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James Beauregard Hunton
James Beauregard Hunton of Glen Allen, Virginia (Born August 1, 1983-died October 30, 1934) was a Virginia aristocrat. His family was known for Hunton tobacco, heavily affiliated with the Phillip-Morris as the number one source for chewing tobacco. However, James Hunton was most remembered for committing homicide, killing his wife and two children, by means of hanging them outside of their home. Hunton set the stately home on fire afterwards and contacted the authorities where he was arrested.

About the Murder:

On the evening of November 19, 1933, Hunton took his family for evening walk in the front of the property. He tied them to a tree on the front of the property and proceeded to hang them. Afterwards, he set the estate on fire and contacted the authorities. Upon capture, Hunton was reported to be relaxed and jovial.

Hunton was the son of the Hunton fortune, inheriting over 200 acres and an estate of the Hunton Tobacco Farms. The Hunton farm was the exclusive provider of tobacco used for Phillip-Morris chewing tobacco. Hunton had managed the farm for twelve years. Noted as a quiet and earnest man, workers of the Hunton farm noted that he noted little joy of profits and successful crop seasons. He would simply nod and say, "my family will be proud."

The trial, scheduled for December 15, 1933 was cancelled as Hunton was noted as not fit due to mental incapacities. He was sentenced to the Hanover County Hospital where he died on October 30, 1934.

Retrieved from the burned home was a box that contained a picture of an unknown woman, a letter to her, and cash. This was taken into custody. Authorities asked for details surrounding this surviving item, and Hunton said that he would only chronicle his reasons for the murder if the box was buried on the property at a specific location. Authorities granted this request.

Afterwards, Hunton provided several confessions of spousal abuse from his wife, Nellie, and the increasing expectations of farm production.

Three months after the confessions, Hunton's mental condition worsened. Hospital reports confirmed that there were several instances of him repeating the letter "E" in his sleep. When confronted with recordings and reports, Hunton's memory would lapse. Additional reports found that Hunton, in later months, self harmed himself, carving the letter E into his forearm. Mentions of his wife and children sent him into rages where he was often sedated and removed from group patient settings. Doctors suspected syphilis as the major cause of mental deterioration. On October 30, 1933, Hunton was found dead in his room. Autopsy reports confirmed organ failure as the cause of death. Unlike most syphilis cases that impact the liver, the disease impacted his heart, leaving what appeared to look like cigarette burns on his heart. No funeral was held for Hunton. He is buried in the Mount Olive Baptist cemetery. Only authorized parties are permitted visitation to the grave site.