Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-06-04
SAT- SULPHUR srarsos, May 2ad, 1912.

SALT SULPHUR SFRIScs, May 22d, 1912.
SIE-l send you brief account OF the tria! OF
David Lucas, lately convicted OF murder, before the
Hon. James E. Brown, Judge OF the Circuit Court
Of Giles, together with the Judgment Of the Court
which has been obtained for publication, at the so.
liciaIion Of the bar and others. The prisoner
Lucas, has, for several years past, been noted
outlaw, and object OF general dread and detes,a
ton 10 the community in which he lived. a man
OF extraordinary strength and stature, blood thirsty
and yindiclve in his character, subsising, princi-
paIy by habitual pi.fering and dishonesty, from
which the dread OF no punishment nor the perpe
,ra,ion of any crime could deter him. The iesti-
mony, though entirely ciroums,antla, left no doubt
to his guilt; and, possibly more ntrocious case
Of homicide was never perpetrated. The deceased,
John Pof, was a poor aborer, a stranger to the ac-
cussd, travelling on foot through the county Of
Giles, on his way homcwdrds, with small wallet
on his back, and, probably, few dollars in his
pocket, which constituted the sole nducement to his
murder. The evidence placed him in company with
the prisoner about half an hour before sunset, at
which time they separated, the prisoner remaining
behind and the deceased proceeding on his Journey.
In a few minutes, however, he is pursucd-overta-
ken-drawn into place Of soItude-overpowere
-murdered-robbed-an the dead body covered
with bark and leaves, IN which condition It was ut
forwards discovered, with the scull fractured and
other marks OF desperate violence the throat AID
elsewhere The case was submitted without nrgu.
ment, and the jury, after retirement Of 10 or IS
minutes, returned with verdict Of murder in the
first degree. On the 9Th day Of the Court, the pr.
soner being again placed at the lar, was asked, II he
had any thing to say why sentence Of death should
no. be passed upon him TO which he replied, in a
tremuous but distinct tone Of voice, no had nothing
The Court then proceeded to pronounce the fol
loving Judgment
"DAVGD LUCAS-Eou are again r. aced al the
bar End the question Just asked, informs you Of the
purpose Tor which you are there. On the first day
Of the present term, you were indicted for the crime
Of murder, and Jury Of The country IN part select
cd by yourself, upon foil, TAR, and, ! trust i'm
partial trial. m tho progress oi which, 20 had the
AID nj able Counsel assigned you Nv the Court, has
found you guilty Of murder in the first degree. or
the correctness Of that verdict, no one, " heard
the evidence, can doubt--so clear so conclusive so
overwhelming we're the facts proved, all tending 10
establish your guilt, TINT your Counsel ingenious
and able they are known to be, faithful and zeal
Gus as they certainly are, deemed an argument use
less md unnecessary, and submitted the case 10 the
Jury on the evidence alone; and they, after period
only sufficiently long TO enable them In interchange
ollni0ns IN relation 10 your guilt or innocence,
awful rs the duty was 10 ihem and dreadful ns ne
Consequence are 10 you, pronounced you guilty
Of one Of the highest crimes known TO our Criminal
Code.
Your case oforls strong illustration or tho
truth Of the principle laid down by writers on evil
denco thnt q, s possible Tor evidence, entirely cir
cumsantll m rs character, TO bring conviction 10
the mind as strong and ns conclusive rs could be
produced by direct and positive proof. No humln
eve taw you inn Il the wound which caused tho
death Of your unfortunate victim, or witnessed the
death uggio which evidently preceded the fatal
blow. No one saw him whiting, and gasping, and
| sinking, under your mufderOus grasp. But he,
whose eye never wlnks, and whose Justice never
/ slumbors, has enabled you m bo unrod, from the
Inception Of your mufdofous design, 10 the very pc
| Rod 81 ts CONTAMINATION, by cifcumstarces 20 com
| elusive That none can doubt your guilt For my
ssi, 20 firmly md soIcmnly an convinced, Tint
scarcely be stronger, if T. myself had witnessed The
&C.. The evidence, too, dlsclosos one Of the most
co.d-bloodcd deliberate and premodraicd murders.
that the annals Of our criminal Jurisprudence have
ever cxhibitcd-commtted for gain m trifing, and
| purfuf IN Us amount and eharncfcr that tho m nd
| shuyldors in contemplating AZ how low a price hu
| man life NAV be estimated. will not attempt 20
detail the evidence-It j. familiar 10 yourself and
all who nov hear me. ! cannot, however, omit the
fact that strong we're the circumstances, uncon-
/ nected with your conduct and declarations, subss-
aucut N the commission Of the crime, your own
guilty conscience, and the very means which you
| adopted TO avert suspicion, only added 10 their
strength, and have, IN your futile attempts 10 o.
cape Justice frightened the bonds which had prcvi-
ously onlanglod you Before proceed 10 pronounce