Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-05-19

titnS9 WIN t4ioQso'N iltu V fluu1OIuhn CtiuBu
( hold Of the cow-hide and asked Mr.. Jack.
son not to whip him any. more; Mr.. Jack.
son told him to let 60 the cow-hide. and
to come out by the stove, and Jordan did
SO. Witness saw no more of the matter,
, but shortly after he heard sort of cry
and saw Jordan run down stairs and Mr..
. Jackson run down after him directly after
wards, with his forehead bleeding.
A Transcript of the Record
Teste,
CHAS. HOWARD, Clerk.
; To his Eacsllency. Joseph johnson, Cover.
nor of Virginia
The petition of the undersigned respect
fully represents that negro slave, named
Jordan Hatcher, agel about seventeen
years, was, on Friday, the 18th day of
the present month March, tried by the
Hastings Court of the City of Richmond,
charged with killing one - jackson,
found guilty, and sentenced to be hung on
the 23rd day Of April, 1889. Your Pc
titioners represent that the following are
the facts developed upon the trial:
| The boy, Jordan, was hired at tobac-
- jackson was an overseer in said
factory; that on the morning on which
the fatal blow was given, Jackson came
to the boys bench, where he was at work
and found fault with bundle of tobacco
stems, put up by the boy, stating that it
was the second occasion on which he had
to complain of the boys work he beg
ged his forgiveness and promised to en-
deavor to do better for the future Jack
son replied, that if he did do better it
should be after he was chastised, and COM
menced whipping him with cowhide :;
after number of lashes had been struck,
the boy caught hold of the cow-hide );
jackson then ordered him to leave his
bench and walk out with him into the
floor. near the stove; the boy immediate
y released his hold on the cow-hide and
obeyed him upon getting out into the
floor, near the stove, jackson again began
to whip him, and after some lashes had
been inflicted, the boy again seized the
cow-hide, whereupon Jackson kicked him
the boy then picked up an iron poker,
which was Immediately under his feet,
and struck jackson blow on the fore.
head Jackson fell to the floor, the boy
dropped the poker and left the room i'm
nediately; that the boy did not attempt
TO repeat the blow, although he might ca
silly have done SO, as no one attempted to
prevent him, many being present at the
time. In moment or two, Jackson arose
and pursued the boy, but did not ovcrtake
him. A physician was almost Immediate
ly called in, who found Jackson sitting up,
and for certain professional reasons did
not make any examination of the wound.
The same physician was called in again
the next morning, when he found his pa
tient Iaborlng under compression Of the
brain. Other physicians were then called
in by his advice, and the wound was ex-
plored, it appeared that the skull was
fractured an aperture having been made
in it, and the brain wounded. An opera
ton was then deemed necessary, and was
then performed but the patient survived
only a few hours. These arc all Of the
material facts developed at the trial But
at the trial, one of the eyes of the boy was
exceedingly inAamed, by reasons, he al
legged, OF a blow in the eye, given by
Jackson ON that occasion but Of this there
was no distinct proof Your petitioners
frankly admit that there can be but little
doubt, but that jackson came to his death
by reason of the blow inflicted by the boy,
but they submit that that consequence
was neither expected nor desired by him.
All Of the facts of the case tend to estab.
lIsh that the blow was struck under cir
cumstances tending greatly to aggravate
the boy, without generalization and with
design to kill. There is no malignant,
wilful or deliberate purpose developed by
the proofs to commit murder. Under
these circumstances, while your petitioners
do not complain of the conviction as being
contrary to the strict letter of the law, they
arc humbly of opinion that this is precise
ly one of those cases upon which sound
discretion would induce the exercise of
some degree of executive clemency. The
youthfulness of the party may also be plea.
dcd not as an excuse, but certainly in mi
tigation of his offence.
Your petitioners therefore pray COM
mutation of the punishment. And your
petitioners will ever, &c.
George Woodbridge, Pastor OF the Epis.
copal Church; VIM A. jenkins, Merch't.
r. r. Howison, alto, at law; S. S. Baxter,
alto. at law, and former Attorney Geucr-
al; John NJ. Patton, Jr.. alto at law; p
V. Daniel, Jr, alto at law; ], r. Ander-
son, member of the Legislature from the
city of Richmond; IL. <. Claiborne, alto.
at law; John G. Williams, alto. at law;
Stephen Taylor, Pastor of the Presbyteri-
an Church; Ro, w, Haxall. Physician;
VIM. II. Mcfarland, President Farmers
Bank of Virginia; A. Empie, Pastor Epis-
copal Churchs ]. A, Smith, Cashier Far
mers' Bank; w. NJ. Elliott, Editor Rich.
mond Wing; I. II. Ellis, Mercht, w. D,
Gibson, Commission Merchant; Sam'l, NJ.
} Price, Dry Goods Merchant; J. Hall, Jr.,
. Dry Goods Merchant; Writ Robinson,
President Richmond and Petersburg Rail
Road Company; Alex. Jones, Pastor ST.
{ Paul's Church: ]. L. Martin. Pom. Ancnt.