Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-10-30

Andnow permit me To bring in review before YOU,
the offences which YOU have committed against your
sonnuy. In the dead hour oil the night, sou have
broken open the house OF one OF the mos, ncaceabe
men ia the county. You have attempted To plumber
l,im OF his money and in order secure Yourselves
from detection, you have manned, and wounded,
whist they were IN bed and asleep the master of the
house, his sister, and her friend and two faithful do
mesiics. Your dreadful blows have laid ono of them
Jane Coats, in her grave. Young, strong and
active YOU have murdered n slccDinu woman !
punished, M vain arc all our laws niatchcy may rs
well be torn up, and scattered TO the winds If this
offence he not punished, there is safety in society
M man mousse VIII he his castle the law will he no
protection, and We may return TO a state of nature
our offence has been clearly and satisfactorily PROV
cd. can have no doubt ofyour guilt and can as
sure You that no hope remains for YOU on this side the
grave. Most truly do Reconnaissance the situation and
sympaihisc with the connexions and relations whom
you will leave behind you, and whose bosons YOU
have torn with anguish You, William Reid, have
plunged dagger INTO the bosom OF Your cspcc table
aud venerable parents You have not only brouobt
death iuio the house of Coats, but YOU have entacd
on your own iamily never-ening aillicton For
yourselves, can only commend, that Won make the
best use OF your remaining tmc-cndeayor seriously
TO repent OF your transgressons Beg pardon of YOUR
God Tor this dreadful crime, and nlplore his mercy
ana ioigHcness.HE alone, can heal your wounded
conscience. HE, alone, can wash ont the blood
stained spot upon your souls. Resort TO Hia, there
fore, seriously and frequently.
IL now remains that pronounce the dread sentence
to the Jail from whence you were taken and from
thence, the seventh day of December next TO the
g;ilows, and that there between the hours Of ten in
the forenoon, and four in the afternoon of the same
day, each of you be- hung iy the neck until Won are
dead, and may God have mercy OH your souls
SUPERIOR COURT
PETERSBURG, October 23.--On Friday last, came
on before the Superior Court of Law for thi, Town,
Inc ri ct Charles Jones, charged with ic murder of
JPm {. Rogster This case occ,,,ed III, ,v,,o. ,l,,
r iO-.a
al nish when the Jury after retiring for ahou ; mi
nnies, returned with avcrdic of euy Of .aurFel. in
e second degree, and sentenced the prisoner 10 con-
hement IN The Pcniicn;iry, for period OF Is wears
MIR. John Baker associated with Mr. David
hobcrtson IN conducting the prosccution-the prison
or was defended by MIR. Alex. Jones of Hampton,
Mr.. thomas IL Dunn, of This place, and Mr. Seer
want Jones Of York. Mr.. Baker opened the clse
and with much force of argument sustained the intic
men which changed the prisoner with murder in .he
.T degree lie was followed by Mr. y. Jones of
hampton, who, IN very chastc and argument al sc
speech, defended him from the charge OF mur,ler,
conccdng, that II the prisoner guilty AT all was
only IN The third degree. Mr. Dunn succeeded MIR
Jones, and ~ his usual impressive style alress: the
jury considerable time in be!iafo OF the prisoner.
Mr. D Jones concluded the defence of the prisoner.
ana abpred with great zeal and earnestness in tho
cause OF his client-AIr Robertson .icn addressed
The jury hut the i'll state of his health compelled him
after "a lew remarks, IN which he exhibited his accus-
omed learning and erndition III criminal law, to re-
sign thc prosecution TO MIR. Baker, who concinde,l
The rciSon'ngs and authorities advanced by tho.
Counsel Tor the priSOner.-The Judge after the con-
cuson oil the argument, addressed few words 10
lie jury, explanatory of the law upon tb. st,hicct
The Jury then retired, and in about fifteen n,inutes
returned with Il verdict rs before stated Rep
October 29.-The trial of Jao. Dlris one of the
iour whi'e persons, charged with the murder Of VIM.
