The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1852-05-18
Riot Inn HgichlsAoulsl,

From the South Side Democrat we
select the following particulars of the
late riot in Richmond:
q The capitol of this ancient Domin-
ion, within tho last four days, has
been the scene of most lawless, tero-
cious and disgraceful insurrcction.
,,esSome month or two since, on over
seer Mr.. Jackson) in one of the to.
baeco factories of Richmond was killed
by; negro boy under the following
circumstances: The boy having done
some portion of his work in careless
manner, was called up blythe overscer
to.receive q chastiscment. The boy
begged, the oversccr to spare him, but
decming the chastisement merited, the
reiersesrwPersisted in fiogging him.
After q while tie boy caught hold of
the, lash, the oYerseer ordered him to
let gos but.he would not, and the over
seer gave him o kick. In the;passion
If tho mQment, the boy seized an iron
poker, laying at his feet, and, struck
the oyerseer q blow, which failed him
to the ground. The boy then. let. drop
the, poker and ran down tlie stairs:
The .,oyerseer rising instantly, ran in
pursuit of him. 1t was very soon as
dertained that the oversecr was serious
ly. injured; surgeon was called in;
from an examination it was evident
that the skull had been fractured an
operation was performed, but it
brought no relief to the patient, and
on the second day after the blow was
struck, he died.
{. The negro was arrested, tried, and
on proof of the foregoing facts, con-
yicted and sentenced to be hung on
22d April. Application was made to
Governor johnson, either to pardon
the convict or to commute the SEN
tenee of death, into some less severe
punishment. The Governor declined,
but did however grant a reprievt Of
fortnights' duration. Meanwhile some
seventy-five or one hundred Of the
most eminent and respectable citizens
of Richmond, laid before the Execu-
.HSc, q petition, praying communication
'sf tha punishment which the boy was
condemned to suffer, in consideration
of the facts, that the crime of which
he was guilty was not murder, but
simply manslaughtcr-that beyond all
Question he had no intention Of taking
tho life Of the overscer, whose death
was the result Of accident, rather than
design, and also in consideration Of the
youth Of the convict, he being only
seventeen years of age. The Govern
orsYas. constrained by the urgent ap-
peal Of the petition, ,by the force of
its arguments, and tho great respecta-
bility and influence Of the gentlemen
who had signed it, to reccde from his
determination to suffer the sentence Of
law to be executed upon the boy, and
to commute his punishment into trans
portation for life.
An indignation meeting was called
by advertisement i'll the newspapers,
placards posted along the streets.
In response to this invitation, some
fifteen hundred or two thousand per
sons-a savage, sccthing multitude,
ripe for riot and sedition-asscmble
on the evening Of the 7th inst, in thG
City Hall. In solemn mockcry the
meeting was called to order, a chAir-
man se!ee, ed to preside over the de-
alterations Of treason, and secretary
to record its lawlcss resolves. The
Commonwealth attorney for the city
Of. Richmond, opened the; ball, and in
tianned tho four OF excitement, hysrc-
marks .denunciutory of the conduct Of
thesExeative. ,r ~e,..
! Mr.. William +. Watsona quiet and
peaceful citizen, submitted to the
meeting this fair, just and proper pro
position:
: :. Resolved, That a Committee be ap-
pointed, whose dutysit should be to
wait upon the Governor, obtain the
papers, signatures, &c, which had
been presented to him in behalf of
committing the punishment of the con
svict, and report tp an adjourned meet
ing of the citizens.
According 80 reporter Of the Times,
sFthbis proposition was received with
marked, dtspifasHre, and being put to
-theyote, twas rejected by an orerwhelm-
,ing ngj0rpy.".. One George II. Pcake
submitted. the following resolution:
,iResolved, That Governor Johnson,
in, computing the sentence of the
slaYe Jordan Hatcher, convicted of
The wilful murder Of. VIM. p. jackson,
has abated the trust cqniided to him
by the constitution, has outraged the
feelings Of this community, and has
given an encouragcment.t TO insubprdi-
iiation and crime which calls for the
Indignant rcprobation Of the people Of
Virginia. !. ~, !. a.-.
This resolution, the, same reporter
adds, soas earr;ed by aeelqmation%
Mid tho applause consequent upon
the adoption OF this insulting and in
surrectionnry resolve, the meeting
adjourned" With passions inti,riatel
by the infsmatory harangues of their.
orators, tho mob rushed out Of the
: Hall with the cry "to the Governors
z hnnon t1sI 80 t1o E,,,rr.r,e