two terms and refused a nomination for a third term. He was an officer in the Masonic lodge of Cape Charles and a past officer in the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Knights of Pythias. His downfall is a surprise to every one, and created great sympathy for his wife and children, who are almost heart-broken at the turn in affairs. It was one of the saddest scenes ever witnessed when he was taken from his home to-night to be carried to the jail, and stout-hearted men shed tears for the sorrowing and grief-stricken family. Hon. John Neely, of Norfolk, has been employed to defend the prisoner.