Z. hoyster took place on Monday last Il was three
o clock before the jury sworn, the prisoner ex-
ccpng 10 all the urors in the original panel bn, one
ana making objections TO great number OF others rs
he evidence in this case the same as in the case
OF Chs. Jones, noticed by us on Tuesday The pro-
Secni'on was conducted, in the first instance by
hiassrs. Robertson g. Baker--Nr Spooner apnenred
Tor the prisoner. The commonwealth, was seldom if
ever, better supported and ample Justice wa, done
TO me prisoners the argument on both sides having been
continued I'LL late honr AT night, when the jury re-
urea. The jury not agreeing in opinion upon their
retirement, they were adjourned TO MIR. French n
Vern, where they continued till Tuesday morning,
when they again appeared in court, and about two
clock, agreed upon verdict by which the prsonc,
was sentenced to confinement in the penitenIry for
the space OF fourteen years.
On Tuesday the trial of Thomas LAMBETH charged
with the same offence came on. Messrs. Robertson
and Baker again appeared for the commonwealth and
Messrs: I'illsborougli and Dunn for the prisoner
The evidence was the same in the other two cases
tho perhaps not so strong against Lambeth. His
counsel put forth their utmost exertons and they
were oil noordinarv Observation-Disclosures retired about
sunset, and Soon returned with verdict of guilty,
and sentenced the prisoner to confinement i'll the Pc
On Wednesday, the trial of.3yche Perkinson cliarg-
Cd with The same offence commenced The same coun-
sci Tor the commonwealth again appeared and the pri-
soner was defended by Mr.. Spooner. The evidence
was the same as IN the other three cases, and the u-
ry, alter retiring for short Time returned with YER
diet OF guilty. and sentenced the prisoner TO conine-
nent IN the pententiary for the space of five years
These trials having been terminated, il may not
perhaps he amiSs TO state the evidence large
than II has YET appeared.
On the night this unfortunate affair took place the
Two white lads, (Jones and Lambcth) it'll negroes
Dick and Moses, TO the house OF Eliza James,
AT the foot of Boiling brook-s and made enquiry for
John Davis.-Shortly afterwards, Royster came in
and seeing the two black men, asked the woman of
the bouse what they wanted, and observed, that they
should not be allowed TO stay among white people
his remark gave offence 10 JONES' who replied, that
e negroes we're as good as any other persons in the
house Koysier then observed, that those who kept
company with negroes, were no better than negroes ;
upon winch some angry words between Royster
and Jones--Iones threatened TO kill any man who
wouu interrupt the negroes. The woman then or
dered the negroes out, Roystcr rcmarking, that he
had no objection TO the young men continuing in the
house The Young men, however, retired with the
blacks, and repaired TO the premises of MIR. Samuel
DAVIS on iiigh-sreet where by false representations
on the part of Jones, who told Davis, that Royster
bad called him, Davis and all the others IN the shop,
negroes, they succeeded in encing Davis and Per-
kinson into their service. The party, thus recruited,
returned To the house, where they found Royster and
upon entering the door, Royster being
pointed out, scufile ensued between Davis and
Hoyscr, both Of whom almost instantly precipi-
tatcd on; of the door, when Royser was Immediately
Killed. either by rock, the force of cudge, ma
ny large rocks having been thrown ut the unfortunate
man but who gave the fatal blow, did not appear in
evidence.
The unfortunate negroes have been condemned to
be hung, and will be executed on Friday next, the
"a November, on the poor house square, in front of
Poplar Spring.
The distant reader will bear in mind, that by the
laws OF this siate the negroes not entitled to any
punishment-teir case is either death
by the law, total acquittal. That they were guilty
OF aiding IN the murder, proven, Dick having
thrown the first rock at the unfortunate man. The
white persons were only deemed guilty of murder ~
i.Ic secnn1 1cmrce and nv la... n.li.hllI