Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-07-28

We say with uninixed truth, that our deep respect for
the friends of tho party the great probability that the
occurrence accidental in lis fatality, and the sym>
patty which every bosom must feel for the mental
anguish of the individual concerned, if il acci>
dental, have made the painful duty relation
with the public has imposed upon Believ ing
however, upon mature reflection aud the concurrent
opinion of many friends that there arc crcum
stances connected with this affair, calling for pubs
lie attention and public scrutiny, and determined to
shrink from responsibility that we owe to The public
we ave l;d down private feelings at tire feet OF!
our social duty. We had hoped that The town paper
whose province ii particularly was, would have
rendered this step unnecessary part but as it
has chosen TO remain SILENT ii is the incumbent
speak.
On the night of the l1h Instant, three men, Grace,
NhPP!e, and Henderson, we'd by suspicion, that
ie had stolen money from the former, seized upon
free negro of color, called Isaac Read, inflicted upon
him logging with cowhde & not content with this
summary AMI severe justice administered upon mere
suspicion, suspended him by rope to the beams of
house, suffering his toes only touch the floor and
left him TO remain in that situation until their resent
,nent satiated.* Returning some time after, we
suppose 10 discover what effect their cruelty had
wrought upon him, they found Isaac dead. a Coron.
flat the deceased had to his death by the hands
OF Grace, WhTple and Henderson, who appre.
hended with difficulty and lodged in jail, all
bail being very properly refused, TO await their trial
before called Court of the county of Hcnrco We
informed that the suspicion of the culprits was di
reced against Isaac, consequence of the responses
of an old bedame in the neghborhood, who has set
up as couurer, and who consulted BY Grace on
tha flor tI,;e III
ciPated that Isaac perfectly innocent of stealing
Che money, part of which we learn was found after
wards by Grace's wife, where he himself had dropped
it out of his pocket when drunk Grace, Henderson
and Whipple to for their barbaity to their
country, and shall not attempt to increase the in,
dgnation of the public mind beyond what the detail of
the circumstances cannot fa 10 produce. We trust
for the honour of laws and country that justice
will be done, without reference colour. But if il is
true that these moved to their cruelty by
the suggestions of protested witch, hope that
law may be found or made for her punishment.
All the world would approve the iniction of a sound
luckng upon her, though, there may be statute for
such case made and provided.
The public mind had hardly recovered from the
sensation of horror produced by this melancholy in
stance of fatal cruelty and superstition when il was
attracted to another incident of precisely similar
character, which happened on Monday last. On the
morning of that day, Capt. Carter, for the 'commis-
sion of act disagreeabie TO him." ordered
want to take negro boy, 10 Il years old, put
rope loosely about his neck, tie his hands and feet
place him in chair in the smoke house, and suspend
The rope to beam in the roof This the says
he performed. Returning to the smoke house some
time after, the boy intreated 10 be released for which
however, he had no orders. The boy was placed in
fhis situation early in the morning. About / o'clock
Capt Garter says, 'thnsing he had been confined long
enough he requested his sister to go With him 10 the
smoke house, and beg for his release and that lie
would release him, apparently at her socitation."-
They vent accordingly, but they found this victim Of
cruel and unusual punishment, released indeed
released from life and its prosecutions! Grown des-
perate BY being confined for such length of time in
situation dreadful and iDtoerable the unfortunate
boy had either chosen voluntarily TO terminate bis life
and suheriDgs, or IN making desperate exertion to
lbeIate himself had fallen from the chair, which as he
was tied hand and foot, he afterwards had means o.
recovering Medical aid Immediately called in
but the spark Of life was finally eXlingushed a Coro-
ners Inquest holden the body which returned
the following verdict:
THAT the said Charles his dea III in the follow
ing manner. lie put the smoke house in The
" io Oy order OF master, placed cha
and rope tied loose about his neck the purpose Of
I3ming hum aud lettering him from The commission OF
some ACT lSaGeFbe to his master; aud that the boy
found off the chair, md the rope being long enough to
allow his feet reach the floor, he siraugled DEATH
The Jury say this happened about II O'Clock this day
and his death this way and not othcrvec
ed July, 1877. Signed Charles II. Hyde, Coroner-Gar-
land Haynes. VIVA Crutchhcd, WIN. Dabncy, FredeI ick
Jude, Thos b. Carter Thornton c. Lpsconbe, Albert G;
Bowe, Nathan II. Ragaud, Caleb Tyree, James P. Tv-
ler WIN. Bracket, and Morton Woodson.D
Had the usual forms of justice been followed in this
case, should have contented ourselves with bare
and reluctant statement of facts. But the people of
Richmond have seen with indignation, and the world
will learn with surprise, that Capt Carter has not BEEN
and from what understand, will not be arrested
The civil authority say that information has been
communicated to them, that person has appeared
TO accuse Capt Carter Is this indeed the law? When