Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-10-03
rryr c0NU1CJuS CASE


TIE CONVICT'S CASE.
Moses johnson Sentenced TO be Hung
Al special term OF The Circuit Superior Cour
Of Henrico County and City of Richmond, held
on Monday, the 29lh day OF September, 1915, by
The Hon. Philip n. Nicholas for the trial OF
Moses Johnson, free negro, charged with rebel
lion in the Peniientiary on the 9th day OF Septem-
Der, lS45 and with having, on that day, ieloni'
ously, wiluliy, willingly, unlawfully, and Of his
malice alorelhought, killed Felix Ferguson, an
assistan, keeper and turnkey in said Peni'en'iary
The prisoner was brought into Court in cusio'
dy Of the keeper Of The Penileniary, Col. Charles
$. Morgan, guarded with file OF soldiers from
the Public Guard, and accompanied by six OF The
convicts of the Penilenliary, as witnesses.
The Grand Jury were called, and The whole
number, consisting OF twenty flour, appeared, and
were sworn; and, after having retired for short
while, returned the Indictment presented against
The prisoner by The Attorney for the Common
wealth, "a true bill"
John s. Caskic, Esq, Counsel for the Com
monwealth.
Thomas P August, Esq, Counsel for The Pr
soner.
The Prisoner was then arraigncd, and pleaded
"noi guilty." and the Court proceeded 10 en-
PANEL The Jury Tor the Trial OF The prisoner
Alter seven peremptory challenges by me prison.
or. and twenty one for cause, the following cltl-
zcns were selected as The Jury, who were sworn
viz: Josiah d. Smith, David \. Jones, Hardin
Davis, Gusayus Jarvis, Henry Sharp Charles
B. Hill, Francis Wicker, Jr., Archibald y. BIZ
gelow. Fendall Griffin, George L. Sadlci, Wal
Ter C. Freeman, William c. Smith.
Philip Mcleod a convict from the Peniten-
tiary, was then called to the witness-sland, ~hen
The Counsel for the Prisoner made question, whe-
,her the said convict could he a witness, he being
now under Imprisonment in The PeniienliaTy Tor
felony, and not having been pardoned; buI me
Cour, oyerrued the objection, and bill OF e1-
cep,inns was filed 10 the opinion of The Court
Philip Mcleod being sworn, testified, that he
was in the work shop on Tuesday, the 9TH OF the
present month, working on safe, about 80 feeI
from Felix Ferguson, the deceased, who was SIT
ling al his desk making some calculations on
small sac-thal the prisoner, Moses Johnson,
came from towards the place where ne had been
working, and hung up the stick with The Key
attached, belonging 10 the privy, al lis place,
which was near the deceased. lie saw the pri-
soner then give blow at the deceased and i'm
,nedia,ely The deceased rose from his seal. the
blood spouline from his neck, and ran forward
stating, upon enquiry "who did ii!' maj me
neoro Johnson had done il. That the prisoner re-
treated back, down The coopel's shop. towards The
nlace where he worked That The deceased ran
Gorward and turned towards the door, near the
witness when The witness caught hold Of him, and
seized hold of the wound in his neck, tightly 10
stop the blood; but they both fell together ou' OF
the door, from whence The deceased was carried
IN the font gate, where lie died. The prisoners
place forwork was in the coopeTs shop, about 40
feet from where the deceased was sitting: went
to arrest the prisoner: and took up coorers
adze and told him if he did not surrender ne
wonld cut him in lwo Prisoner was asked why
he killed The deceased he stated that The deceased
had tried 10 kill him. The prisoner had been
punished previous TO this, but witness did not know
how much The prisoner had been accustomed
10 making five barrels per day-ot'lers MADE SiS-
and five did no, appear TO be more than an oiil'
nary task.
parkes d. Leonard, another convict, being
sworn testified that he was at work about thlr-
teen feet from where the deceased was si''lhs-
,ba, The prisoner came in and hung up the prlvy
s,;c, at lis usual place near the deceased-!ha'
The deceased was sitting at his desk, q'iie'iy en-
raeed in marking on a slate, when the prisoner
went behind him and gave him blow me
deceased cried out, and he, the witness, ran lor-
ward and arrested The prisoner, as he was aoou'
n rive The deceased another blow win NE Khiie.
The prisoner struck at witness, also, WIN 'ne
l,n;te when witness threw him of, and The pti'
soner retrea,ed down the shop towards door,
through which he escaped. He, the witness then
went towards the deceased, and iouha 'has NC
Leod had hold OF him.
John w. North, another convict being sworn
ss,6ed that he had his back towards The dsceas-
4 and was engaged in making pair OF bel
NUS He heard some one halloo, ana, lnrh'hS
.-o,rd no saw the deceased running, and some
40 ,,,cr him. also running and halloolng winch
,,,oa an, ~ he one of the prisoners trying to
c,,cb The deceased before he fell. The witness
r;n ant Of The shop, and seeing MIR. Jacobs, one
:, Tho l,eeners. called 10 him 10 come there, but
h. would not He then saw Mr. Ancarrow, an
o,er one of the keepers, and called TO him, VINO
Grid an, 10 them 10 arrest The prisoner Inc
PRISONER was then caught, and on being asked
wt.t he did the deed WITH replied, Kniie-"i'-
ne.. wont 10 look for the knife, and found II near
wh.re the prisoner had been. 1t had o'ooa on H.
W,ness took the knife, went out anu me. MI
Me.oan The Superintendent, and gave il TO MN,
who then ordered the convlcts 10 lheir rooms
forthwith. He saw the prisoner lew Gays DC
fore 70 out 10 the place where the conVicls are
wb;,ned and saw the deceased with cow-hide
in hi hand The deceased had asked Inc PR
sone If he intended TO make five barrels per day,
when he said, ~ can't make them fve barrels
Waller Quarles, black convict, being sworn
testified that on Monday The prisoner came mo
The sh,n walked about shop ill near breakfast
time, and then took off his coat; when deceased
came n and ted him that il was near breakfast
time, aid be. the prisoner, did not seem TO be go
ing to cork. ON Tuesday, the deceased SAID 10
the pris,ner, $50 you don't intend TO make 1u
four barelsqn Aller that the deceased went Out
Witness saw the prisoner drop the knife kne"
The prisoner TO make FIVE barrels; they were no
TOO man, for him TO make, and he had appeared
10 make them very easy. Sometimes they mac
an hour, or an hour and half leisure ''m'
Prisoner lad refused 10 make the five barrels be
fore.
Jeremiah Scott, black convict, being sworn
testified, TIA, on Monday The deceased came Il
him and showed him how 10 do his work, as Ut
was new hand. He spoke to The prisoner an'
said 10 hin, "You don't intend TO make but lou
barrelsT He spoke also 10 Bradshaw, Whh